The Ozric Tentacles (commonly known as the Ozrics) are an instrumental band from Somerset, England, whose music can loosely be described as psychedelic. Formed in 1984, the band have released well over 20 albums as of 2005, and become a cottage industry selling around a million albums worldwide despite never having major label backing.
Their music is a highly psychedelic mixture of thumping basslines, sound effects and danceable keyboard and guitar work, with a sound influenced by Steve Hillage and Gong. Many of the Ozrics songs are in unusual time signatures and/or unusual Eastern-influenced modes. Furthermore, they often feature complex arrangements which change time signature, key signature and tempo frequently in the course of a track. In places, this is deliberately confusing; however, there are also moments of straightforward funk-influenced grooves.
Ozric Tentacles Discography
Albums1. Pungent Effulgent (1989)
2. Erpland (1990)
3. Strangeitude (1991)
4. Jurassic Shift (1993)
5. Arborescence (1994)
6. Become the Other (1995)
7. Curious Corn (1997)
8. Waterfall Cities (1999)
9. The Hidden Step (2000)
10. Spirals in Hyperspace (2004)
11. The Floor's Too Far Away (2006)
12. The Yumyum Tree (2009)
13. Paper Monkeys (2011)
Cassettes
1. Erpsongs (1985)
2. Tantric Obstacles (1985)
3. Live Ethereal Cereal (1986)
4. There Is Nothing (1986)
5. Sliding Gliding Worlds (1988)
6. The Bits Between the Bits (1989)
Other releases
* Afterswish (1991) -- A compilation from five of their first six cassettes + 3 new tracks
* Sploosh/Live Throbbe (1991) - EP/Single
* Live Underslunky (1992) -- live album
* Vitamin Enhanced (1994) -- CD box set of the first six cassette releases
* Spice Doubt (1998) -- Webcast live CD
* Floating Seeds (1999) -- Remixed Ozric tracks. Various artists.
* Swirly Terminations (1998-2000) -- Not endorsed/supported by the band.
* Pyramidion EP (2001) -- One new track, 4 live tracks
* Oakum (2001) -- fanclub jam CD, one long track
* Live at the Pongmasters Ball (2002) -- Live 2CD & DVD
* Eternal Wheel (2004) -- Best of collection 2CD
* Sunrise Festival (2008) -- Live CD & DVD
* Rare & Unreleased (1984-1987?) -- 5 CD's worth of early tape recordings circulating on the Internet
* Early Daze Vol 1-3, jams, out-takes, live recordings, etc. - MP3 or FLAC downloads available at Ozrics Digital Music Shop
Members
The current line up (2011):Ed Wynne -- guitar, synths, programming
Brandi Wynne -- bass
Silas Wynne - synths
Ollie Seagle - drums
But in this band musicians come and go, so this information is probably outdated already. You could say that Ozric Tentacles is Ed Wynne, since he's the guy behind mostly everything and the only constant center of OT.
But let's not forget all the past members who have contributed: John Egan, Joie Hinton, Marcus Carcus, Merv Pepler, Nick van Gelder, Paul Hankin, Roly Wynne, Steve Everett, Zia Geelani...
Why Ozrics? Or, my humble collection
Here's a picture of my current Ozrics CD collection. Gotta catch them all, pika-pika! The album art alone makes these discs worth buying. There's also Ozrics side project, Nodens Ictus "Spacelines" (2000) album, Floating Seeds Remixed (1999) - which is not that good album IMHO, except Hallucinogens remixes - and also the Oakum fanclub CD. Pongmasters Ball DVD is missing, someone borrowed it again.I've seen Ozrics live twice in Finland, first time in Imatra Big Band Festival 2001 and second time in Tampere 2004. I would have to say that the Imatra gig was one the best 3 gigs I have ever seen (the other two are Tool in Provinssirock 2001 and Rammstein in 2002).
I think Ozric Tentacles is the best instrumental band in the world. No, that's probably not enough. Ozric Tentacles is *the best band* in the world. That's right - better than The Beatles, better than Led Zeppelin, better than The Doors. Ozric Tentacles is the One Ring to rule them all.
Paper Monkeys (2011)
A new album, finally! Fresh and retro-futuristic, punchier and crunchier than Yum Yum Tree. Knurl became my instant favourite.
The Yumyum Tree (2009)
New album in 2009! This one is very relaxed, smooth and translucent all the way through. No pointy edges, just rhythms 'n' flowing. The first three are my favourites: Magick Valley, Oddweird and Mooncalf.
Sunrise Festival (2008)
New live CD & DVD 2008! Not much new stuff here, but great old ones. I especially like this live version of Jurassic Shift.
Erpland (1990) & Jurassic Shift (1993)
If you are going to get just one Ozrics album, I recommend Erpland. It's my all time favourite album ever - my desert island album! But if you want two incredible albums in one package, get Erpland/Jurassic Shift two-pack. Jurassic Shift is more than excellent second choice (including musical marvels like Vita Voom, Stretchy and Train Oasis). These are the albums that turned me into Ozrics fan in the 90's, but if these don't work for you, try some of their more "modern-sounding" albums like Waterfall Cities or The Floor's Too Far Away first.
The Floor's Too Far Away (2006)
Ping! Splat! Jellylips! New Ozrics CD in 2006. Nine tracks of spacy tapestry and twisting rhytms.
Waterfall Cities (1999) & The Hidden Step (2000)
Another two-pack of great albums! Waterfall Cities is one of the essential albums to have, with incredibly bright tracks like Ch'ai, Coily and Spiralmind. The Hidden Step is a bit more mystical, egyptian-themed album including highlights like Tight Spin and Pixel Dream.
Become the Other (1995) & Arborescence (1994)
And another great two-pack! Become the Other blows your mind with tracks like Wob Glass, Neurochasm and Cat DNA. This is probably the most "rock" album Ozrics have made. Arborescence, on the other hand, is more relaxed and organically grown album with highlights like gentle 9-minute Yog-Bar-Og and quick and dirty Myriapod. I wouldn't recommend Arborescence as a first Ozrics album to listen - it gives more for those with advanced Ozric-ears!
Curious Corn (1997) & Swirly Termination (2002)
Two-pack again! Curious Corn is one of those albums (with Erpland, Jurassic Shift, Become the Other and Waterfall Cities) that hooks you up permanently, if you're not already Ozrics fan. Highlights: Afroclock, Curious Corn, Papyrus.
Swirly Termination, on the other hand, is an album that the band put together from old, unreleased material just to get out of their previous record contract, so it's not one their best albums as a whole, but individual tracks like Steep, Pyoing and Space Out are great!
Swirly Termination, on the other hand, is an album that the band put together from old, unreleased material just to get out of their previous record contract, so it's not one their best albums as a whole, but individual tracks like Steep, Pyoing and Space Out are great!
Pungent Effulgent (1989) & Strangeitude (1991)
Sploosh! Two-in-one again! Pungent Effulgent was the first "real" album by Ozrics, after 6 cassette releases in the 80's. This album takes you to ancient Indian temples and changes your taste of music for good. With Strangeitude you fly to Himalaya and land on a bizarre bazaar full of wonderfully warm melodies. Highly recommended!
Spirals in Hyperspace (2004)
Another great album. You could say that this one is a "routine album" since there is not that many surprises, but good stuff all around. Best parts are Slinky, Toka Tola and Plasmoid.
Eternal Wheel - The Best Of (2004)
The best of Ozrics 2CD! Lot's of my personal favourites are missing, but hey! If you want *all* the great tracks, you have to get all the albums.
Live Underslunky (1992) & Spice Doubt (1998)
If you want to hear Ozrics live, these are the albums to buy (and if you want to _see_ them live, go for the DVD). Live Underslunky takes you back to 1992 with live versions of songs like Sunscape and Snakepit, and Spice Doubt webcast-live is a must have with Citadel Jam and Sploosh! live version, which is absolutely one of the greatest live performances in the world, or probably The Greatest Live Version Of Any Song Ever Made!
Live at the Pongmasters Ball (2002)
Live DVD with 14 tracks and a behind-the-scenes documentary. It's a hup-ho world.
Cassette CD's
Here are the 6 Ozric cassettes from the 1980's collected to 3 CD:s. The sound in these releases is a bit different than in the later albums, so you might need some time to get used to it, but it's worth it! These discs include classics like Invisible Carpet, The Code for Chickendon, Floating Seeds, Secret Names... and many, many others. From these three I recommend buying Bits Between the Bits/Sliding Gliding Worlds first.
Afterswish (1992)
A best of collection from the 80's cassette albums, plus three other songs. If you want just the best Ozric songs from the cassettes, this collection is actually quite good!
Pyramidion (2000) & Floating Seeds Remixed (1999)
This is the double-pack that you want only *after* you already have all the other albums. Pyramidion is a great song, and the 4 live versions are nice, but remix album is not that good (except two tracks: Sploosh! remix and Pteranodon remix). My recommendation: if it's really cheap, buy it then and only then.
Rare & Unreleased - 5 CD's worth of unreleased tracks (1984-1987?)
Early Ozrics tape recordings, sound experiments etc.
You can probably find this collection of old Ozrics material on the Internet by using Google. Sound quality here is not great, of course, but how about the music itself? Some of it is good, some of it is meh... but all in all, it's a LOT of interesting stuff for Ozrics fans. Hey, if I have to choose between listening to radio or listening this stuff, I choose Ozrics. Song titles were invented by some guy just to make these easier to sort and remember. Misspellings are his, not mine. ;)CD1
01. The Dreaming Cat
02. Always
03. Minstrel Carousel
04. We Are Always Here
05. Sea Cucumber
06. The City Made From Sound
07. See Your Dreams In The Sky
08. The Shaman Leads The Way
09. The Beauty Of This Planet
10. Meeting The Dream King
11. The Pureity Fountain
12. Inash Ra Da
13. Medievil Tangerine
CD2
01. Breaking Eggs
02. To A Place Unknown
03. Carol To The Donkey (or Carrot to the donkey)
04. Floating On Clouds
05. The Never Ending Seam
06. Leap Frogs
07. Ballad Of The Bullfrogs
08. The Parrot Stomp
09. Up In The Jungle Tops
10. Cows Can Play The Fiddle
11. Ride On The Giants Shoulder
12. Sun's Up
13. Swim With The Dolphin
14. Spot The Hole
15. Oroonie Style
16. Yaruporoon The Human Beat Box
17. The Edge Of A Cloud
18. You Exsist In Space
19. Moon's up
CD3
01. Indian Tunnels
02. Bird Dance
03. Criss Cross Krunch Krunch
04. Heart & Soul
05. Chicken Fairs
06. Tea & Jelly Cakes
07. Space Neuron
08. In Summer Paradise
09. Pazzaz
10. Carnival Of Them
11. The Ride Of The Great Moon Snail
12. The Inflatible Potato
13. The Knowledge Of Fingers
14. The Crooked Sticks
15. Time Chain
16. Squashy Things
CD4
01. Leaving Spirits
02. Sky's Alive
03. As He Understands
04. Take You To The Medows
05. Carnival Of Them
06. The Erp Field
07. Space Rafting
08. The Comet Chaser
09. Sit Your Bum Down
10. As Sweet As Doves
11. I Love Your Groovy Shoes
12. Awaken Children, Vocal
13. Pan Thang
CD5
00. Intro Burp
01. Hot Butter Slide
02. Where
03. Fair Maiden
04. The Incoming Of A New Race
05. Thug Trunk
06. Octigliss
07. The Arriving World
08. Cyclops Passing
09. The Space Travelers Dream
10. The Unfolding Cosmic Mist
11. Cerebal Roundabout
12. Who Knows
13. Always A Brighter Day
14. Bobbing Down Stream
15. Exotic Fan
16. The Urban Guru
17. Flute Poppies
Ozrics Digital Music Shop - Unofficial Releases
Live, Studio, and Broadcast Recordings, 1985 to Present
Ozrics digital music shop now offers old tracks, jams, out-takes & live recordings as MP3 or FLAC downloads.Early Daze Vol 1-3, Dats & Reels, Wasps and Moths, Hidden Jams, Nodens Ictus tracks... a ton of interesting stuff!
$0.99 for one track or $9.99 for a collection.
Check 'em out at: Ozrics Digital Music Shop
Links
- Ozric Tentacles Official Website
- Ozrics.com
- Ozrics Music Download Shop
- Buy official and unofficial releases as MP3 or FLAC downloads.
- Ozric Tentacles Forum
- Official fansite maintained by Mike Werning.
- Magna Carta
- Ozrics record label.
- Fruit Pie Music
- Ozrics booking agent.
- MySpace.com - Ozric Tentacles
- MySpace profile.
- Last.fm - Ozric Tentacles
- Last.fm profile.
Flickr
Unedited photos from Ozric Tentacles' concert in Mocvara (in Zagreb, in Croatia), from november 2004. Photos by Goran Zec.
curated content from Flickr
eBay
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Guestbook
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Philip
Sep 27, 2009 @ 4:37 pm | delete
- I always loved the Ozric Tentacles band an yes I agree that their the best instrumental band ever. An on the poll section on vote, I pretty much like all off the ozric's albums, except for floating seeds(remix), and one of the live albums called Live Ethereal Cereal....anyway besides those 2, I think rest of em are my favorites..the yum yum tree is a great album too like the best song I like on it is called mooncalf.
Anyway I have 1 question bout em, how old are the ozric tentacles band members?
I saw one on myspace whcih only has ed on there an hes 48 years old but what about the rest of em?
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Astrano
Jul 8, 2009 @ 7:30 am | delete
- Where can I but the Rare & Unreleased collection? Nothing on HMV or Amazon. Moon Snail and Dolphin are fantastic!!
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Astrano
Jul 8, 2009 @ 7:30 am | delete
- Where can I but the Rare & Unreleased collection? Nothing on HMV or Amazon. Moon Snail and Dolphin are fantastic!!
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MAd AnDy
Mar 18, 2009 @ 9:32 am | delete
- I got it all, and all the live stuff from the old ftp site. totally totally spaced. and I've preordered the yum yum tree with its limited edition a2 poster from the burning shed website for only £9.99 plus p&P.
best wishes from the erpmeister
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by vizikahn
Hello world. My name is Marko and I live in Oulu, Finland.
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