01	Eternal Wheel						08:20
	02	Toltec Spring						03:03
	03	Final Convergence						07:14
	04	Sunscape						04:02
	05	Mysticum Arabicola						09:14
	06	Crackerblocks						05:40
	07	The Throbbe						06:21
	08	Erpland						05:32
	09	Valley Of A Thousand Thoughts						06:32
	10	Snakepit						03:17
	11	Escence						04:37
	12	A Gift Of Wings						09:47

Ed - Guitar, Synthesizer, Production
Paul - Percussion
Merv - Drums
John - Flute, Voice
Roly - Bass
Joie - Synthesizer, Sampling
Marcus - Ethnic Percussion
Tom - Reggae Bubbles
Generator John - Tea & Tambourines
Steve - Sampling

Brandon Wu:

As far as Ozric Tentacles material goes, this is probably as good as it gets. This band plays a Gong-influenced space-rock style, with an emphasis on extended synth-and-guitar led jamming. There's lots of ethnic influence on the space-rock jamming on this album, which makes things a little more interesting. Deep, powerful bass and active drumming propel the often eclectic mix of lead instruments - guitar, synth, and various flutes and such. This is great - perhaps unequaled - stuff for putting on as soothing and occasionally rocking background music; but it's too samey and too repetitive and too long (at about 73 minutes!) for truly active listening. Nevertheless, there are some very interesting moments here, and this is heartily recommended to fans of the space-rock style. For others, if you're going to get an Ozrics album, this one's probably the one.


Илья Прутов: Дебютный CD британской space-fusion-группы, вышедший в 1990-м году - до этого релизы группы были только кассетными, да в 1989 году на виниле вышел альбом "Pungent Effulgent", переизданный на CD уже после 1990 года. Корни группы - в кентерберийском арт-роке с одной стороны, и в немецкой школе электронной музыки, а отчасти и в краут-роке - с другой. На альбоме "Erpland" это особенно ярко выражено. Так же ярко выражен интерес группы к восточной музыке, и к тому, что принято называть "world music". На этом альбоме особенно много всевозможной перкуссии - кроме штатного барабанщика Мервина Пеплера в записи альбома принимали участие еще три перкуссиониста! А так - все, как всегда: виртуозная гитара, мощнейшая ритм-секция и булькающий, кипящий звук всевозможных синтезаторов, и все это украшено партиями флейты, которые звучат очень и очень необычно. Альбом очень разнообразен - от тяжелых и энергичных композиций Eternal Wheel, Erpland, - до почти амбиентных, пейзажных, но украшенных причудливой перкуссией Toltec Spring, Valley Of A Thousand Thoughts, A Gift Of Wings. Есть и вещи, которые звучат почти по-кентерберийски - это Tidal Convergence и Sunscape (вот только традиционной кентерберийской камерности нет и в помине, - все звучит громко, объемно и бравурно!), а такие композиции, как украшенная всевозможными восточными мелодическими оборотами Misticum Arabicola и The Throbbe имеют довольно жесткое электронное звучание, четкий ритм и отпечаток немецкой школы электронной музыки. Тем не менее - техноидного "дыц-дыц" вы здесь не услышите! Очень разнообразный, порой причудливый альбом, музыка более расслабляющая и менее тяжелая и энергичная, чем на еще одном шедевре группы - альбоме "Arborescence". Очень интересная, захватывающая и добрая музыка, альбом, несмотря на изрядную длину - почти 74 минуты, не производит впечатление затянутого, что бывает с длинными альбомами достаточно редко.

Оценка: 10 из 10!

==============

Erpland
Format: CD
Record Label: Snapper Music
Catalogue #: SMMCD 554
Year of Release: 1990

Erpland was originally released a a double album on vinyl. Since the playing time is almost 74 minutes already, this remaster doesn't feature any bonus tracks.

Eternal Wheel, a remake of a track originally released on the There is Nothing cassette, is a fanastic track where a synth intro is joined by one of those delicious Ozric bass lines and guitar. After lots of 6 string violence a quiet intermezzo with washes of keyboards calms you down again, but not for long because the powerful guitars and increasing tempo bring the power back in the song. This track could easily have been on a Porcupine Tree album.
Toltec Spring has a mysterious jungle feel to it which is enhanced by tribal rhythms and flute in the background. Fine mood music but not interesting enough to capture the attention of the listener.
Tidal Convergence is a whole different cup of tea; after an atmospheric soundscape of keyboards another bass line and drums take over. A great melody is shared by bass and guitar and after a quiet intermezzo follows a slightly Floydian guitar solo. Fine tune !
Sunscape is completely different again; it starts with acoustic guitar after which bass, drum and tambourine join in to introduce a flute solo. Part of this song has a sound comparable to the acoustic middle piece of Spock's Beard's The Doorway.
Mysticum Abricola is another song with an Eastern feel, enhanced by the use of acoustic guitar and flute. The background features weird sounds you would expect on an Arabian bazaar. After five and a half minutes the first razor sharp guitar solo follows. Great song with a stunning variety of instruments which would have been even better if it had been a bit more compact.
Crackerblocks is another long ambient piece which would be perfect to chill out to but misses the power of most of the other tracks on the album.
The Throbbe features - as was to be expected - a throbbing keyboard sound which sets the pace, together with a continous mid tempo drum rhythm. More Arabian murmerings and flute and electronical effects in the second half of the song. Another track which is a bit too monotonous and too long for my taste.
With the next song, Erpland, the band fortunately shows that they can do much better than that. Catchy and powerful bass lines, lots of tempo changes. It's the opposite of the previous track; Erpland is a tune with loads and loads of variation ! The melodies could have been a bit better but the whole thing, which by the way stops rather abruptly, certainly is impressive.
Valley of a Thousand Thoughts is quite comparable to Tidal Convergence in all ways. Ozric Tentacles seem to produce two kinds of songs. On one hand there's the marvellous energetic tracks with lots of variation which grab you by the troat and force you to listen and enjoy. On the other hand there's the ambient tracks which work well as background music but just miss the strength to keep the attention of the listener.
Snakepit has an Asian atmosphere again with strong bass lines, acoustic guitar and flute intermezzo.
Something we hadn't had on this album yet: reggae rock. And it arrives in the form of Incense, which even has vocals. Not one of the highlights of the album but fun nevertheless.
A Gift of Wings is the last and longest track on the album. After one and a half minute of eerie atmospheric keyboards sounds percussion comes in and the melody is picked up again. Another track with an Eastern of Asian feel which reminds me of Pink Floyd's Obscured by Clouds/When You're In a bit. The song leans on keyboard and guitar solo's which never really dominate but support the overall mood. After solo's by percussion, a sitar-like instrument, guitar and flute the song ends. This track probably would have fitted quite well on Peter Gabriel's Passion album.

The artwork is nice again; a atmospheric landscape with the Pongmaster present in the margins. The inside of the booklet features liner notes and a two page spread of small pictures and a kaleidoscopic drawing.

Although not all of the tracks are interesting, this album is slightly better than Pungent Effulgent.

Conclusion: 8+ out of 10.

Ed Sander





Ozric Tentacles - Erpland

Released: 1990/1998
Label: Snapper
Cat. No.:
Total Time: 73:51


Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, June 2002
The digitally remastered version of Erpland, which was originally released in 1990, is regarded as the first official album by Ozric Tentacles. They had released a series of cassettes in the eighties prior to this album. This 1998 version by Snapper Records brings the exceptional quality and multiplicity of Ozric Tentacles' music out with sonic delight on every track. The stylistic variety is breathtaking on this prog-space masterwork. From the rocking surfy "Sunscape" to the Middle Eastern deserts of "Mysticum Arabicola," the musical landscape changes at every turn. "Erpland" is a driving pulsating rocker, and one of the highlights of the entire CD. Then to make yet another musical shift, "Iscence" is a rock reggae splash of island sun.

This group is fully capable of handling whatever change of direction that every group member decides to go in a song. Each individual makes the necessary adjustments to follow along and fulfill their obligation to the group as whole. This is exceedingly intricate and hypnotic music; it can be mystical and soothing and also change in the next song to powerful and exciting rock. Its no wonder this is considered some of their best work, there isn't a whole lot that they missed on this session. It seems that just about every style was touched upon one time or another.

Albums like this serve as a benchmark for an entire genre and a landmark for the group that created it. This group spurred on the jamband sound, but in a different way than the Grateful Dead did, however they played a huge role in starting a fire that continues to burn today.

More about Erpland :

Track Listing: Eternal Wheel (8:20) / Toltec Spring (3:03) / Tidal Convergence (7:14) / Sunscape (4:02) / Mysticum Arabicola (9:14) / Crackerblocks (5:40) / Throbbe (6:21) / Erpland (5:32) / Valley Of A Thousand Thoughts (6:32) / Snakepit (3:17) / Iscence (4:37) / Gift Of Wings (9:47)

Musicians:
Joie Hinton - Synthesizer, Sampling
Ed Wynne - Synthesizer, Guitar, Producer
John - Flute, Vocals
John Egan - Flute, Voices
Marcus - Percussion
Roly - Bass
Steve - Sampling
Paul - Percussion




ERPLAND
Written by Magnus Florin

A -98 release from the progressive rock/rave band Ozric Tentacles. This one, I didn't find as interesting as the others I've heard. One really cool thing about it though, was some tracks that had the feel of reggae in it. You can imagine how this sounds, if you combine progressive rock, reggae and the sounds of original rave, techno or whatever you want to call it. The first track was really good too, "Eternal Wheel". I really liked the keyboard sound in this one. A track that shows a lot of what Ozric Tentacles is all about. I must also say that the titles on this album are really cool such as "Toltec Spring", "Mysticum Arabicola", "Valley of A Thousand Thoughts" and "A Gift of Wings". Totally 12 tracks.