01	Holohedron						05:49
	02	The Hidden Step						07:47
	03	Ashlandi Bol						06:04
	04	Aramanu						05:59
	05	Pixel Dream						06:21
	06	Tight Spin						08:45
	07	Ta Khut						07:05

The Hidden Step

Another cosmic workout by Ed and his space cadets that this time looks East to provide inspirational vibes on what appears on first listening a more reflective affair than some of their previous offerings, notable Waterfall Cities. The dreamy 'Aramanu' and 'Ta Khut' see the Ozrics fraternising with almost Tangerine Dream like soundscapes that are cooler than a Polar Bear lying on floating ice eating ice cream in a snow storm! Whilst the opening track 'Holohedron' treads familiar Ozric ground with Ed's glissando guitar workouts traversing Seaweed's keyboard pyrotechnics, the undoubted highlight is the awesome majesty that is 'Tight Spin'. Starting off with an insistent but restrained keyboard / rhythmic refrain the track builds in musical layers to a crescendo as the boys become more frenetic, culminating in a wall of cosmic sound that ambushes the listener's audio facilitators, (or ears if you prefer), before gently descending into the sublime coda. However 'Pixel Dream' contains one of the Ozric's most simple and yet astonishing melodic lines, (Seaweed's one presumes), has ever recorded, providing a hypnotic juxtaposition to Ed's fluid, but possibly slightly harsh guitar sound. The Hidden Step's title track requires a few listens, at first sounding perfunctory and unstructured, but further investigations reveal a musical tour-de-force evolving into a compendium of rhythm changes and melodic transcriptions.

With this album the technological enhancements evidenced from 'Waterfall Cities' have bolstered the overall sound lending the Ozric Tentacles a more distinctive and contemporary feel than ever before. Comparing this release to previous recent offerings one is left with the distinct impression that the Ozric evolution has slowed and has now settled within a particular framework that appears comfortable to the band. However one does wonder if the band should diversify more before, god forbid, stagnation settles in. Just a thought chaps.


AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Ozric Tentacles isn't an easy band to pigeonhole. Essentially, The Hidden Step falls into the space rock/progressive rock category. But Ozric was never a carbon copy of Pink Floyd, King Crimson, ELP, or Yes any more than it was a copy of Tangerine Dream. Ozric has had a vision of its own, and the British instrumentalists continue to forge ahead on this 2000 CD. Full of synthesizers, The Hidden Step successfully links space and progressive rock with ambient, trance, and techno. This isn't rave music per se - it's definitely rock - but it does acknowledge some of the electronic forms that dancers have moved to at underground raves. Another thing The Hidden Step readily acknowledges is world music; elements of Middle Eastern, Arabic, and North African music are quite prominent on this release. If The Hidden Step was played alongside Algerian rai or contemporary Turkish pop, it would be apparent how the East and West are benefiting one another. While a lot of contemporary Middle Eastern and North African pop has been heavily influenced by western pop and rock, The Hidden Step is an example of a British rock band looking east for some of its musical inspiration. Ozric's cult following will find a lot to admire about this challenging CD. - Alex Henderson

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Ozric Tentacles - The Hidden Step Country of Origin: UK
Format: CD
Record Label: Stretchy records
Catalogue #: STRETCHYCD3
Year of Release: 2000

Ever since doing the Ozric Tentacle Special early last year, the band's catalogue has had a special place in my collection. I've always found it a rather difficult to describe their instrumental music, which is unique in its style and sound. The biography that came with their new CD The Hidden Step put the finger right on it when describing it as follows: 'inspired by a myriad of music and musicians from Kraut-rockers Kraan to guitar maestro Steve Vai, from ethnic Arabic to electronic techno, from Hendrix to Hillage, Ozric Tentacles' music is a fusion of sounds, styles and genres that cannot be categorised nor plagiarised, such is its complexity.'

In their 17 years of existance the band has played to a diverse audience ranging from lovers of space-rock, dub and psychedelica to house and techno ravers. That should already give you quite a good idea of their music. Personally I don't care much for contemporary techno/trance music, but the Ozrics offer what most of these bands are missing: great guitar playing, real drums and fascinating compositions.

The Hidden Step is the band's 16th (!) studio album in their 17 years of existance. A stunning accomplishement, especially considering the fact that the band went 'independant' again on their own 'Stretchy' label after a seemingly bad experience with Snapper Music, who released two CDs with Ozric music which are not endorsed by the band.
The current line-up conists of founder Ed Wynne (guitars, synths and samples), synth player Seaweed, Rad (drums and percussion), Jumping John Egan (flute) and bassist Zia Geelani.

So ... is it very original ? Well ... yes and no. Yes if compared to others, because Ozric Tentacles have their very own style which stands apart from every other band and type of music. But no if compared to themselves; the Ozrics have created their own style years ago and have sticked to it ever since. As I've said before, if you've heard one Ozric album, you've heard them all. When hearing the average Ozric song I wouldn't be able to tell you from which album it came, let alone what the title is.
Nevertheless, what makes this album special is the fact that, in contrast some of the earlier albums, this album contains all of the best sides of the band; splendid compositions that combine the best elements of old classics. Whereas other albums like the recent Waterfall Cities had their ups and downs, this new album never gets boring. No unnecessary long ambient dabblings but mainly highly energetic uptempo stuff with lots of rhythm and mood changes. The album especially works very well when played loud in the car while your in a very 'up' mood (if you know what I mean).

Even more so than previous albums, this new one has a very Middle-Eastern, Arabian vibe. Not only the artwork with the pyramids, Egyptian cat, pictograms and camels breaths this atmospehere, the music of most of the songs does as well.
The album is a perfect mixture between guitar dominated (Holohedron, The Hidden Step and Pixel Dream) and synth dominated tracks (Ashlandi Bol, Aramanu and Tight Spin) plus a 'the spaciest track Ozric Tentacles have ever recorded', Ta Khut.

Holohedron is an uptemp track that incorporates elements from such classics as Sploosh and Dissolution. The first half contains berserk guitar playing, while after a break with atmospheric keyboards a pumping bass and weird synth effects continue.
The Hidden Step starts as hypnotically as Eternal Wheel and once the energetic basis has been laid down, guitar and a very heavy bass line are added. More atmospeheric keyboards in the second half.
Ashlandi Bol has a very Eastern-sounding string synth and flute sounds. The only guitar in this track is some supporting acoustic playing. The track also features a drum break with weird sound samples.
Armanu is a synth-only track including sound effect that create the atmosphere of an Arabian bazaar, while Pixel Dream brings us back to Ed's amazing guitar play. This track also features a rather Porcupine Tree-like bass line and develops a very funky feel towards the end.

Tight Spin starts as an uptempo trance piece until heavy bass drum kick in during a break halfway. The track gets more powerful from there onwards with an acoustic guitar playing an Eastern melody and some great percussion.
As mentioned, Ta Khut is a very 'spacy' piece. It starts with some hypnotic flute playing and windchimes that could have come straight from Peter Gabriel's Passion. In the second half the flute is joined by percussion and acoustic guitar. The track ends with two minutes of tranquile keyboard soundscapes.

While the booklet is a disappointing 4 page thingy - then again, what did you expect ? lyrics ? - the CD itself is a wonderful picture disc with a guitar and keybaord shaped into a Yin & Yang sign.

All in all one of the best albums the Ozrics have ever released and recommended to both Ozric fans and people that want to check out their music for the first time. For some Samples, check out their homepage.

Conclusion: 8 out of 10.

Ed Sander




The Hidden Step
2000
Genre: Psychedelic , Fusion AOTM: Nov2000

In their 17 years, the Ozrics have experienced the vicissitudes of the rock and roll life. The band has flourished through a number of line-up changes, spawned several side projects (including Eat Static and The Oroonies), created not just one but two record label's (Dovetail & Stretchy), put out close to 20 albums, scored a hit record (Jurassic Shift)and gained international acclaim. And yet, the basic motivation behind the band's existence has never wavered. The Ozrics layer ambient and ethereal landscapes with freeform dub trips, incredible rave grooves and psychedelic prog rock. It's an open exploration of music and the soul - aided, abetted and elevated by the influence of psychedelic perspective.

Just amazing how after 17 albums (not including compilations) a band can still sound so fresh and exciting. On "The Hidden Step" the band add some beautiful arabian sounds as on the track "Ashlandi Bol" which has a very orchestral backdrop to it with some beautiful guitar picking in a flamenco style and John's flute far more to the fore than on previous releases. The following track stays with the middle eastern theme with the sound of voices in a market place as the "musicial incense" builds up with swirling synths, deep bass, flute and a little GONG instrumental influence. The track "Pixel Dream" features Ed to the fore with guitar. "Tight Spin" does just that with a super laid back groove flowing through the track. The last track "Ta Khut" features the flute as the lead in instrument and as the title suggests it has an Arabic feel to it. The great thing about the Ozrics is their music suits being played either loud for just listening or dancing to or turned down to set the mood without being intrusive. There are very few artists who are able to make music that suits this duality and that is what makes Ozric Tentacles so great ... besides making great music.




Ozric Tentacles - The Hidden Step

Release Date: 2000

Track Listing
1) Holohedron (5:54)
2) The Hidden Step (7:44)
3) Ashlandi Bol (6:07)
4) Aramanu (6:00)
5) Pixel Dream (6:21)
6) Tight Spin (8:46)
7) Ta Khut (7:07)

Member: dnslilly

A synthesizer stone plops into the water, creating sonic ripples and signaling the aural dawn of a new musical day. A dazzling synthesizer Sun awakes the horizon, stretches and rises, gushing from the speakers like a large fountain of multicolored water being turned on. A lone guitar note sounds abruptly and lingers, inviting others to follow, scattering the landscape like electric flowers and shrubs sprouting and growing at a frantic pace. Psychedelic butterflies flutter here and there. Thus begins "Holohedron", the first song on The Hidden Step, the Ozric Tentacles' last musical contribution to the 20th century.

To my knowledge, at this point, the Ozrics have not married their music to film soundtracks, which is quite ironic, since their sound almost BEGS to be put to film. They play psychedelic music, sound nothing like Pink Floyd, yet their music could score film as well as the Floyd's did More and Obscured By Clouds. Many Ozric Tentacles' songs are short aural films of their own.

The Ozrics' foundation is an often galloping, sometimes sprinting, and always solid rhythm section. All around that are various other sounds including guitars and synthesizers (and whatever other instrumentation) that evoke the drizzling of big rain drops, swishing, swirling, fireworks-like sparkling, dancing dust, symphonic wailing, a wheezing manual air pump, birds howling in the distance, and electric nails shaking inside a tin can.

The closest the Ozrics get to sounding mainstream is during Pixel Dream, which could almost pass for 70's radio-friendly prog, except that it is far too adventurous for the stifling confines of commercial radio(though Public radio or college stations are possibilities for airplay).

The last song, "Ta Khut", moves with a definite Indian flavor, beginning with subtle, exotic and soothing wind chimes and a gliding, belly-dancing flute. An Arabian guitar dances through the middle, and ethereal and glittering synths pick up when the guitar drifts into silence, until gradually all drift into silence as the CD reaches The End.

David Lilly




Ozric Tentacles
The Hidden Step
Stretchy (STRETCHYCD3)
UK 2000

Ed Wynne, guitar, synths, samples;
Seaweed, keyboards;
Zia Geelani, bass;
John Egan, flute, vocals;
Rad, drums, percussion

Tracklist:
1. Holohedron - 5:49
2. The Hidden Step - 7:47
3. Ashlandi Bol - 6:04
4. AraManu - 5:59
5. Pixel Dream - 6:21
6. Tight Spin - 8:45
7. Ta Khut - 7:05

total time 47:50


brandon

I've been down on the Ozric Tentacles for years now. While Erpland gets my juices flowing with its sunny vibe and Middle-Eastern touches, everything else I've heard from them just makes me tired. Heard it all before, I say, and not much interested in hearing it again. I even saw them live once and it not only made me tired, it almost blew out my eardrums in the process (Seaweed's synth noodlings were about as loud - and about as pleasant - as an air horn from 6 inches away).
The thing is, I keep feeling like I should like this stuff. The Ozrics' brand of psychedelic jam-band noodling spiced up with vaguely Eastern influences sounds great on paper. Long, intense instrumental jams held down by unrelenting grooves - this should be a formula I dig. As a result, I keep giving them a chance. And with The Hidden Step, I finally found an album of theirs other than Erpland that grabs my attention.

The Hidden Step doesn't really break much new ground for the Ozrics - if you liked them before, you still will; if you think they're just making the same album over and over again, you won't need this one either. Nevertheless, I like it more than most anything else they've done recently. This is partly because the Eastern influences are stepped up in places, with more prominent flute parts. But I'm not kidding myself too much; almost every track on here brings no surprises, with lots of heavy bass grooves and swirling synth noodlings. The one exception is "Tight Spin", which I adore enough that my feeling about the album as a whole is elevated. "Tight Spin" brings a big-time dancey/techno feel to the mix, and as a result features an energetic, modern punch that combines beautifully with the usual trademark Ozrics synth jamming and a fantastic acoustic-ish breakdown towards the end.

Should the Ozrics move further in the direction of this track, I might become a fan. I'm all for prog bands exploring some of the modern electronic music trends that they have heretofore ignored; and if the Ozrics continue to integrate techno into their psych/space-rock jamming, more power to them. They might alienate some of the more traditional fan base, of course, but such is life.

In the end, The Hidden Step is another typical Ozrics album with one standout and slightly unusual track. Solid, enjoyable, hardly essential, and yet strangely exciting for the new possibilities upon which it sheds light.

6-7-04 - post a comment (0)


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