I apparently first saw Ozric Tentacles perform at the Stonehenge Free Festival in 1984, and although my memory of the whole occasion is rather hazy, to say the least, their music has remained with me ever since that long summer many years ago. Even though over the years band leader Ed Wynne has done various side projects, mainly the wonderful kosmiche sounds of Nodens Ictus, this is his first solo album in thirty-four years, so lets trip the light fantastic and wander the strange lands of Wynne’s musical genius, a bit like I did in ’84.
“Travel Dust” has a more languid feel, with a certain Tangerine Dream in the eighties vibe happening. The piece captures the awe of visiting some monumental ancient location, and you can imagine the sun rising, being in the place alone and at peace. Some of Wynne’s guitar work here reminds me a little bit of Steve Hillage. The chirping synths give the idea of foreign locations, and the dub section gives the feeling of being on the move in the middle of nowhere to search for serenity away from modern life. The track burbles away and creates an overall feeling of movement as it works through its soundscape.
“Oddplonk” is a very Ed Wynne name for a track, and anyone who is a fan of the Ozrics can testify to that. Its beautiful guitar intro is followed by wonderful pulsing keyboard sounds as the rhythm kicks in and we are taken on an astral voyage out into the universe. The one thing about Wynne’s music is that it is always so filled with colours, so even on a grey day the music seems to brighten up the room and add a splash of rainbow dimensions into the atmosphere. Sonically, the track carries on where the other previous two had laid the foundations, taking you on a blissed-out journey in to the heart of the sky. Wynne’s lead guitar work throughout this piece is astounding and quite moving at times. “Shim” opens with some Kebu pulsing synths that take you back to the eighties; the beat skitters around as the guitar melody begins to weave its magic over the top. This song is like mellow trip that has an underlying feeling of funk about it. The lead keyboard lines run around your head as the rhythm gets your foot tapping and your body moving. There is something about Wynne’s music that just makes you feel better inside.The album finishes with “Wherble”, which starts with a pipe organ keyboard sound and a chilled-out beat as atmospheric sounds breathe underneath a slightly frantic synth patch. Wynne’s guitar work is blistering when it slides in and gives the piece a somewhat ethereal vibe, like it should be the soundtrack to standing on top of Glastonbury Tor, sending you in search of your inner self while also experiencing the cosmic consciousness of absolute out there.
Wynne’s music comes from a time and space all of its own, it sounds like nobody else but him, even though it borrows psychedelic motifs from bands such as Gong and early Pink Floyd. This record could only be made by Ed Wynne, though; it just has that certain something that many have tried to emulate over the years, and not all have been successful. Obviously, if you like the Ozrics, then you are going to love this album: the sound is not a million miles away from what the band does, but there is enough of a difference to make it a standalone work in its own right. This could be the soundtrack to your summer, just like the Ozrics were for me back in 1984 — if I could only remember it all, apart from all the pretty colours…-Gary Parsons-
