Welcome to Ozrics.com . . !
Current News:
Ozric Tentacles 30th Anniversary Tour
This year Ozrics celebrate their 30th anniversary. To mark the date, Ozrics are finally granting the wishes of many fans, by re-mastering and re-releasing a series of classics from the catalogue, which have previously been out of print for nearly 20 years. Ozric Tentacles “Vitamin Enhanced” Box Set contains the entire first 6 albums recorded by the band. These first six albums were originally only available on cassette, handmade by the band, and only sold at festivals and concerts. In 1993 these tapes were transferred to CD, and 1994 released limited edition box set, only 5,000 copies of this package were ever made, making it a rare treat for collectors. As time passed, with so many other releases to focus on, these albums fell out of print and distribution. Now they have finally been given the attention they deserve, countless hours of audio and visual re-mastering have restored this wonderfully unique package to a modern day standard that is sure to please any fan.
Ozrics kick off their 30th anniversary tour in August with a run of festival performances, where for the first time fans will meet the band’s new drummer, Balázs Szende. “We’ve thrown some pretty tough tracks at him for the next tour”, says Ed, seeming entertained by the thought of the challenge he had set, “So far we’ve been amazed. He really understands just what each part is trying to say, and when it’s meant to say it. It makes things easy when that part comes naturally; it’s something you just can’t teach.” Ozrics continue their Europe tour starting October 10th, back home in Bristol, UK.
Last year saw a tumultuous upheaval for the group. Upon arriving home from an extensive 40 date tour through North America and Europe, which included debut performances in Russia, the group was immediately evacuated from their home and studio. It was located directly in the path of the most destructive forest fire in Colorado history. The band had only moments to grab their most important possessions, before they were escorted out by Police and National Guard.
Fans watched the fire’s progress as the band continued to their last concert, a festival near Philadelphia, they were unaware of what would happen, but fairly certain it wasn’t looking good. That evening, as the band took the stage, the fire destroyed their home and studio as they played, taking with it all of the bands past archives and masters. Those who knew the circumstances described the performance as “a real life tribute to the phrase: The Show Must Go On”.
Ozric Tentacles "Paper Monkeys"
Ozric Tentacles current release “Paper Monkeys” is distributed worldwide by Snapper Records. CDs and Vinyl, along with the rest of Ozrics’ vast back catalogue are available from the bands website www.ozrics.com or alternatively through Snapper’s main UK distributor, Burning Shed: http://www.burningshed.com/store/ozrictentacles/ Paper Monkeys album reviews: “Nearly 30 years into their musical journey, there is still a freshness and exploratory feel to their music. This release is relentlessly and pulsatingly energetic from start to end, with all the Ozrics’ trademark hippy aesthetics, spiralling guitars, waves of keyboards, and driving bass and drum grooves over undulating, ambient landscapes. The more trad-prog amongst us will most enjoy Ed Wynne’s guitar on the rocking title track “Paper Monkeys, but this band flit effortlessly between outright freeform dub trip, psychedelic, guitar-lick rock, and improvisational rave groove. From the rhythmically intense “Attack of the Vapours” to the Ethereal “Will of the Wisps” and the chillaxing “Air City”, this absorbingly intense workout has produced and entrancing album.” – Rock Society “This music never gets old. It's timeless. It's not dictated by fashion or fads. It's above all of that. It’s all about the music. This new album does not disappoint. Their eclectic soundscapes soar and fly around the room like a magic spell, weaving in and out of your head. A fusion of oriental sounds and fantastic rhythms, combined with pulsing bass and Ed's marvellous guitar swirling over the keyboard textures and samples. Rock, dance, psychedelics...This is instrumental heaven! For heaven’s sake - Buy it!” – Ozric Fan
New Shows added to gigs and tours, next stop: Croatia!
Our music shop is currently under constrauction, it will be back up soon. Apologies for the delay.
Latest Additions:
Dats & Reels Vol. 1
Early Daze - Vol. 1, 2, & 3
An early days collection of previously unreleased "Bits Between The Bits",
mainly from the years leading up to the formation of Ozric Tentacles .
Nodens Ictus - Live 89-91 Vol. 1, 2, & 3
Live Shows now available in Mp3 and Flac:
Wetlands NY - 2000 - 2 Nights
Manchester Academy - 1992
Ozrics Live at One World Festival
Live in Oslo - 2010
Live in Italy - 2010
Nodens Ictus Live at Club Dog - 1989
...and more shows being added all the time ! !
Click Here ToPreview New Material
Our New Music Store is now open!
We look forward to offering the full catalogue of Ozric Tentacles and Nodens Ictus studio releases,
as well as new, old, out of print, and previously unreleased live and studio material from both bands.
Check back regularly for new updates and releases !
Music Pages Latest Update: August, 2011
Ozrics' Classic 1990 "Erpland" Enhanced 20th Anniversary Release - In Shops Now
Snapper Records is set to release the new enhanced edition of "Erpland" May 1st, 2010. The two disc set will feature a 24-page colour booklet, and a bonus Dvd. The two hour bonus Dvd is a live performance showcasing Erpland material. This 1991 performance "Live At The Brixton Fridge", has over the years become hot property amongst collectors. Back by popular demand, digitally transferred and remastered, it will be available for the first time in over ten years.
Nodens Ictus - "Live at the Pongmasters Ball" now available
After years of waiting for Nodens fans, the 2002 previously unreleased recording "Live at the Pongmasters Ball" is now available for digital download on the Ozrics Music Page. This new site for Ozrics Music is currently undergoing developement, but is already offering rare releases for Ozric Tentacles and Nodens Ictus. The site will continue to build, so check regularly for new, old, previously unreleased, and formerly out of print releases!
Tour Dates
Saturday 17th August 2013
Future Nature Festival - Pula, Croatia
Tickets Avaliable At: www.future-nature.info
Friday 30th August 2013
Off The Tracks Festival - Donnington UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.offthetracks.co.uk
Saturday 7th September 2013
Villa Pace Festival - Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
Thursday 10th October 2013
Bierkeller - Bristol, UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.bristolbierkeller.co.uk
Friday 11th October 2013
ECI Cultuur Fabriek - Roermond, Holland
Tickets Avaliable At: www.ecicultuurfabriek.nl
Saturday 12th October 2013
De Boerderji - Zoetermeer, Holland
Tickets Avaliable At: www.cultuurpodiumboerderij.nl
Monday 14th October 2013
Colos-Saal - Aschaffenbug, Germany
Tickets Avaliable At: www.colos-saal.de
Wednesday 23rd October 2013
Klub Studio - Krakow, Poland
Tickets Avaliable At: www.klubstudio.pl
Friday 25th October 2013
Orangerie @ Botanique - Brussels, Belgium
Tickets Avaliable At: www.botanique.be
Saturday 26th October 2013
Mr. Kyps - Poole, UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.mrkyps.net
Sunday 27th October 2013
The Globe - Cardiff, UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.globecardiffmusic.com
Monday 28th October 2013
O2 Academy - Liverpool, UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.o2academyliverpool.co.uk
Tuesday 29th October 2013
Band On The Wall - Manchester, UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.bandonthewall.org
Wednesday 30th October 2013
02 Academy Islington - London, UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.02academyislington.co.uk
Thursday 31th October 2013
Hare & Hounds - Birminghm, UK
Tickets Avaliable At: www.hareandhounds.co.uk
Keep watching there are still more to come. . .
For US booking, contact: Wayne Forte at Entourage Talent
For European booking, contact: Sally Bourne at Fruit Pie Music
For all other International booking, contact: ozricbooking@gmail.com
For information on past Ozric shows click here
Discography
Find most of these CDs at the Ozric Shop
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Yum Yum Tree - Original Release: 2009 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Sunrise Festival - Live CD/DVD - Original Release: 2008 - Snapper Music PLC |
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The Floor's Too Far Away - Original Release: 2006 - Magna Carta Records |
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Eternal Wheel (Best Of Collection) - Original Release: 2005 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Spirals In Hyperspace - Original Release: 2004 - Magna Carta Records |
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Pongmaster's Ball - Live CD/DVD - Original Release: 2002 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Pyramidion - Live EP - Original Release: 2001 - Stretchy Records |
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Swirly Termination - Original Release: 2000 - Snapper Music PLC |
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The Hidden Step - Original Release: 2000 - Stretchy Records |
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Waterfall Cities - Original Release: 1999 - Stretchy Records |
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Spice Doubt - Live Streaming CD - Original Release: 1998 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Curious Corn - Original Release: 1997 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Become The Other - Original Release: 1995 - Dovetail Records |
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Arborescence - Original Release: 1994 - Dovetail Records |
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Jurassic Shift - Original Release: 1993 - Dovetail Records Enhanced Re-Release (w/ Bonus Material): 2008 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Live Underslunky - Original Release: 1992 - Dovetail Records |
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Afterswish (Best Of 1984 - 1989) - Original Release: 1992 - Dovetail Records |
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Stangeitude - Original Release: 1991 - Dovetail Records Enhanced Re-Release (w/ Bonus Material): *Available 2010* - Snapper Music PLC |
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Erpland - Original Release: 1990 - Dovetail Records Enhanced Re-Release (w/ Bonus Material): *Available 2010* - Snapper Music PLC |
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Pungent Effulgent - Original Release: 1989 - Dovetail Records |
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Vitamin Enhanced (Box Set 1984-89) - Dovetail Records - *Out of Print* |
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Bits Between The Bits (1985-89) - Original Release: 1989 - Dovetail Records Re-Release: 2000 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Sliding Gliding Worlds - Original Release: 1988 - Dovetail Records Re-Release: 2000 - Snapper Music PLC |
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There Is Nothing - Original Release: 1987 - Dovetail Records Re-Release: 2000 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Live Ethereal Cereal - Original Release: 1986 - Dovetail Records Re-Release: 2000 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Tantric Obstacles - Original Release: 1985 - Dovetail Records Re-Release: 2000 - Snapper Music PLC |
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Erpsongs - Original Release: 1984 - Dovetail Records Re-Release: 2000 - Snapper Music PLC |
Gallery Pages Coming Soon. . .
Links
Backstreet Merch - Ozric Tentacles Shop
Ozric Tentacles Messageboard Mike Werning's Ozric Site and Messageboard
Entourage Talent - Ozric Tentacles US Booking
Fruit Pie Music - Ozric Tentacles Europe Booking
Ozric Gig Guide - Pete Wibrew's Complete History of Performances
Inverse Gravity Vehicle - See what Joie is up to these days
A-Wave - System 7
The Hunger Site - Click to Give Free Food!
Clifford Pickover - Spiraling Through Hyperspace
Travis Louie - The Art of Travis Louie
Boswell Art - The Art of Paul Boswell (Yum Yum Tree Cover)
Fortean Times - The World of Strange Phenomena
Biography
A campfire at the Stonehenge free festival in 1983 witnessed the birth of Ozric Tentacles.
It was there that composer and band leader Ed Wynne (guitar & keyboards), and brother Roly Wynne (bass), who were performing in a group known at the time as ‘Bolshem People’, along with drummer Nick 'Tig' Van Gelder (Jamiroquai), stumbled upon keyboardist Joie Hinton. After a session of warming their bones and discussing imaginary breakfast cereals, the group went to perform an impromptu late jam session. Over the course of what became an epic six hour performance, an audience member inquired as to the name of the band. Randomly thinking back to the group’s former conversation, visions of ridiculous mythical mueslis entered Ed’s mind, and consequently he replied; “Ozric Tentacles”. (…Good job too, since some of the previous alternatives had been “Desmond Whisps”, “Gilbert Chunks” and “Malcolm Segments”).
From that very first jam session, a musical compatibility was evoked that has since been a trademark of the Ozric Tentacles. It's a signature blend of hippy aesthetics and raver electronics with spiraling guitars, textured waves of keyboards, midi, samplers, and super-groovy bass and drum rhythms. Before long the band was laughing in dismay, as requests came piling in from people who were looking for more music by “Ozric Tentacles”, or “The Ozrics”, (as they had become more commonly known). The band swiftly claimed their place as a staple of the UK's burgeoning festival scene, and are now credited as one of the influential musical linchpins of the scene's re-emergence.
1984 saw the band's first cassette release, “Erpsongs”. Recorded at home on a barely more than a domestic hi-fi and lined with hand drawn covers, it ignited the underground psychedelic scene. The album showcased a variety of styles, which has been a characteristic feature of the band throughout their career. Some tracks seemed a mixture of alien, spacey sounds in a floating ambiance, while other tracks showed the Ozrics' harder rock tendencies with a solid rhythm section underpinning soaring guitar and synthesizer passages.
1986 was a very productive year for the band with three cassette releases, “Live Ethereal Cereal”, “Tantric Obstacles”, and “There Is Nothing”. Live Ethereal Cereal, record from those early festival jams, showed the band to be hot psychedelic property indeed. There was also a truly new and unique form of reggae and dub emerging in their recordings intrinsic to Ozrics’ sound. ‘There Is Nothing’ featured increasingly more ethnic elements. Scales, styles, and samples gathered by Joie on visits to India, and Ed on trips to Thailand became deeply entwined with the band's sound.
At Stonehenge festival the year following the bands inception, Ozrics had picked up a second synth player, Tom Brooks, who helped to fill in the audio spectrum with bubbling ethereal effects. In 1987 “Horse Drawn Tom” gave up his synthesizers for greener pastures, (…after renouncing the electricity used to power them). Following Tom’s departure, Ed found himself forced to fill the sonic gap by focusing more on his own synthesis and keyboard skills. (A concept that had become appealing to Ed after releasing “The Grove of Selves” by Nodens Ictus, earlier in the year. Nodens Ictus was Ed and Joie’s ambient project, still very “Ozricky”, but mellower in nature and without the live rhythm section, hence they decided that they should release the project under a different name.) This shift would prove not only to be a comfortable success for Ed, swapping seamlessly between guitar and keyboards, but the ethereal sounds of his Sequential Circuits Pro-One synth, and Roland D-50 keyboard would essentially become a molecular base of Ozrics’ DNA.
1988 saw the band's most cohesive and endearing of the early cassette releases, “Sliding Gliding Worlds”, a favourite for many friends and fans. Around the same time, drummer Tig evaporates, and Ozrics recruit Merv Pepler, a 21 year old phychobilly drummer from Somerset. Merv’s raw untrained energy, which managed to shift through multiple time-signatures without a thought of it, would not only suit the band, but inherently provide a solid backbone for their sound. Six months later the band would release their last cassette-only release, “Bits Between The Bits”, and closed the tape only period of the band with a collection of odds and ends from the 1985 - 89.
The live performances from this time have become something of folklore amongst the hardcore fan-base: jam sessions lasting for hours and featuring an array of musicians. Tape trade amongst these fans has reached the feverish dedication shown by the Dead-heads in the USA, with similar rules of free trade and no profit.
Realizing that signing with any of the established companies would inhibit their creative freedom, in 1989 the band formed their own record label, “Dovetail Records”. Their first major release, (available on CD, vinyl, and cassette), “Pungent Effulgent” invoked a clutch of rave reviews from somewhat startled music journalists, and is also a blinding example of the live experience and the raw energy the Ozrics put into every performance.
Throughout the early 1990's, constant touring of the UK helped the Ozric Tentacles to build a tremendous national fan base on a grass roots level. In 1991 the band’s first and only single was released. “Sploosh!” scored the group a #1 in the indie charts, and spilled the band into the mainstream. The single was released just as dance music was exploding in the UK, and the ravers embraced its hypnotic pulse. The subsequent album “Strangitude” took the music to a new level, leaning towards electronic but retaining the authenticity of an Ozric recording. By 1992 The Ozrics were the soundtrack to the summer. Travelers were suddenly trendy and free festivals were attracting tens of thousands of people.
With the band's 1993 release "Jurassic Shift," which debuted at #11 on the British indie chart and climbed into the Top 10 in the National Album Charts, the Ozrics eventually won over the adulation of mainstream press, and found themselves heralded in publications such as NME and Melody Maker. It was, and still is, an astonishing accomplishment for a band with no celebrity status, and no major record label backing.
Over the years Ozrics have toured extensively both at home and abroad, performing regularly throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. Ed’s influences are rooted in ethnic scales and the native music of many continents, rather than from any particular artist and this is continually illustrated in the twists and turns of each piece and the varying sounds used in their construction. As the Ozrics continue to create genre-free music with no boundaries in sight, it means that their aim and goals are enthusiastically raised as they strive to take each track to a new level, and each album must grow substantially for the band to be satisfied.
Post 1994, along with the release of “Arborescence”, the music press had realized that the Ozrics were never here for chart success, nor to be the latest fad, rather to simply have the opportunity to explore their music with an almost obsessive zeal by wringing the most bizarre and unlikely sounds from whatever instrument they happened to be playing, …and long may they continue to do so!
Ozric Role: Guitar and Keyboards. . .
Other Instruments: Anything not brass or bowed
Ed's Gear: Novation Supernova II - Korg M50 - Roland S760 - Roland Fantom XR - Roland D-50 - Korg Wavestation EX - Korg Prophecy - Sequential Pro-1 - Ibanez JEM (black) - Ibanez Artist (woodgrain) - Yamaha Acoustic - Boss GT-3 - Boss GT-10 - CryBaby Wah - Marshall Amplification
Born: 3rd June 1961
Star Sign: Gemini
Favourite Albums: Steve Hillage - Green, Kraan - Wiederhoren, Frank Zappa - Overnite Sensation, Squarepusher - Hard Normal Daddy, Gong - You, Shpongle - Are You Shpongled?, Hatfield & The North - The Rotters Club, Todd Rundgren - Initiation
Favourite Food: Indian Takeaway
Favourite Author: Iain M Banks
Favourite Artists: Pete Loveday, Magritte
Hobbies: Cooking, Drawing . . .and Music
Ed Wynne
Ozric Role: Bass
Other Instruments: Keyboards and whatever...
Brandi's Gear: Fender Jazz Bass Special - 5-String Fretless: Warwick Thumb Bass - Warwick Fortress I - Trace Elliott Amplifiers - Hipshot Hipshots - EMG Pickups
Born: 3rd May 1979
Star Sign: Taurus
Favourite Albums: Mouse on Mars - Autoditacker, Jon Hassel - Earthquake Island, Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold as Love, Soul Coughing - Ruby Vroom, Miles Davis - Live Evil, Faith No More - King For a Day, Fool For A Lifetime, Generic - Aardvark's as Good as any Number Chapter 7: Red Monday in the Platypus Genocide Mystery
Favourite Ozric Tracks: Wob Glass, Curious Corn, Spacebase
Favourite Food: Coffee, Chocolate, Chianti
Favourite Author: Clifford Pickover
Favourite Artist: Yaacov Agam, Paul Boswell, Blim
Hobbies: Anything
Brandi Wynne
Ozric Role: Keyboards
Other Instruments: Guitar, Bass. . .
Silas's Gear: Novation Nova II - Fantom X6 - Access VirusB - Korg Prophecy
Born: 20th May 1990
Star Sign: Taurus
Favourite Albums: Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink, Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsies, Nodens Ictus - Spacelines, The Beatles - Revolver, Utopia - Deface The Music, Yello - The Eye, Ott - Blumenkraft
Favourite Ozric Tracks: Wob Glass, Vibuthi, Ch'ai?
Favourite Food: Avocado, Olives, Humus, Tea
Favourite Author: Orson Scott Card
Favourite Artists: MC Escher, Jerry Uelsmann, Travis Louie
Hobbies: Programing, Art, Literature, Juggling, Astronomy. . .
Silas Wynne
Ozric Role: Drums
Other Instruments: Keyboards and Percussion
Balázs's Gear: Pearl Reference Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, DW Pedals, Remo Heads, Vic Firth Sticks
Born: 2nd April 1984
Star Sign: Aries
Favourite Albums: Shpongle - Nothing is lasts but nothing is lost, Ott - Blumenkraft, Carbon Based Lifeforms - World of Sleepers, Kaya Project - Elixir, Billy Cobham - Drum 'n' Voice All That Groove
Favourite Ozric Track: Saucers, Mooncalf, Sultana Detrii
Favourite Food: Soups, Italian, Indian, Coffee, Tea
Hobbies: Cooking, Hiking
