ALBUM REVIEW: Lotus Unfolding – Ozric Tentacles
When it comes to prolific creative output, not many can match musical wizard Ed Wynne (guitars, synth, bass) and OZRIC TENTACLES. Formed in 1983 at the Stonehenge Free Festival by brothers Ed and Roly Wynne, the band have always been an anomaly in British music, blending a plethora of genres, influences and techniques to create a unique and distinct sound that puts them in a league of their own. They have had many iterations ever since, but from 2000 onwards they’ve been guided by the sole original member and musical magician Ed. Now in the year of their 40th anniversary OZRIC TENTACLES demonstrate that the creative juices are flowing in abundance with their 22nd album Lotus Unfolding.
The concepts behind OZRIC TENTACLES are open for interpretation, but ultimately it is the band chronicling their journey through the sonic realms of the Ozric universe in which they find themselves at that given moment. Sitting at the crossroads of progressive rock, jazz fusion, reggae dub, world music, psychedelia and dance music culture, you are guaranteed an aural experience whenever you put an OZRIC TENTACLES album on. Lotus Unfolding is just as mesmerising and enchanting as anything that has come before it.
Their trademark sound always feels incredibly aware and present in the current moment, giving it a timeless quality. Whether you’re listening to 1989’s Pungent Effulgent or 2020’s Space For The Earth, Ed Wynne and co. have an incredible ability to take you to some amazing places in your mind with their exquisite psychedelia.
Louts Unfolding makes your synapses buzz with pleasure as the multi-layered and richly textured songs morph into limitless meditative soundscapes. Written and recorded with the help of Silas Wynne (modular synth and keyboards), a.k.a Silas Neptune, the album is once again a showcase of virtuosic musicianship and masterful synthesiser experimentation. Everything is designed to elevate your current state of being, and your brain comes alive with multiple kaleidoscopes of colour and shimmering light.
One of the magical things about OZRIC TENTACLES’ music, whether by design or coincidence, is that each album since 1985’s Erpsongs has effortlessly flown in to the next. Each album feels connected to the last; the OZRIC TENTACLES back catalogue is a continuum of evolving aural magnificence. As a result, Lotus Unfolding has an air of comforting familiarity that connects with its predecessor Space For The Earth, whilst simultaneously taking you on a completely new, mind-bending adventure.
OZRIC TENTACLES have always been a band that work innately with vibes, moods and musical spaces in which to let your spirit go free. Louts Unfolding channels an inner peace that can only be found through meditation and exploring the more colourful, enlightened areas of your mind and expresses it through a vast array of means. Modal scales, odd time signatures and obscure synth sounds feels more in tune with the free-flowing, untamed human experience – nothing is straight forward and everything is in constant motion. With that in mind, Louts Unfolding allows you to completely let go, escaping from the grey monotony of modern life to experience something akin to a esoteric spiritual experience that only you can interpret.
Opening up the album with Storm In A Teacup, you are welcomed warmly on this new musical adventure with warm synths, driving basslines and funky drum rhythms. Alongside this is the exquisite virtuosic guitar playing of Ed Wynne; never one to solo longer than what is needed, his licks and riffs are reminiscent of Steve Vai and Guthrie Govan. Deep Blue Shade has all the hallmarks of a signature OZRIC TENTACLES track; vibrant melodies and constantly shifting synthesisers take you on a hypnotic journey through all the shades of blue that appear in your imagination.
Melting away into Louts Unfolding, the title track feels like mental yoga; you feel your brain moving into positions of peace with tranquillity unfurling like the petals of the titular flower. Gentle musical movements offer a brief moment of calm on this crazy psychedelic journey. Crumplepenny is one of the more obscure tracks; with metallic spring sounds in its introduction, you feel the energy levels begin to rise as the rhythms become bouncy and dance inducing. Green Incantation feels like an adventure into the woods whilst on hallucinogenics. The song has a wonderfully mystical and faerie-esque vibe as the earthy tones of a sitar guide you through this trippy adventure. Burundi Spaceport closes the album with hypnotic synth organs and shuffling drums that send you off into a meditative trance, as the bass drives the song forward with magnificent flourishes.
OZRIC TENTACLES’ unrivalled creativity once again produces a magnificent, meditative, trippy and spiritual listening experience that you won’t soon forget. Lotus Unfolding is another excellent addition to the OZRIC TENTACLES universe.
Rating: 9/10
Lotus Unfolding is set for release on October 20th via Kscope Records
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