Ozric Tentacles "Tapes" 1985-1989

In the 1980s, Ozric Tentacles performed numerous live concerts, selling their self-produced tapes directly. Their music was predominantly progressive rock, but also branched into space rock and psychedelic music.

Their first official album was Pungent Effulgent in 1989, but in recent years, they have released vinyl versions of their previously recorded tapes, remastered by Ed Wynne.

Recording began when flutist John Egan wasn't yet in the band. Future members, including drummer Rad, were still in their teens (and Rad's replacement, Schoo, aka Stuart Fisher, was about 10). Future Jamiroquai member Nick Van Gelder (Tig) was the drummer. They had two keyboardists, one of whom was Joie Hinton (who remained with the band until 1994) and Tom Brookes (who left not long after this album, only to reappear as a guest on "Erpland"), and guitarist Ed Wynne's brother, Roly, was the bassist.

Although packed with excellent material, these releases are primarily of historical value and may not be the best starting point for newcomers wanting to explore this band.

The vinyl reissues are beautiful; they are true historical documents.

Overall, these "cassettes" are all beautiful, and it's no surprise that the band has attracted the attention of record companies for future "official" releases. The rest is history.

These are the cassettes transferred and remastered to vinyl:

1985 - Erpsongs

1985 - Tantric Obstacles

1986 - There Is Nothing

1986 - Live Ethereal Cereal

1988 - Sliding Gliding Worlds

1989 - The Bits Between the Bits

I've picked them up and listened to them all. Here they are.

1985 - Erpsongs

Erpsongs, their incredible first cassette, is here, remastered by Ed Wynne in 2021 and released on vinyl in 2022.

This is a seminal album for Ozric Tentacles. Released on cassette in 1985, it features instrumental jams of raw psychedelic space rock with a distinctive sound that blends swirling guitars, driving rhythms, and synthesizers. It laid the foundation for their future career, an album of experimental nature, lacking an official tracklist in its original version, and with a focus on spontaneous musical ideas.

A distinctive Ozric Tentacles mix of psychedelic rock, space rock, and jazz fusion, with hypnotic melodies, complex synth work, and groovy rhythms, sometimes bordering on "techno," on an entirely instrumental album.

This combination of synthesizers, rhythms, and guitar creates a dreamy world of psychedelic space rock that offers a "trance-meditation" experience. A wonderful piece of history in my opinion, from a band that has improved with each subsequent release, a must-have for fans.

1985 - Tantric Obstacles

Tantric Obstacles, released in 1985, was also one of Ozric Tentacles' first tape-only releases, reaffirming the band's signature space-rock sound during the free festival era.

An energetic rock album with progressive elements, it features songs like the complex "Og-Ha-Be" and the dub-influenced "Oddhamshaw Style" and "Sorry Style."

It features instrumental jams, prominent synthesizer work, guitar, and a strong drum-bass rhythm, with early versions of electronic beats and water sounds appearing on "Music to Gargle At."

A historical snapshot of the band's origins.

The album blends psychedelic rock, electronic music, and reggae influences. "Og-Ha-Be," the opening track, is a quintessential Ozrics style, with a soaring, progressive funky riff that explodes into space guitar. "Oddhamshaw Style" and "Sorry Style" are classic dub hits, a common sound at free festivals of the time. "Music to Gargle At" features water samples and electronic beats, anticipating later tracks like "Sploosh!" The virtuoso guitar and keyboard performances are impressive, complemented by a solid foundation of drums, bass, and improvised jams.

The band was essentially just starting out and released this second cassette the same year as "Erpsongs."

The cassette wasn't released on any label; the band did everything themselves, buying a batch of blank 90-minute tapes and recording them by photocopying the cover art. One cassette at a time.

1986 - There Is Nothing

Released in 1986 as a self-produced cassette demo and then reissued on vinyl (pictured) in 2022, Ozric Tentacles' "There Is Nothing" is a valuable addition to their remastered remaster.

In addition to a greater sense of direction, the production has significantly improved compared to their two previous studio demos, Erpsongs and Tantric Obstacles, and this is particularly evident in this remaster.

The album demonstrates a clear evolution of their sound compared to their previous works, a significant step forward for its blend of reggae rhythms with powerful synths and the unique atmosphere that captures the spirit of the UK's free festival circuit.

Although it's still a bit rough compared to their first "proper" album, Pungent Effulgent, it's a valuable work, a must-have for fans of this band and probably the best place to start for anyone wanting to explore this period of their production. Beautiful!!!

1986 - Live Ethereal Cereal

Live Ethereal Cereal by Ozric Tentacles, a 1986 album, released on cassette and later remastered and re-released on vinyl in 2015 and in this version in 2020 (2020 Ed Wynne Remaster).

An album that showcases the band's heavy, improvised live sound from 1985 and 1986.

Over 60 minutes on two LPs, the remastering has yielded excellent results.

A pressing and often deliberately chaotic sound, songs like "Erpriff," "Tentacular Explosion," and "Stupid Reggae" are the most representative of their space rock, featuring electronic and psychedelic melodies, funky bass lines, and hard rock riffs with great improvisational skills bordering on anarchy compared to their studio work. These are played with a full drum kit that introduces a pronounced, unusual, and noteworthy rock touch in the more reggae-oriented sections, such as the splendid "Stupid Reggae." Stupid Reggae.

A great intro (and the song in general) to "Obstacular Explosion," with great guitar and a truly spectacular bass and drum groove.

This band's live performances are superb, as already evident on the other albums in this cassette series, but this one highlights their exceptional ability to jam, perfectly suited to the psychedelic genre.

The dominant rhythm section on this album is fantastic, with Tig (Nick van Gelder) on drums, Paul Hankin on congas, and two monsters alternating on bass: Roly Wynne and Gavin Griffiths.

A great album, which, in addition to being their first official live album, deserves to be mentioned as one of the finest live albums, not only for its performance but also, in this version, for its excellent recording. Captivating psychedelic space rock live at its finest.

1988 - Sliding Gliding Worlds

Sliding Gliding Worlds from 1988 - 62 minutes for 15 tracks with excellent vinyl production, an album with an exotic and ethnic feel, oriental and Asian influences that make it truly interesting.

This album blends psychedelic space rock with dub, world music, and electronic experimentation, with the band's complex, melodic, and instrumental style.

Ed Wynne on guitar and Joie Hinton on synthesizers are superb, creating great atmospheric melodies and instrumental compositions.

We find digital and analog together, drum machines, and tablas... The original version of "White Rhino Tea," later on "Strangeitude," has a very '80s sound, and also features "Kick Muck," and then on "Pungent Effulgent," which has a different ending. Also good is "The Dusty Pouch," an interesting reggae track with a nice flute at the end.

1989 - The Bits Between the Bits

The Bits Between the Bits from 1989 - all great tracks, some of which were actually used for the official album versions.

"Eye of Adia" has something of "Pungent Effulgent" about it and was actually used as part of one of the tracks.

"Sparkling Oasis" is a very beautiful reggae track. "Tidal Otherness" is a short ambient piece, later revisited on "Erpsongs" but longer and with more electronica. "Symetricum" is my favorite. "Floating Seeds" is a wonderful ambient piece with a bit of ethnic music. "Wreltch" also appears on a reissue of "Pungent Effulgent," I believe.

This is the last collection of unreleased Ozric Tentacles recordings from 1985-1989, released as a preview of their major label debut, "Pungent Effulgent."

Though the material hails from a less refined period, it showcases the band's founding sound of hypnotic grooves, ethnic influences, and atmospheric synths, and is considered by some fans to be the peak of their cassette output, offering an excellent introduction to their distinctive mix of space-rock, dub, and electronic music.

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page