Lotus Unfolding by Ozric Tentacles, released in 2023, is their most recent album.
Ozric Tentacles are an English band formed in 1984 during the Stonehenge Free Festival during the summer solstice. The band emerged from the UK festival scene, achieving fame at the Stonehenge Free Festival, and the name "Ozric Tentacles" was chosen randomly from a list of names for psychedelic cereals.
Guitarist Ed Wynne is the only original member and has remained the driving force behind the band's ever-evolving lineup. Throughout the 1980s, they performed numerous live concerts, selling their self-released tapes directly.
Their sound is a stunning fusion of psychedelic rock, progressive rock, electronic music, and other genres, all executed with masterful skill.
This stunning album is their finest work, which is incredible considering that in nearly forty years, from 1985 to 2023, this band has released over 20 albums (including studio albums). It's a highly psychedelic blend of electronic melodies, hard rock-style guitar riffs, funky bass lines, frequent tempo changes, and Arabian-inspired sounds.
As always, it's difficult to summarize an album like this, which is psychedelic and often jam-based, track by track. So, I'll summarize what I believe to be the best tracks:
Storm in a Teacup, a spectacular opener that showcases the band's virtuosity; the title track, "Lotus Unfolding," with its meditative and spiritual atmosphere; and the closing track, "Burundi Spaceport," with its splendid synthesizers and percussion; and finally, "Green Incantation," with its great funky bass, parallel synth lines, and acoustic and electric guitar solos, perfectly representative of the band's space-rock sound. These are definitely among the top tracks. Also noteworthy are "Deep Blue Shade," with its beautiful melodies and great guitar work by Ed Wynne, and, to conclude this brief summary, "Crumplepenny," with its great psychedelic intensity.
A perfectly recognizable band, a fantastic sound suitable for a very wide audience, a perfect balance between technique and electronica.
This is a spectacular album. Hypnotic and confounding, ever-changing sounds blend with an exciting rhythm section.
The artwork is worthy of a frame, simply stunning, like the album itself. A masterpiece!
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
Tracklist
1. Storm in a Teacup (9:37)
2. Deep Blue Shade (5:09)
3. Lotus Unfolding (8:13)
4. Crumplepenny (9:55)
5. Green Incantation (7:38)
6. Burundi Spaceport (5:08)
Duration 45:40
LineUp
- Ed Wynne - guitar, synthesizer, bass
- Silas Wynne - synthesizer, keyboards
- Brandi Wynne - bass
Featuring:
- Saskia Maxwell - flute
- Tim Wallander - drums
- Paul Hankin - percussion
