|
|
Post by spongey on Aug 23, 2023 15:01:56 GMT -8
I'm hoping that this is more of a collaborative effort, but either way, it will be nice to have some new Ozric music in 2023.  |
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Aug 24, 2023 5:47:43 GMT -8
There's Paul and Saskia besides the core so there's that. Ed did a track with the same title as the album a few years back, a little after The Cozmic Key if memory serves me right. It was presented as a NI track so no band in the writing process. I reckon there won't be much band involvement on most tracks. I'm hoping for something I can connect to more than the last one. I really like the cover though.
Also I'm praying for a gig here, they've only done festivals outside the UK. Haven't seen them since 2016.
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Aug 24, 2023 9:05:36 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by twirlyburd on Aug 25, 2023 10:56:15 GMT -8
The track "Lotus Unfolding" was performed by the band on the last tour (with Gong). It was played around the middle of the set and featured Saskia heavily. Kinda slow and mellow, and kinda almost ended a couple of times before picking back up again each time. My guess is this album will be more of a group effort if the title track is anything to go by. Would love to hear a bit more Silas on guitar! (like he did on saz on opening to Epiphlioy)
I have my ticket for the next Manchester gig but I can't afford to travel now (cost of living is ridiculous here in Ireland right now). So this album will be the high point for me! :-D
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Aug 26, 2023 9:50:03 GMT -8
Ed did a track with the same title as the album a few years back, a little after The Cozmic Key if memory serves me right. I was wrong, the track was called Spacefold. |
|
|
|
Post by twirlyburd on Aug 26, 2023 13:15:24 GMT -8
Ed did a track with the same title as the album a few years back, a little after The Cozmic Key if memory serves me right. I was wrong, the track was called Spacefold. Well I guess that's a big thanks for that!  I never heard of that before, but I just found it on Nodens fb. Sweeeet! |
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Sept 28, 2023 15:53:28 GMT -8
Title track is up on Youtube:
This one has a Nodens Ictus feel to me, surprised they released it first given how mellow it is, but perhaps this is the general vibe of the album.
|
|
|
|
Post by mountainmaster on Oct 1, 2023 5:52:48 GMT -8
I guess their focus lies on vinyl. One side of an LP cannot go very far over 22 minutes without degrading the sound quality. |
|
|
|
Post by bobbish on Oct 8, 2023 10:47:18 GMT -8
Will this be on iTunes in the U.S.? As of this writing, searching for it yields:
Item Not Available
The item you requested is not currently available in the U.S. store
I would pre-order it if I could....
|
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Oct 10, 2023 16:04:16 GMT -8
Will this be on iTunes in the U.S.? As of this writing, searching for it yields: Item Not Available The item you requested is not currently available in the U.S. store I would pre-order it if I could.... Yeah, it's weird because it looks like it will be available on Amazon and Bandcamp. Maybe Itunes will have it once the release date hits, but I'd rather get it from bandcamp anyway since more of the $$ will go to the band. |
|
|
|
Post by bobbish on Oct 13, 2023 15:45:23 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Oct 18, 2023 14:56:37 GMT -8
Second track is out:
Can't say I love this one, but maybe it will grow on me after repeated listens. TBH, it feels like a filler track. Still looking forward to the album on Friday though!
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Oct 19, 2023 12:09:28 GMT -8
Second track is out: Can't say I love this one, but maybe it will grow on me after repeated listens. TBH, it feels like a filler track. Still looking forward to the album on Friday though! I agree, it sounds a little shallow to my ears. It would have benefitted from an extra section at the end, as radically different from the first one as possible imo. The title track sounds a little better with each listen. |
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Oct 19, 2023 23:50:27 GMT -8
A couple of listens later, I like this more than SFTE, easily. I was a bit underwhelmed with the latter, so I came in with low expectations, but have thankfully been proven wrong. It feels proggier in the traditional sense - as in technical - than, maybe ever, and is quite a lot more psychedelic than SFTE. Not much in the way of explosive solos but the shifts from one mood to the next are brilliant and quite unexpected. Needless to say, it gets better with each listen. Quite happy at the moment, but will have to wait a while for the THC approach.
|
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Oct 20, 2023 19:15:00 GMT -8
Only one listen so far, and not what i would call a "proper" listen (as in, giving it my full attention with no distractions), but I'm really digging it. Some nice uptempo bits throughout, I like that the album opens with a "bang" in Storm In A Teacup. Deep Blue Shade is more enjoyable in the context of the full album, and Burundi Spaceport is unique way to end the album. The rest of the tracks are nice as well, but will require deeper listening before i comment.
I do think it sounds like more of collaborative effort, there are a few sections that remind me of Silas' solo album, and the flutes are a welcome addition. Hopefully they will play at least 2 or 3 tracks from this in upcoming live gigs!
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Oct 22, 2023 8:56:37 GMT -8
I really hope there's a European tour coming my way. I really want to see them again. Sliding + Gliding plus whatever they play from LU are most welcome. I feel as if it was the late 90s all over again for some reason...
|
|
|
|
Post by orpheus73 on Oct 23, 2023 2:30:57 GMT -8
I haven't really gelled with any of the releases since The Yumyum Tree, but I have found myself listening to this over and over. There's definitely more than a bit of the old magic there (for me), that I can't put my finger on and I think Ed switching to the Quad Cortex for his guitar sounds has inspired him. Obviously I'd love to see some old school dub and Arabic vibes, but this is a decent version of the latter day Ozric sound.
|
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Oct 24, 2023 15:56:48 GMT -8
I wasn't sure about Crumplepenny at first, but it has grown on me with repeated listens. I really like the different shifts between sections.
I do like some of the "newer" guitar sounds on this album too- I didn't realize Ed had started using the Quad Cortex, but now the use of new sounds makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Oct 26, 2023 1:58:38 GMT -8
This is up there. I don't know what's different but it feels as fresh as Curious Corn did, to give one example. The first half is good, but the second one is stellar. Those three tunes are absolutely amazing. This is where SFTE lost it for me, the tunes either side of the title track have never grabbed me, so the album loses steam big time in the second half. IMO, at least.
Also, I feel Ed's solo albums are both fantastic and it's a shame none of this material will most likely ever be played live. Those three albums, two Ed solo and LU, are great and should see some live representation. If there's a full band tour I reckon they'll play Lotus and Green Incantation.
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Oct 29, 2023 8:14:32 GMT -8
I feel Paul Hankin adds a lot to the album. His contributions are the most essential ever I feel, maybe due to the production, maybe because of what he adds musically.
|
|
|
|
Post by orpheus73 on Oct 30, 2023 0:41:23 GMT -8
After several more listens, I think what's present in some of the tunes is the intense melancholy that has, for me, been missing for a while.
Plus, the album feels like it's more firmly located in the real world, rather than in a DAW, although I have no idea whether Ed has changed anything about the way he recorded this one.
|
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Nov 23, 2023 10:48:26 GMT -8
Looks like Brandi is out again- pics/videos on Instagram from recent gigs show some guy playing bass who I'm not familiar with. Hopefully some full song performance videos from these gigs will make their way to youtube...
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Nov 23, 2023 22:58:15 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by smallfish on Nov 24, 2023 23:56:15 GMT -8
That set is slightly wrong, this is the only one I've seen so far: Green Incantation Erpland Eternal Wheel Kick Muck Lotus Unfolding Sunscape Sniffing Dog Burundi Spaceport Jam Sploosh! I guess the shorter sets are down to co-headlining with Gong. Maybe the last band on gets longer and they're alternating each night? |
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Dec 7, 2023 12:35:34 GMT -8
Fak yeah! They're playing on 19 April in Athens! Hopefully a) the set will be two hours long, b) there will be some semi-professional filming, like the 2016 gig and c) there will be merch.
Looking forward to seeing Silas & Saski too.
|
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Dec 21, 2023 12:45:28 GMT -8
There will most probably be a full gig video by Ethereal Nige. You called it mate  The band definitely sounds more energetic to me, and it's nice to hear Saski's flute up in the mix, unlike the last tours with Jon where it seemed like his mic wasn't even on half the time... I may be in the minority, but I do wish they'd retire some of the tunes that have been played endlessly, and add something else. We all love Eternal Wheel, but don't need to hear it for the thousandth time, especially with a catalogue as deep as theirs. Just my opinion of course, I'm glad they're still performing, and sounding so good. I hope those of you going to see them have an amazing time! |
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Dec 22, 2023 9:32:37 GMT -8
I may be in the minority, but I do wish they'd retire some of the tunes that have been played endlessly, and add something else. We all love Eternal Wheel, but don't need to hear it for the thousandth time, especially with a catalogue as deep as theirs. Just my opinion of course, I'm glad they're still performing, and sounding so good. I agree. I'd like to hear either tunes like Space Between Your Ears, Oolite Grove or Cat DNA that haven't been played for a long time or some that have never been played at all. If they do play stuff they've done before I'd really enjoy some tunes from the Seaweed era and beyond. Having said that, the only tunes I enjoyed in their 2012 show in Athens were The Sacred Turf, Invisible Carpet, Eternal Wheel and Myriapod. The Paper Monkeys tracks didn't translate live at all imo. I do hope they play Sliding and Gliding in Athens though, only seen that on video. |
|
|
|
Post by damien on Jan 18, 2024 11:16:47 GMT -8
I am enjoying the album. It has been like a musical medicine for the cold winter. I put it on in the morning on my headphones, which helps me get in a better mood on my way to work. The title track feels like a fresh approach. It is something that I have enjoyed. There is a strong vocal quality to melodies that feels accessible to sing along with, which puts me into an emotionally cleansing space. It seems to have arrived at a time when I need music to help me with the struggles of day-to-day grind. The other song tracks, storm in the tea cup and deep blue sky are upbeat and good for an energy blast. Burundi spaceport has some interesting harmonies and helps me with escaping the work cycle. It feels like an Ozric album that people who don't normally like Ozrics may like. I know because I have tested it with family members and they like it, normally they find Ozrics too over the top, but this album perhaps is more restrained. I should point out, that the wind sound at the start of the album is perfect for this chilly time of year.
|
|
|
|
Post by spongey on Apr 21, 2024 14:20:19 GMT -8
After many listens, I have to say that I find this to be the most enjoyable Ozrics album since "The Floor's Too Far Away". I like all the tracks, and the sequencing of tracks on the album is very effective. In the recent live videos I've seen I also feel that the band sounds more inspired live than they have in some time. Hopefully they can keep this momentum going!
|
|
|
|
Post by yiannis on Apr 25, 2024 13:33:22 GMT -8
Went to the show last Friday. I knew it was going to be a 90 min set but still felt it was too short. Enjoyed the show but wouldn't rank it among the best I've seen them at. Not anywhere near the worst either though, it was good. Loved Eternal Wheel, Erpland, Ayurvedic (absolute highlight of the show for me), Jellylips and Sploosh. Green Incantation and Sunscape were good too. I miss Ed playing around with the synths beyond the odd solo, but guitar-wise I was in awe. Some of his best solos I've seen him do on stage. Saskia's playing gave off a bit of the old Jon ethereal vibe, especially on Ayurvedic.
|
|
I never heard of that before, but I just found it on Nodens fb. Sweeeet!
