Princess Pavilion Goes Underground Princess Pavilion / Music Date: May 29, 2005 - 07:46 PM Ozric Tentacles, legends of the UK underground, will be appearing at the Princess Pavilion on Saturday 18 June... One of the most influential bands to emerge from the UK's festival scene, the Ozrics layer ambient and ethereal landscapes with freeform dub trips, incredible rave grooves and psychedelic progressive rock. It's an open exploration of music and the soul. In their 20 years, the Ozrics have experienced the vicissitudes of the rock and roll life. The band has flourished through a number of line-up changes, spawned several side projects (including Eat Static and Nodens Ictus), created their own record label (Stretchy), put out close to 25 albums, scored a hit record, and sold close to one million albums world-wide. And yet, the basic motivation behind the band's existence has never wavered. A campfire at the Stonehenge free festival in 1984 witnessed the birth of Ozric Tentacles. It was there that synth player Joie Hinton, stumbled upon brother’s Ed Wynne (guitar) and Roly Wynne (bass), performing in a band known at the time as Bolshem People, along with Gavin Griffiths and drummer Nick 'Tig' Van Gelder (Jamiroquai). 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 spiralling guitars, textured waves of keyboard and midi samplers, and supergroovy bass and drum rhythms. The Ozrics 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. Throughout the early 1990's, constant touring of the UK helped The Ozric Tentacles to build a tremendous national fanbase on a grass roots level. With the band's 1993 release "Jurassic Shift," which debuted at #11 on the British pop chart and climbed into the Top 10 in the National Album Charts, the Ozrics eventually won over the adulation of mainstream press, and found itself heralded in publications such as NME and Melody Maker. It was, and still is, an astonishing accomplishment for a band with no hit single, no celebrity status, and no major record label backing. "The Ozrics drift to rock fusion purgatory, where song structure crumbles and whim takes the reins. Riffs splinter like shrapnel. Protracted solos come casually, sometimes two at a time. The sound changes chameleonesquely, from solid, tightly-wrapped fusion to warped, chaotic drone." - Bob Gulla, Creem Magazine Ozric Tentacles released their 25th studio album in 2004, "Spirals In Hyperspace" on Magna Carta. Having a musical identity that is as broad as their influences, the new album is a body of work that combines rock, world music, trance, and ethereal jams with organic drums and bass in a way that only Ozric Tentacles can. "Spirals In Hyperspace" is based around the guitar work, synthesis, and compositional skills of Ed Wynne, founding member of Ozric Tentacles. On this anniversary release, Ed has asked a few special friends to join him. Appearing together are guitar hero (“zero”) Steve Hillage, and keyboardist Miquette Giraudy, from Gong & System 7. Also, former Ozric’s drummer, Merv Pepler from Eat Static, lends his programming and sequencing skills to a track, in a groundbreaking reunion. Ozric Tentacles currently winging their way through a world tour, in celebration their 20th anniversary, which is marked by the release of a two cd set “Best of” Ozrics Tentacles! - The Definitive Collection from the Legendary Festival Favourites – Tracklist and artwork seleted and done by the band, - available in stores now. Ozrics Tentacles (currently Ed Wynne – guitars & keyboards, John Egan –flute, Brandi Wynne – keyboards, Metro – drums, & Greyum – bass) are now poised to take America by storm, a country that hasn’t yet been fully exploited by the band, but is ripe for their psychedelic jamband status. Show starts 8.30pm Tickets £12.50 advance / £13.50 door Box Office 01326 211222 The official web-site can be found at www.ozrics.com This article comes from falmusic.co.uk http://www.falmusic.co.uk/ The URL for this story is: http://www.falmusic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=303