Hidden Step

Ozric Tentacles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 17, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 17, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Phoenix Rising
• ASIN: B00004YR50
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,352 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Holohedron

2. The Hidden Step

3. Ashlandi Bol

4. Aramanu

5. Pixel Dream

6. Tight Spin

7. Ta Khut

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Those who've had difficulty spotting the differences between the songs on the last 15 Ozric Tentacles albums won't have any more luck with this one. On the other hand, those who feel that what the world needs now is a really happening amalgam of Tangerine Dream sequencer riffs with free-form Grateful Dead guitars jamming over the top will be blissed beyond belief. This outing allegedly has an Egyptian theme, and there's certainly a North African feel to the beautifully structured "Ashlandi Bol," but most of the time it's just the Ozrics doing what they do best, with Ed Wynne's fluid guitar lines soaring free over his own (and co-keyboardist Seaweed's) ever-changing synths, occasionally augmented by John Egan's trippy jazz flute, and all of it anchored by one of the world's tightest rhythm sections, Zia Gelani (bass) and Rad (drums). Despite much snooze-worthy noodling, there are moments of sublime interaction, flashes of gorgeous melodic invention and, when the tempo picks up, the urge to dance on one leg like a whirling dervish is hard to resist. --Johnny Black

Product Description

Remastered reissue of the 2000 album by the UK's unique psychedelic electronic jam-band, packaged in a digipak. Seven tracks. Snapper. 2004. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They did it again, October 17, 2000

By 

Domien Holthof (Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden Step (Audio CD)

Yes, the Ozrics do it once again. At first, it's not so catchy as Waterfall Cities was, but after a couple of times its beauty starts showing. During the opener, Holohedron, it is already clear what these guys are best at. Catchy spaced riff, relaxing bit in between and total madness towards the end. And that all to absolute perfection! The Hidden Step is an 8 minute soundscape. Very subtle but what a composition. The third one, Ashlandi Bol, is so typical Ozric again. They really master those oriental melodies combined with rock, techno,... Aramanu is yet another mamoth of a songs. The loomy riff goes on and on and on and... And meanwhile they fill it up with strange and beautyful samples and synth sounds. Pixel Dream has a very 'rocky' feel to it with a very nice funky part towards the end. Seaweed totally freaks out on Tight Spin. Wow, what a song! Maybe the best one of the album. Finally they end their new masterpiece with the peacefull Ta Kuth. Never before John's flute sounded so clear and cheerfull. Of course, Zia and Rad are rock solid as ever and Ed is the master of production. If you're new to Ozric, you really should buy it, if you're not, likewise.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sublime instrumental disciplined excess, April 9, 2002

By 

Hieronymus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden Step (Audio CD)

One of my favourite album titles is Frank Zappa's "Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar." The title speaks to my sense that lyrics have no business in rock music: If you're not Yeats, keep your lyrics to yourself. Ozric Tentacles is, therefore, a band after my progressive, anti-lyric heart. These guys really know how to play their instruments: and, in good progressive fashion, produce songs over 2:30. "The Hidden Step" is probably their most polished album (it's not my favourite: I think "Waterfall Cities" has more soul) and does contain what I think is one of the more complex pieces of "rock" music in recent memory: Track 6, "Tight Spin". This track moves from a beautiful underpinning keyboard riff into a polytonal rythmic structure. It then, quite astonishingly, but somehow perfectly moves into a techo-flavoured section, then back to the underpinning keyboard riff. Just listen--no distractions and at as high volume as you can stand--to the transition! The talent of these musicians is breathtaking: the drummer (his names appears to be "Rad," poor sod) produces some of the most tight, intricate work I've heard since Bruford; the keyboard-centered sound may not be to all tastes but there is a weird kind of unobtrusiveness to the synth work here.

If you can get past the stunningly cheesy cover art (truly these fellows need to start hiring professionals to do their art work; time to stop hiring their art-school drop out buddies!) and the temptation to make bad puns on the band's name (Ostrich Testicles; Octopus Testimonies....) I guarantee you will love this album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ozric Tentacles - 'The Hidden Step' (Phoenix Rising), February 17, 2006

By 

Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hidden Step (Audio CD)

Decent 2000 release by the Ozrics.It's easy to bunch these Brits in with that of Hawkwind,Pink Floyd,Tangerine Dream,etc.But(at least on this CD),the guys appear to fuse together world music,progressive and elements of Middle Eastern trippyness.Does that make much sense?Better cuts include the title track "The Hidden Step","Pixel Dream" and "Ta Khul".Certain portions of this disc may actually make a good soundtrack for some science fiction film.