Customer Reviews

Space Lines

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I was sorely disappointed to see that no one had yet reviewed this absolutely brilliant cd. This is in fact Ed Wynne (prime founder of Ozric Tentacles) and Joie Hinton (Eat static, oroonies). I have honestly played this cd well over 500 times since it was released a couple of years ago. Nodens is like this atmospherical blessing of music that takes you to the forests, the birds, the water, the unicorns and whatever else you see as you listen to this masterpiece. AMbient music with an ozric tentacles vibe...you cannot go wrong with this these guys are amazing musicians and deserve more credit for projects like nodens ictus. This album ought to be in any person's collection that appreciates talented creative electronic music that isnt thumping techno...

Ambient doesn't get any better than this. Side project of Ed and Joie from Ozric Tentacles. It is Ozrics without the pummeling rock element. Excellent chill out music. I suggest this be listened to for the first time in its entirety without interruption, through headphones, and in the dark. Whole universes will manifest, evolve and subside within your mind. "Nodens" is a friend's last name. "Ictus" is, from the mouth of Ed, the primordial pulse of universal rhythm. Also, according to my cellist brother, it is the imaginary rectangle within which an orchestra conductor moves his baton.

This excellent 2002 release consists of a compilation of studio and live tracks recorded over a period spanning from 1986 to 2000. Based on what I have read, Nodens Ictus was formed in 1986 by Ozric Tentacles guitarist Ed Wynne and keyboardist Joie Hinton. Drummer Merv Pepler joined them a bit later on and along with Joie Hinton, formed the techno-trance act Eat Static. Both of these guys left the Ozrics in 1994 to concentrate on Eat Static full time.

This is fine album of spacey ambient/electronica with enough of a rhythmic element that it should appeal to both fans of the Ozric Tentacles and also groups such as The Orb. Indeed, this music is the perfect stuff for exhausted clubbers to "chill out" to. Instrumentation consists largely of synthesizers and other programming. The synthesizer is used more for texture and atmosphere, rather than as a solo instrument or to provide a melodic line. The use of a drum kit here and there adds an organic element and really spices the music up. In contrast with the music of the Ozric Tentacles however, the electric guitar is not a big part of the overall sound. In general, this stuff sounds a lot like the mellower moments on the Ozric Tentacles album The Hidden Step (2000). Although the tunes were released over a 14 year period, there is remarkable consistency across tracks.

This album was released on the Snapper Music label. The sound quality varies from track to track, with some tracks sounding "hotter" than others. There is no audience noise whatsoever on the live tracks and they sound as if they were taken directly from the mixing board. The CD booklet consists of a foldout that depicts the synthesizer pattern on the cover along with a psychedelic photo of (I am guessing) Ed Wynne and Joie Hinton. The back cover artwork features a psychedelic landscape similar to the artwork featured on Ozric Tentacles albums. There are no liner notes.

As a fan of the Ozric Tentacles, The Orb and other similar groups, I found a lot to like here. Recommended.

I just stumbled on to this CD being a big Ozric Tentacles fan.

This is amazing if you like spacey layered synthesizer music. Most tracks have a soothing feeling to them. I turn this on at work if I'm stressed out. It has the compositional flair and complexity that the Ozrics have without the intense guitar.

I was initially a bit reserved about purchasing this album as the warp speed guitar and pulsating bass of the Ozrics is what first attracted me to Ed's music.
I listened to the usual 30 second grabs and decided to buy this and it certainly impressed me.
The lack of the trademark Ozric overtones does not mean that this is a subset of the generic Ozric work, but is rather an augmentation of their previous work. If you like Trance, or even the Prog of Ozrics then grab this while it is still available and listen to it in one session. I hope there is a follow up on the horizon. Very highly recommended.