Waterfall Cities

Ozric Tentacles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 6, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 6, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Phoenix Rising
• ASIN: B00000JJBV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,442 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Coily

2. Xingu

3. Waterfall City

4. Ch'ai?

5. Spiral Mind

6. Sultana Detrii

7. Aura Borealis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ozrics Continue their Hyper-Dimensional Travel, February 10, 2000

By 

Dr. Wu (Morgantown, WV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waterfall Cities (Audio CD)

Wow, just when you thought that the Ozrics couldn't possibly make their music any more insanely compelling, they hit full on with "Waterfall Cities!" This album, which does indeed sound like a follow up to "Curious Corn," starts off with 'Coily,' featuring menacing keyboards in a strange time signature, and ending with a blistering guitar/keyboard fracas, courtesy of Ed & Seaweed (not to mention some extra-ordinary drumming by Rad). The second track, 'Xingu,' is very trance-inducing and features a writhing, curling guitar line, undergirdled by Zia's near-subsonic bass.

For the sake of space, I won't talk about every track in this fashion; this record exists for you to listen to, not for me to talk about, but I must say that this record really puts the 'new' Ozric sound into perspective. By this I mean to say that, whereas the 'old' (but still quite awesome) Ozric stuff ("Tantric Obstacles," "Erpsongs,") really does sound like a bunch of guys jamming on some beautiful, windswept hill in rural England at 3 am, the 'new' Ozric stuff sounds like they really have found the portal to dimension "Q," and subsequently Ed decided to set up a space station at the mouth of the portal so that the Ozrics could record and broadcast any manner of sonic message that might happen to pass between the planes. This record features absolutely astounding production, and I especially like the fact that Rad is integrating more and more elements of electronics into his acoustic drumkit (and, I believe, an automatic hi-hat?). Also noteworthy is Zia's awesome use of pedals, synths and such to effectualize his bass. For an example of this, listen to the bridge in the middle of track four, "Ch'ai?," and also the second track, "Xingu." In short, this record is incredible. But then, you really can't go wrong with the Ozrics.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best CD from a solid Prog studio band, December 16, 2003

By 

Rich Grace (Guerneville, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Waterfall Cities (Audio CD)

I've seen Ozrics several times and have most of their CDs. For some reason, Ozrics has always created polished studio efforts, starting with the classics Erpland, Strangitude and Jurassic Shift, going through the underrated Become the Other & Swirly Termination, and ending with Hidden Step. However, for me, the CD that holds up the best over time and continues to grow in depth is the fabulous Waterfall Cities. On this disc, the 2nd Ozrics lineup achieved their greatest focus and consistency, and produced a space-rock masterpiece.

The title track, in my view, contains one of the five or six finest recorded guitar solos in the entire decade of the 90's. Here, Ed Gwynn channels Jeff Beck into a powerful, multi-phased statement of true virtuosity. Building in ferocity as the extended solo passage progresses, and yet avoiding the technical excesses of the Malmsteen/Vai/Satriani school, Gwynn builds the theme of the composition and finally erupts into a scorching single-string line that circles around the key of the passage and brings it home in flawless fashion, followed by a keyboard jam passage of stunning beauty that takes the song in a completely different direction. Satriani only WISHES he could build compositions like this. Exciting and inspirational.

After opening with a passage resembling chamber music from Mars in Ch'ai?, Gwynn also contributes another scorching solo which is built upon an incredibly solid rhythm section backdrop - another specialty from this particular Ozrics lineup. The whole disc is like this. Without going into detail about every track, the entire CD breathes of integrity and concentration. This is a flawless effort from a band that really deserved a lot more exposure than they have ever received.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music To Open Your Mind, October 13, 1999

By 

Kelly Long ([e-mail]) (San Francisco, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waterfall Cities (Audio CD)

The Ozric's are at again with their newest release entitled "Waterfall Cities". For those of you who are not yet familiar with Ozric Tentacles search no further for the best "space-jam" instrumental band today. Get ready to be taken on an aural journey into the universal mindscape with each unique track. As usual they touch on many different sounds and styles, common-place for this diverse band. For those listeners who are familiar with the Ozric way of life, you will not be disappointed in the least with "Waterfall Cities". Just when you thought Ozric has taken you as far as you can go, they take you even further. I highly recommend this and all other Ozric Tentacles cd's.