Customer Reviews

Waterfall Cities

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I think, Ozrics changed their style after the keyboardist Joie and drummer Merv have left the band. The band is "dominated" by more keys nowadays. And this album sounds a lot like Curious Corn. In Curious Corn the music was touched by some oriental stuff (like Middle and Far East). This album has those moments as well, but at a lesser level. I can say Ozrics are getting less influenced by ethnic music day by day.

The production is good in general, not good as Jurassic or Strangeitude, and not bad as Spice Doubt. I loved the new bass tone a lot (esp in 1), but not the snare drum in some songs (4). It sounds like a cheap drum machine. However, I liked the the bass/drum harmony. As usual the key-man Seaweed backs up with space sounds, but discovered some new techniques within simplicity. Also, dont expect to find lots of flute & heavy guitars in this recording. What you'll find is the Ozric feel, not a specific Ozric Era.

This album has some fast paced if not "heavy" (1,3), techno-dance(or whatever) style (7), Chinesque (4) and usual Ozric style spacedriven (5) songs. I feel in general it's some kind of sequel to Curious Corn, and track 5 reminds me some Pteranodon of Jurassic Shift. Although I dont like "off the factory" techno-dance(or whatever :) influenced songs, I can listen to some tracks (5,7 specifically) again and again. My personal faves are 1,2 & 5. The bass lines in 1&2, the key riffs in 2, the "string" riffs in 3&5, and drum lines in 1&6 are very nice written and arranged. I'd give this CD 5 stars, then I thought about how much I like Strangeitude, changed my mind as 4, then thought to myself, "Hey, dont expect them to release *all are the same* records", changed back to 5 stars. Some bands are building up songs on only one riff, stg completely opposite to the Ozrics do. Watch Ozrics exploring the new decade's music from today.

The Ozrics cover much familiar territory and also explore some new ground. From wormy synthesizers to heavy guitar to otherworldly noises to spacey grooves, whatever you like about Ozric will be found here. This album is better than the previous two studio releases with the current lineup but perhaps not quite as good as Arborescence and Strangeitude. At first the contrast between the heavy first two songs and the more relaxed pace of the rest of the songs is striking, but after several listens it flows together better. Xingu is one of their most intense songs ever-classic Ozric.

I was very impressed with this new release. Best on the cd is the title track, Waterfall City, Coily and Spiralmind. I liked Spiralmind the best because it is one out of only a handful of songs that feature bass guitar as the lead instrument. Zia does a great job of this and Ed integrates the keyboards & guitars well to make this a multilayered soundscape for the senses. This one beats ERPLAND by a mile! Highly recommended!

This is an beautiful cd by an excellent band. Can't stop listening to it! There are many moments of ethereal bliss, in addition to deep grooves. The Ozrics' music will lift you out of your skin and bring you to a very good place. One of their best!

I have now had the new cd Waterfall Cities for a few days and can say it is pure beauty outside of a few elements in just a couple of songs that I still need to get used to. Anyway I can't say enough about these guys and I will thoroughly enjoy the show 7/21/99 in MPLS! This new CD is a bit more laid back than Curious Corn, but yet it jams quite hard in some areas too. Nice sounding tunes, all of them! The production is pretty good, but I have heard better produced cd's. This is hardly a problem though I just tend to notice there are some parts of the cd where the drums seem a bit "paper" sounding, but in general the production is rich. Good going Ozric's and keep 'em coming.

Well what can I say? The Ozrics just beats me everytime. Waterfall cities is their best. But so are all their other releases. Fantastic. Wonderfull. Beyond the stars....

When I listen to the Ozrics, I think that these guys are really aliens masquerading as humans. These aliens have a liking for many different styles of earthling music, and as such they blend the psychedelic space rock with many eastern influences, a mutated form of New Age, and some of the "watery" electronic textures of techno. Their music is out of this world, so unlike anything else that it's difficult to compare. Their music mystifies and excites like nothing else.

This is only my second Ozric Tentacles CD, as I am new to their music. I also own their newest, The Hidden Step, which I like better than this one. These songs are little more cosmic but a little less colorful. My favorite track is the hyperkinetic "Waterfall City." It's 11 minutes in length, driven by crystalline synth lines and ballistic guitars that swim atop a hammering layer of throbbing bass and electrifying drums. One thing I noticed about this disc is that the drumming and bass lines seem a little more repetitive. That's unfortunate, since it detracts some the dynamics of the songs. Still, this is an excellent release well worth owning.