SPACE FOR THE EARTH

It's getting difficult for me to review an Ozric release because they pretty much follow a similar formula. Sure some are more guitar-oriented, others more synth-oriented, world music has itself felt more on some than others, some more techno, some more rock, you get the picture. So how to review Space for the Earth, their first in over five years (and the end of a hiatus Ed had spoken about)? Well as much as I enjoyed Technicians of the Sacred, it needed more concentration to let it soak in due to length. Here being a single disc it's more compact and I can more easily recommend the Ozric newbie as a great place to start for their newer material. Here it's perhaps a bit less guitar-oriented and more synth-oriented with mainly Ed and son Silas providing synths although Joie Hinton and Dutch musician Gracerooms provide additional synths on some cuts. Plus it's nice to see early drummer Nick van Gelder appear and even John Egan reappears. Paul Hankin once again provides occasional percussion. Brandi is now MIA as she's no longer with Ed and staying in the States while Ed moved from Colorado to Fife, Scotland. Anyways Space for the Earth is another amazing entry in the Ozric catalog. Hard to pick highlights but the title track features John's nice flute playing, while "Humboldt Currant" sounds like Ozric in a nutshell and little wonder this piece was available as a preview ahead of release. I have to say the album simply knocked my socks off. Definitely bound to be a favorite of mine for 2020!