SPIRALS IN HYPERSPACE

I awaited with trepidition for the new Ozric album and was concerned that what was effectively a 4 year absence (excluding the live releases) was going to mean a radical shift away from the OT ethos but I was wrong. This album is excellent. Chewier is reminiscent of some of the previous harder OT tracks but a nic eintro to the album. The title track is by far the best on the album and blends the modern synth bass with my favourite oriental theme which has appeared in so many of the classic OT tracks. Also reminiscent of Spiral mind but equally as absrorbing. Slinky is a relaxing, bouncy synth number which glides along nicely followed by Toka Tola which will be popular with OT fans. Plasmoid is a funky item which is insistent but rythmically enjoyable and the increasing speed towards the end typifies the group's novel approach to their music. Oakum we all know but must confess I preferred the Pongmaster's Ball version. Akasha is another relaxing ride into the outer regions of the mind followed by the changeable Psychic Chasm which starts slow and blends into a thumping drum n bass which when incorporated into an Ozric track is not out of place and finally Zeometra which is a characteristic OT track which finishes off the album nicely. Top marks for a varied album which makes the most of all the OT sounds we know and love and progresses them that bit further.