SPIRALS IN HYPERSPACE

I received this CD one day after it was released, and I have to say the wait for a brand new album was finally over! Back in the fall of 2000, they released their last studio effort, "The Hidden Step". Hard to believe that Rad was still in the group then. Since that time, Rad (in early 2001), and then later on (in late 2002) Zia left. New drummer Schoo (Stuart Fisher) and new bassist Pazza (Paul Godfrey) came in. Through the 2001- 2002 time period, they tied us over with a live EP entitled "Pyramidion" (with the title track being a new studio cut), a fan-club issued single called "Oakum" released in the fall of 2001, and then the "Live at the Pongmasters Ball/ CD (which also became available on DVD).

Well, I guess the band was under financial strain, and although they supposedly mended their relationship with Snapper Music, they apparently couldn't stay with them, so they found a label called Magna Carta (a label that seems to have too many KING CRIMSON side projects, DREAM THEATER clones, and PINK FLOYD and GENESIS tribute albums) to release their new album. Originally to be entitled "Toka Tola", it was retitled "Spirals in Hyperspace" and I'm glad it was released!

I was disappointed that this wasn't going to be an Ed, Seaweed, Pazza, Schoo, and John album, but essentially an Ed solo album (with only the occasional OZRIC member contributing, and Pazza nowhere to be found). But the minute I heard this album, all my suspicions flew out the window. While it's mostly just Ed on guitar, synths, and drum machines, this comes to prove how much of the OZRIC sounds came from him. You got the techno-like "Chewier" (with Schoo and Ed's wife Brandi Wynne helping out), maybe not the best piece on the album. Then you have the totally amazing title track, all Ed here, with many of the passages bearing more of a passing resemblance to "Waterfall Cities". "Slinky" is a mainly laid-back piece with nice spacy synthesizers and lots of simple synth melodies that are quite effective. "Toka Tola" is bound to be a new concert favorite, perhaps the album's real high point, going through different changes. "Oakum" was that 2001 fan-club issued single, now available to the whole public, and given the time of recording, no surprise it Ed, Zia, Schoo, Seaweed, and John all participating.

You might know the version off "Live at the Pongmasters Ball" (which I thought was superior), this studio version is arranged a bit differently, less synth solos, but many of the passages are still recognizable. "Akasha" is a spacy techno-like piece with none other than Steve HILLAGE and Miquette Giraudy helping out! Many people wondered what an OZRIC album would sound like with them on it, now they got their wish! To be honest, I can't tell what is Ed's guitar and synth work, or Steve's guitar work and Miquette's synth work. Then they get in to more experimental territory with "Psychic Chasm" (with the help of EAT STATIC member and ex-OZRIC Merv, which I'm glad to see, since "Arborescence" was their last album with him on it), and "Zoemetra" (where Schoo and John makes an appearance again). It's almost getting tiring reviewing an OZRIC album, since I have not found one album that disappointed me from them. More great stuff certain to keep the fans happy!