LIVE ETHEREAL CEREAL

This is the first live recording available for Ozric Tentacles. It has been released as a double CD set in combination with "There Is Nothing". You can get this for less than ten ? (shipment included) on Amazon.fr. For this price, it is a good deal.

Now, about the content.

I wouldn't say that the music here is revolutionary but it is definitely better than their studio recordings. The opening number Erp Riff is very good and doesn't share a lot with its studio counterpart (on their first release "Erpsongs").

If you would exclude the well named "Stupid Reggae" which is just a poor habit of the band who always felt necessary to release at least one reggae-oriented track on each of their studio releases for several years, this space-rock almbum is highly energetic ("Aumriff"). I also particularly like the "Explosion" parts, which are solidly influenced by the early live Floyd.

I wasn't really enthusiast about their studio releases, but I have to say that these live recordings are substantially better. At least, one can feel the band a little more. There is a soul here which is not present while in studio and it is more than welcome.

IMO, this is the best album from their "cassette" era and deserves three stars.