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Ozric Tentacles: Paper Monkeys

Progressive Rock

4.0/5.0

Madfish Music
Website
by Craig Hartranft, 11.07.2011

Prolific. Persistent. Imaginative. A bit different. Only a few words to describe Ozric Tentacles, a band who has developed a cult following nearing that of the Grateful Dead. Fellow Ozrics, who have been following them from festival to festival since the early Eighties, can rejoice as the band offers their 28th album, Paper Monkeys.

Typical of Ozric, this album is amalgamation of many things, mostly layers of synthesizers and sequencers in mesmerizing mass. They whirl and swirl with abandon. Toss in some quirky to classic bass lines and some spacey guitar work, and you have quintessential Ozric. Did I mention odd time signatures, tempos, and impossible mash ups of all these elements? But you probably expected that from the start.

And Ozric Tentacles makes it sound so very accessible and entertaining. I've never been a fan of plethora of synths, midis, and what not. But OT takes would could be a glorified and elaborate Nintendo game soundtrack and makes it historic and uncanny. That's what you have early on with Attack of the Vapours, Lemon Kush, and Flying Machines.

More favorable to my tastes are those songs where the guitar gains prominence as on Knhref or Lost in the Sky, even Paper Monkeys. But faithful readers know I'm a sucker for good fret work. Not dismissing anything from other participants and instruments, these songs were exciting. But, if you dig what Ozric has been doing for nearly a generation, this is another exciting and entertaining venture.

Fundamentally, Ozric Tentacles' Paper Monkeys will not disappoint. But how could they, especially if you get it. Then get it. Quite recommended.

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