HDRSF-01 (EP)

There are certain bands that define genres of music to such a degree that you just can't help comparing other bands to them. Most prog-metal bands are instantly compared to Dream Theater. Such is the case with the Ozric Tentacles. They so define their segment of space prog that bands like Hidria Spacefolk are immediately recognized as being similar. And similar they are, but they do have a very distinct style that also lets you know these guys aren't the Ozrics.

I, like the others here, downloaded this EP from their site to check them out. And I must say that I'm very impressed with what I've heard. I now want to go out and buy their other albums. The sound is similar to the Ozrics without Ed Wynne's blazing guitar lines. The guitar on these tracks are more atmospheric and textural. The synths are more bass heavy and throbbing. Like Hawkwind's early period, they make great use of the twiddly, fiddly, bubbling synth sounds. They also make use of more exotic acoustic instruments like on the track "Gnomen" complete with tribal drumming themes on bongos. Actually it sounds like Nik Turner going Australian!

Honestly, since the band has been so generous to post mp3's (192k bps) of this EP; you owe it to yourself to check them out. If you're a fan of the Ozrics, you'd be hard pressed not to like these guys. They change their songs up a lot and rarely stay in the same groove too long before moving on to a new or revised groove.