TANTRIC OBSTACLES

TANTRIC OBSTACLES is the second release of the six home made cassette only releases that OZRIC TENTACLES put out out in the 80s before their full-fledged album debuted in 1989. This is the second of 1985 and pretty much continues down the same path as the debut "Erpsongs" which showed the band debut its unique combo of space rock, psychedelia with electronic trance inducing embellishments. The band's style reminds me a lot of a spacier and all instrumental take on what the Grateful Dead were known for as a jam band. There is the usual mix of straight on rock riffing, reggae, ethnic drumming patterns and electronic techno.

Although on this second release we get an album much like the first, on this one there is less emphasis on the Tangerine Dream Moog and VCS-3 synth sounds and more attention to a more aggressive guitar riffing and faster tempos. These albums were completely done by the band and it sounds like it. It was all analog of course and not mixed very well as the drums seem to be over-emphasized, the synths subdued and the guitars erupting in various loudness factors. Personally i don't find this one as good as the debut and nowhere as good as the later official releases but as with all OZRIC TENTACLE releases, it is consistent by offering up an hour of space rock tracks laced with different rhythms and musical textures that result in a decent release. As with the other five cassette-only releases TANTRIC OBSTACLES can be found remastered in the box set "Vitamin Enhanced."