Gig review: Ozric Tentacles, Glasgow

Ozric Tentacles: Sound and ethos have not changed

Ozric Tentacles - Oran Mor, Glasgow

* * * *

Even then, they were a band out of time, drawing on the psychedelic space rock sounds of the 70s for inspiration. But they were quickly adopted by the nouveau hippy rave kids of the early Nineties who recognised a kindred wigged-out spirit in their dub- and electronica-infused instrumentals.

Some 28 albums and almost as many members later, their sound and ethos have not changed, though urban curfews being what they are, the five-piece, still led by guitarist Ed Wynne, with wife Brandi and son Silas also in the line-up, only played for two hours this time.

Possibly the time limit conferred a sense of urgency on proceedings; certainly the group laid out their wares from the off, layering Pink Floydian guitar, blissful washes of ambient synths and retro-futuristic keyboard arpeggios over depth charge bass and driving Krautrock drums, like a prog rock box set in capsule form, all played out in front of a kaleidoscopic slideshow in case anyone required even more stimulation.

The more electro-centric numbers treated synthesisers like a sonic playground, with much the same gleeful profligacy as Daft Punk. Their one and only single Sploosh! remains a mightily groovy techno raga rock odyssey, while “old crusty number” Sniffing Dog was a feisty burst of psych-prog boogie which glided into electro space jazz territory and back with great discipline.