Harmonic Mind by Ozric Tentacles, a 2026 album.
“Harmonic Mind” is the new album by Ozric Tentacles, another chapter in their long and glorious story.
The band, led by Ed Wynne, celebrates over 40 years of psychedelic music and progressive rock. Incredible to think today of their beginnings, when in the ’80s they played gigs and sold their self-produced tapes directly, the famous “cassettes” I wrote about in the article “Ozric Tentacles ‘Tapes’ 1985-1989”.
Only three years have passed since the wonderful “Lotus Unfolding” from 2023, and Ozric Tentacles are back with another fantastic record, in my view one of their best works of the last twenty years.
“Harmonic Mind” was recorded by the full Ozric Tentacles touring lineup. They got together in the studio to capture the live-show energy on record.
Ed Wynne, the founder, spiritual leader and creative mind of the band since 1983, is the only original member left. He plays guitar and synthesizers.
Silas Neptune, Ed Wynne’s son, has been part of the Ozrics since 2009. Besides playing synths, on this album he has a crucial role: he co-produced the record and personally handled the mastering, and he did an excellent job.
Corey Wallace, the new bassist, joined the band in 2024 for the tours. He’s a real new element in the studio rhythm section, and his impact on the record is decisive.
Pat Garvey, the drummer, joined the group in 2023. He’s a highly experienced drummer, known for absolute precision on odd meters and tight grooves.
Paul Hankin, the percussionist, is a historic name for long-time fans. He played with the Ozrics on and off since the ’80s and ’90s, and has now returned steadily to enrich the sound with his intense, engaging percussive textures.
Saskia Maxwell, multi-instrumentalist and flautist, joined the group in 2022. She comes from the British folk and singer-songwriter scene, and her flute adds a mystical, ethereal touch typical of the band’s space-prog. With Saskia, the sound reaches new heights of atmosphere and depth.
Lotus Unfolding was a more intimate album, born mainly within the Wynnes’ home walls. With Harmonic Mind, instead, the band goes back to vibrating like a true “jam band”, and this evolution is felt above all in the complex rhythms created between Garvey’s drums and Hankin’s percussion.
The album explores a philosophical, geometric and cosmic vision of the universe, perfectly in tune with the psychedelic spirit of Ozric Tentacles. The title itself, Harmonic Mind, is inspired by the geometric structure and harmony that pervades existence. The band wanted to create a work that reflected the universe’s hidden interconnections, where apparent chaos finds perfect balance through harmony.
The record is a boundless musical journey, where the tracks don’t follow rigid patterns, but drift. Here, the use of odd meters and deep grooves creates mathematical, hypnotic interlocks, evoking the cosmos’ geometric precision. Between synth explosions and ambient moments, expanded soundscapes creep in, inducing a state of meditation and a “harmonic mind”, an experience that goes beyond the limits of traditional music.
To celebrate this new chapter, Ozric Tentacles decided to bring Erp back to life, their historic alien mascot, who has accompanied their musical journey since the ’80s. Seeing him again on the cover was a very strong emotion for me. Erp is the symbol of the deep bond between the band’s roots and their ongoing spiritual and musical growth, which continues into 2026 as well.
The album indeed marks a triumphant return to their ’90s sound, but with a modern, rich production. The album is a mix of progressive rock, space rock, ambient and livetronica, mainly in an electronic-trance key.
Compared to previous works, this record has a live dynamic and a jam-feel that takes you back to the origins. Thanks to the touring band, the sound is in perfect balance between techno drive and jazz-fusion complexity.
The album offers a beautiful contrast between relaxed moments and more intense atmospheres. While most tracks keep a laid-back, meditative vibe, there are also heavy bursts with powerful guitar riffs that surprised me.
There are some memorable tracks:
Guardstones, the opening track, a fantastic introduction to the album. It starts with an explosion of sequencers and synthesizers, then surprises with a gear change in the second half, turning into a piece of ethnic music.
Space Platform, the lead single, is driven by a powerful groove thanks to Pat Garvey’s drums and epic guitar solos; with floating cosmic sonorities it becomes a must-hear track.
Malachite is an atmospheric piece that highlights Ed Wynne’s custom sandalwood acoustic guitar. It moves from delicate moments to bombastic, hypnotic passages, creating an extremely engaging listening experience.
But the title track, “Harmonic Mind”, is the album’s true masterpiece. At 9 minutes and 12 seconds, it’s the longest, most complex and structured piece on the record. Its beauty lies precisely in its evolution: it starts with a light ambient intro, soft acoustic guitars and a bass that moves slowly. Then the funky drums and Silas Neptune’s synthesizers rise in intensity, blending natural and spatial sounds into an overwhelming, epic and tight space-rock crescendo.
Harmonic Mind, I repeat, is in my opinion one of Ozric Tentacles’ best works of the last twenty years. The hypnotic, driving energy that only they can express is enhanced by the production: the sound is modern, three-dimensional and crystal-clear. While keeping a mostly meditative and ambient soul, the rock guitar riffs are unusually aggressive and make the tracks even more energetic and bright.
An album that amazed me for its ability to reinterpret, in a modern key and with new instrumental additions for the band, a legendary sound that withstands time and the passage of time.
October is, for me, the time to start drawing up the 2026 album ranking: it will be hard for the next listens to knock this record off the top spot. Masterpiece.
My Version
Label: Kscope – KSCOPE 1321
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Blue
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 17 Sep 2026
Tracklist
A1 Guardstones
A2 Space Platform
A3 Harmonic Mind
B1 Malachite
B2 Tillamook
B3 Sumipad
Lineup
Bass Guitar – Corey Wallace (tracks: A2), Ed Wynne (tracks: A1, B1, B3)
Drums [Live Drums] – Pat Garvey (tracks: A1, B1, B2)
Flute – Saskia Maxwell (tracks: A1, B3)
Guitar [Guitars], Synth [Synths], Programmed By [Programming] – Ed Wynne
Keyboards – Silas Neptune
Percussion – Paul Hankin (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Synth [Synths] – Silas Neptune (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B3)
