I bought this because I wanted to see the Ozrics on my television. This is Ed and Brandi with former bandmates Joie and Merv. Many people will complain that they don't play anything new, nothing from the Rad and Seaweed-era or the Ed and Brandi-era (Spirals in Hyperspace, The Floor's Too Far Away), but on the other hand, they wanted Joie and Merv to stick with what they know already (since it would need further practicing if they were to perform material they were not originally on). So unsurprisingly the material they perform go as far back as There is Nothing (OK, Merv wasn't on that release, but "O-I" was originally on that release, but rerecorded on Pungent Effulgent with Merv) and no more recent than Arborescence. But you know what, this is material from their peak years. Brandi obviously filling in for what Roly and Zia had done (I remembered people used to complain about Brandi, thinking she was like Ed's Yoko Ono, or at least Linda McCartney, but then discovered she was the finest bass player they had since Roly). John was no longer present (he apparently had some lifestyle conflict with the band, he jumped ship with the British/Italian space rock combo Dream Machine). Many people really have a hard time without his presence, although you have to remember, their earliest releases, Erpsongs, Tantric Obstacles, Live Ethereal Cereal, and There is Nothing does not feature him.I first watched this when I still had an analog TV, which was mono, so I was obviously missing out on the full experience, until I got an HDTV, which, naturally, broadcasts in stereo, so it obviously improved my experience. They did these old chestnuts justice, showing that they can still do it in 2007 (when this was recorded). If you're looking for live performances of material post-1994, go for Live at the Pongmaster's Ball.I forgot to mention the CD, it's great to have when listening to on the go, but it's always nice to have that DVD to see how they're like live visually.

What a cool release this is! The Ozrics live with Merv and Joie. They had only featured on the Fridge videotape before, which had a few problems with its sound, but there’s no such thing here. The sound is great, though I can’t hear a thing Ed says between the tracks. The band is on top form, even though they hadn’t done a gig together for donkey’s years before this one. You’d expect Merv to be all over the place, as he hadn’t played the drums since ’94, but he’s fine, though maybe not as great as in Underslunky. Joie proves that he’s a natural for the synth/keyboard post in the Ozrics with his trademark bubbles and melodic solos.The setlist’s ok, and it includes a never-heard-before jam, aptly titled Sunrise Jam. Really cool stuff here, classic 90s Ozrics style. Since the Eat Static boys are back in the fold for the gig, don’t expect anything after ’94. In fact, the most recent tunes are from 93’s Jurassic Shift. Highlights, you ask? Jurassic Shift (Ed’s guitar solo in the second half is extremely psychedelic), Sunrise Jam, The Throbbe in yet another incarnation, and a great one too, with, well, throbby synths, Eternal Wheel (how could it not be a highlight?) and White Rhino Tea. On the downside, I have to admit I missed Jon’s flute climax on Erpland. What with the classic line up present and Jon hugging Ed at the side of the stage at some point (Dream Machine, Jon’s current band, also appeared at the festival), you can’t help but feel a knot in your throat. Also, though Tidal Convergence makes its first live appearance on DVD/video here and it’s fine (mega strange ending), I still wonder what Sploosh would sound like with Joie (you can see the title in the setlist stuck to Ed’s keyboard), as I’ve never witnessed that. Another thing is that the DVD is much shorter than the average Ozrics gig, due to the fact that it was a festival appearance and, because of time restrictions, The Throbbe only appears on the DVD. Finally, once again there’s this insistence on ‘enhancing’ the gig with digital mandala-like visuals, though they look much better this time and are used in moderation. In the end though, seeing Ed, Joie and Merv together on stage after all those years and the sheer quality of the music presented makes you forget all the reservations and surrender to the righteous spacey psychedelia unconditionally while you’re watching the DVD or listening to the CD. Pity this line up was only together for this one show.9.5/10