Artist Ozric Tentacles

Although its ingenuity hasn’t really caught on in America (outside of people who enjoy hallucinogens), English band Ozric Tentacles captures the best elements of ambient electronica and hippie rock, crafting a respectable hybrid. The result, which resembles a droning oscillation between Phish and The Orb, can be surprisingly aggressive—especially for a band whose album covers resemble Lord Of The Rings storyboards. A typically eclectic 2008 live album and DVD calledSunrise Festival preceded the trippily named The Yum Yum Tree, as well as the brand-new studio album, Paper Monkeys.

Updated 10/18/2011