Omnia Opera

Omnia Opera

Omnia Opera are a UK psychedelic space rock group from Kidderminster, active from 1986 to the present. The band begins in the mid-1980s when Ade Scholefield and Rob Lloyd start experimenting with music under the name The Genetics of Destiny, drawing on the sound of Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd, Gong, Amon Düül and Hawkwind. In Malvern, Andy Jones, a founder member of the OM band, is also working in acid rock, and the two strands come together to form Omnia Opera.

Formation and early line-up

The first line-up develops after a couple of local gigs and indoor festivals, with the addition of Mike Tounge and the drones Natalie Jones and Lisa Moriaty. The band then builds a reputation as a festival act, playing free festivals and other live dates in the late 1980s. They also support a range of established acts, including Cardiacs, Here and Now, Huw Lloyd Langton, The Pink Fairies, Ring, and Dave Brock’s Agents of Chaos, as well as many punk bands of the period.

Recordings and label activity

Omnia Opera’s early tape releases, Beyond the Tenth and Celebrate for Change, appear in 1986 and 1987 and sell widely for self-produced releases. The recordings attract label interest, and Richard Allen of Delerium Records persuades the band to record further CDs. Delerium is also known as the original home of Porcupine Tree.

Line-up changes and later activity

After a long break of around twelve years, during which members pursue separate activities, Omnia Opera reform in 2006. Ade Scholefield is absent from the reformed group, while Neil Spragg remains the drummer and is the continuing member named for the band. The later line-up includes Captain Bagley on keys and stage effects, and the drones are replaced by Plumaris and Caitlin. Ade Scholefield continues with his own project, Helices Fold, while still collaborating with the band.

Style

The band is associated with acid rock and space rock, with wider references in their history to psychedelic rock and progressive rock. Their sound is described in terms of improvised and experimental playing shaped by 1960s and 1970s underground influences.