WATERFORD band O Emperor return to Limerick this weekend with a new EP entitled ‘Lizard’ to share. The trademark sounds of the quintet, the other-world progressions and the perfect harmonies are all there to be heard on the latest record.
With two Choice nominated albums, signed and dropped from a major label and now making independent music, writing and experimenting in their own studio, O Emperor is an absorbing live show, well worth your time.
O Emperor is five old school friends who after ventures in other bands, came together while in college in Cork and emerged with debut long-player ‘Hither Thither’ in 2010. Critics and fans lavished praise on the album and its lush tapestry. It was nominated for a Choice Music Prize as was the follow up album ‘Vitreous’ in 2013 which took O Emperor in a new direction.
Recorded at Big Skin HQ, now the base for the band’s operations, their self built studio has everything from label administration to recording happening inside its “grubby, fire-stained walls”. ’Vitreous’ was entirely produced/ recorded by the band affording them the time to play around with old synthesisers and other strange pieces of equipment lying around.
March 2015, O Emperor has released ‘Lizard’ the new EP, again an entirely self-recorded affair coming about over the space of a week’s jamming at the band’s HQ in Cork City. The EP signals somewhat of a loosening of belt buckles and inhibitions; it is an unapologetic embrace of all that is garish and gaudy and has some of the band’s best material to date.
O Emperor added another string to their self-sufficiency with the production of a video for ‘Switchblade’ story boarded by the band and animated and produced by Paul Savage.
A third album is scheduled for late 2015/early 2016.
O Emperor play Kasbah Social Club this Friday April 10.
