Now this is a tasty advance on things, delighted to see and hear O heading further out there rather than pulling it all in, Kind of lost count of how many bands called O there have been now, O, The O, The O Band, we haven’t had one for a bit, well besides this one, we have gone on about this particular O before haven’t we? We’re not cool enough to be quoted in the press release of course but we have shout about them quite a few times now. Pretty much everything the experimental duo have done so far is worth your ear time, this new video (do we still call them videos?), this new film, is rather worth an eye or two as well. O.’s music is deliciously challenging, even more so this time around, maybe not as hardcore and out there as bands like Flying Luttenbachers but hey, heading to the shallow end of some of the pools the Luttenbachers might be splashing in and that hint of the National Anthem is rather inspired, this is probably O’s most out there release so far, hopefully a sign in terms of where they might be going….
“Today, O. – the London-based duo of baritone saxophonist Joseph Henwood and drummer Tash Keary – have shared a frantic new single titled “ATM”. The song follows their announcement of their much anticipated debut EP, Slice. Recorded live with Dan Carey at his London studio, the EP will be released via Speedy Wunderground this Friday – 24th November.
Coming hot on the heels of last November’s debut single “OGO” and their recent single and EP title-track “Slice” – which won enthusiastic support from (insert names of publications considered cooler than us here) – the new track sees the duo combing cyclical sax lines that are underpinned by raw and powerful drumlines. It’s yet another consummate demonstration of the bands ability to play with heavy tension and release without forgetting the importance of groove-heavy, club-inflected songwriting” – are they songwriting, I’ve never herd then singing? Tunes maybe, kind of free form chaos that actually has a flowing structure and an almost hook you can almost hang on to. Squonky jazz-noise but never ever self-indulgent, always lean, almost mean, focused, going somewhere. Do like this video or film or what we call these things now, do like the colour of this music, the stomp of it, the wholesome story oFf O, the bite, the pay-off
Speaking on the track, they say, “ATM is us getting angry and frustrated about some of the injustices and crazy bewildering things in the world. It’s a tune to celebrate fury, going on a journey releasing your anger then coming to a place of peace. We love seeing people getting their anger out to it live.”
Speaking on the new EP, Tash says, “We played loads of gigs before we ever got in the studio, so we had lots of tracks to choose from. We picked these four because they’re all quite different from one another, while showing off all the styles we like to play.”
Following the recording of the EP, the three subjected the tracks to an array of post-production tricks, making full use Carey’s enviable selection of vintage dub production units. “Dan’s got a full collection of spring reverbs, tape delays, digital delays, bucket brigade delays and plate reverbs,” says Joe. “We don’t see ourselves as a dub group or anything like that, but we both really love heavy, bass-driven music, and none of this stuff would exist without King Tubby.”
As the circular simplicity of their name suggests, O. are a true self-contained unit. They formed in London during lockdown, when Joe and Tash – both veterans of a string of London ensembles – found themselves in a bubble together. When they started jamming, it was with no preconceptions: don’t overthink it, just play and see what happens. Before long, though, they were augmenting live instruments with effects – Joe routing his saxophone through a pedal board, Tash treating her drums with reverb and delay. As their sound grew and grew, it gradually became clear there wouldn’t be space for anyone else.
O. played their first show at Brixton Windmill, and the venue’s booker Tim Perry invited them back to support Black Midi. Immediately after their set, Black Midi’s Morgan Simpson invited them out on tour around the UK and Europe – a true trial by fire. “I think our fifth gig was at Alexandra Palace – it was terrifying,” remembers Tash. “But the main thing we learned was that we can be as weird as we want to be. Black Midi’s whole approach is that it’s OK to be playful. We both really liked that because there’s a playfulness to our music, too.”
It was this experimental urge that saw Joe and Tash run their own nights, O Zone, at Brixton Windmill – collaborative live sessions that saw O. improvise onstage with luminaries including Nerija’s Rosie Turton, Edna from Goat Girl, Melt Yourself Down’s Pete Wareham and Steam Down’s Wonky Logic. Following a tour with Dublin’s Gilla Band, though, O.’s music has just been getting heavier, louder, more intense. “People have come to see us and said they’ve enjoyed the fact it feels about two centimetres from falling apart,” says Tash. “With two instruments, you have to push yourself, physically, right to the edge to keep it interesting. But we enjoy that challenge.”
Alongside the new EP, the band have also announced a new run of headline tour dates to take place early next year, which will follow on the tail end of their 2023 festival run.
Feb 2024
15th – Birmingham – Hare and Hounds
16th – Newcastle – The Cluny
17th – Glasgow – Hug and Pint
19th – Dublin – Workmans Club
21st – Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club
22nd – Manchester – Yes Basement
26th – Southampton – Heartbreakers
27th – Brighton – Dust
March 2024
2nd – London – Omeara
“SLICE” EP is out 24th November via Speedy Wunderground – Pre-order digitally and on 12” vinyl here
A quick revisit to last year….
THE ORGAN 
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