EmpyreLounge.com - On the Horizon: Orson

   In October of 2005 Hollywood's Orson dipped into their collective pockets and flew themselves to Manchester to play at In The City. Little did they know that it was the start of a rocket fuelled journey that would see them go from being an undiscovered gem in the glare of the LA sunshine to top of the UK singles chart in just 5 months!

   Signed by Mercury Records in November of 2005, Orson closed the year as support on the UK leg of the Duran Duran arena tour and were still largely an unknown band but that has changed since the turn of the year. Before they released their debut single 'No Tomorrow' the band had already graced the cover of The Sunday Times Culture supplement, made their debut performance on Top of the Pops and been playlisted by every station in the land from Radio1 to Xfm. On release 'No Tomorrow' entered the chart at #5 but within two weeks had risen like an old fashioned hit record to take it's place at the top of the charts, in fact it was still in the top five seven weeks after release.

   Orson's second single and their debut album on Mercury Records are both called 'Bright Idea'. The single was released on May 15th May and is another sure-fire slice of Californian sunshine from the band that have come to be described by Q as "the sound of Britain on a Saturday night". 'Bright Idea' has already started it's assault on the airwaves with an A-List at Radio 1, Xfm and Virgin whilst the video is being played by everyone from MTV to The Box.

   The 29th May saw the release of 'Bright Idea' the album. The album was recorded in Hollywood for just $5000, financed by the band themselves, and produced by Noah Shain. The album kicks off with the title track and is followed by the aforementioned #1 single 'No Tomorrow'. From then until the end of the last track, 'The Okay Song', Orson deliver a hook laden collection that screams BIG... big guitars, big choruses, big everything. Whether it's the funky riffing on 'Happiness', the driving frantic rush of 'Tryin' To Help', the ballad 'Look Around' or live favourite 'So Ahead Of Me' everything sounds like a potential hit single. Described as "the missing link between The Rolling Stones and Scissor Sisters" Orson are all set to be the sensation of 2006, this time last year that seemed like an impossible dream.