.O.rang
English experimental project by former Talk Talk members.
.O.rang (also written as 'O'rang) was an English experimental music project founded by Lee Harris and Paul Webb, both formerly of Talk Talk, with a rotating lineup of contributors. Its sound blends elements of dub, Krautrock, post-rock, and world fusion music. Compared to Talk Talk, O.rang's work shows a broader range of cultural influences. Webb noted that while Talk Talk was "very Westernized," he and Harris had grown up playing in a reggae band and were exploring other global music styles.
The project's first album, *Herd of Instinct* (1994), was made using a method similar to Talk Talk's later records: guest musicians recorded hours of improvisation, which were then cut and assembled into finished pieces. Unlike Talk Talk, however, the song structures were not planned beforehand. Webb described it as "recorded before it was written." Guests included former Bark Psychosis leader Graham Sutton and Portishead singer Beth Gibbons, who had originally auditioned to be O.rang's vocalist before Portishead's success prevented that.
A second album, *Fields and Waves* (1996), came after several false starts. It leaned more heavily on Krautrock, had more structured compositions, and focused more on the core duo of Webb and Harris. A third album, tentatively titled *Loudhailer No. 19*, was planned for 2001 but was never released.
The project released two albums, one EP (*Spoor EP*, 1994, which charted in the UK at No. 176), and two singles: "Orang / Anaon, The Oasis" (1994) and "P53 (Boymerang Mix)" (1997).
- field
- Experimental music
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Experimental music project led by former Talk Talk members Lee Harris and Paul Webb
Lore & Background
The project was formed by Lee Harris and Paul Webb after their time in Talk Talk. Webb noted that while Talk Talk was very Westernized, he and Harris were listening to other kinds of world music, having previously played in a reggae band. The group's first album, Herd of Instinct (1994), was recorded similarly to Talk Talk's later albums: guest musicians played hours of improvisational material, which was then edited down and pieced together. However, unlike Talk Talk, the song structures were not planned before recording; as Webb explained, 'it was recorded before it was written.' Guests on the album included former Bark Psychosis leader Graham Sutton and Portishead singer Beth Gibbons, who had applied to become the group's singer before Portishead's growing success removed this possibility.
A second album, Fields and Waves (1996), was recorded after several false starts. This album was more Krautrock-oriented and more structured in terms of composition, as well as being more focused around the core duo of Webb and Harris. An album with the working title of Loudhailer No. 19 was projected for release in 2001, but remains unreleased.
Reader's Guide
.O.rang's significance lies in its continuation and expansion of the experimental approach developed by Talk Talk, particularly the method of recording improvisational material and editing it into finished compositions. The project's music draws on dub, Krautrock, post-rock, and world fusion, reflecting a broader cultural palette than Talk Talk. The involvement of notable guest musicians such as Graham Sutton and Beth Gibbons highlights the project's connections to the post-rock and trip-hop scenes of the 1990s. While the group released only two albums and one EP, its work remains of interest to fans of experimental and genre-blending music. The unreleased album Loudhailer No. 19 adds an element of mystery to the project's legacy.
Did You Know?
- The project's first album, Herd of Instinct (1994), was recorded before it was written, with song structures not planned beforehand.
- Portishead singer Beth Gibbons applied to become .O.rang's singer before Portishead's success prevented this.
- An album with the working title Loudhailer No. 19 was projected for 2001 but remains unreleased.
- The group's Spoor EP (1994) reached No. 176 on the UK chart.
More in English rock music duos 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record