OU (band)

OU was formed by drummer and primary songwriter Anthony Vanacore, an American ex-pat who is fluent in Mandarin and originally moved to Beijing to work as a music teacher.{{Cite web |last=Whisperer |first=Dolphin |date=2022-05-05 |title=Ou - one Review |url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/ou-one-review/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Angry Metal Guy |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Lingüa Brütallica - Episode 28: Lynn Wu and Anthony Vanacore of Ou (Beijing, China) {{!}} Lingua Brutallica |url=https://linguabrutallica.podbean.com/e/lingua-brutallica-episode-28-lynn-wu-and-anthony-vanacore-of-ou-beijing-china/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Lingua Brutallica |language=en}} Vanacore recruited guitarist Zhang Jing and bassist Chris Cui, both veterans of the local rock and jazz music community in Beijing, and later added singer Lynn Wu.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-06-01 |title=CD Review – OU – One |url=https://spirit.rocks/2022/06/01/cd-review-ou-one/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Spirit of Progressive Rock |language=en}} The band lists Devin Townsend, The Gathering, and Radiohead as primary influences.{{Cite web |last= |date=20 February 2023 |title=China’s OU Release “Dark” Music Video; DEVIN TOWNSEND To Produce New Album |url=https://bravewords.com/news/chinas-ou-release-dark-music-video-devin-townsend-to-produce-new-album |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=BraveWords |language=en}}

The band signed with the German label InsideOut Music before ever playing live.{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=2023-02-20 |title=Chinese proggers OU share video for latest single Dark 暗 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/chinese-proggers-ou-share-video-for-latest-single-dark |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Prog |language=en}} They are reportedly the first Chinese rock band to sign with a western record label. The head of InsideOut, Thomas Waber, described OU as "Very unique and modern, but still familiar sounding, a rare find these days!"{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=2022-02-28 |title=Chinese prog rockers OU sign to InsideOut Music |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/chinese-prog-rockers-ou-sign-to-insideout-music |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Prog |language=en}} InsideOut released the band's debut album One in May 2022.{{cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |title=Chinese prog rockers OU release teaser for upcoming album "one" |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/chinese-prog-rockers-ou-release-taser-for-upcoming-album-one |website=Prog |access-date=10 May 2024 |date=14 March 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=Progressive Metal Band Ou Sign to Inside Out Music [China] |url=https://uniteasia.org/progressive-metal-band-ou-sign-inside-music-china/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Unite Asia |language=en-US}} Lynn Wu gained notice from critics due to her completely Mandarin lyrics and experimental style; several reviewers have compared her singing to Bjork and Kate Bush.{{Cite web |last=Shelton |first=Connor |date=2022-05-17 |title=OU - one (Album Review) |url=https://progreport.com/ou-one-album-review/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=The Prog Report |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Laura |date=2022-05-05 |title=ALBUM REVIEW: One - OU |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-one-ou/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Distorted Sound Magazine |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-29 |title=Ou – One CD Review {{!}} SonicAbuse |url=https://sonicabuse.com/ou-one-cd-review/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |language=en-US}} The album was also praised for mixing the band's primary progressive metal sound with jazz, electronica, and ambient styles.{{Cite web |last=Whisperer |first=Dolphin |date=2024-04-26 |title=OU - 蘇醒 II: Frailty Review |url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/ou-%E8%98%87%E9%86%92-ii-frailty-review/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Angry Metal Guy |language=en-US}}

OU gained the attention of labelmate Devin Townsend, who signed on to co-produce their second album.{{cite web |last=Everley |first=Dave |title="OU frequently sound like they’ve beamed in from the 25th century." Devin Townsend-approved Chinese metallers OU take prog metal into strange new worlds on II: Frailty |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/ou-ii-frailty-album-review-metal-hammer |website=Metal Hammer |access-date=10 May 2024 |date=25 April 2024}} The album II: Frailty was released in April 2024, with Townsend contributing backing vocals on the song "Purge".{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=2024-03-04 |title=Chinese prog metallers OU return with second abum 蘇醒 II: Frailty |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/chinese-prog-metallers-ou-return-with-second-abum-ii-frailty |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Prog |language=en}} Lynn Wu again earned praise from critics, with one reviewer describing her performance on the album as " tak[ing] it somewhere stranger and more unsettling". Another reviewer praised II: Frailty because "it’s effortless to fall prey to the polyrhythmic hypnosis that OU has mastered," while The Prog Report called the album "one of the year’s most unique releases." Loudwire praised the album as one of the best progressive metal releases of 2024.{{Cite web |last=Blum |first=Jordan |date=2024-12-05 |title=11 Best Progressive Metal Albums of 2024 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-progressive-metal-albums-2024/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}

• Lynn Wu – vocals
• Zhang Jing – guitar
• Chris Cui – bass
• Anthony Vanacore – drums, programming

• One (2022)
• II: Frailty (2024)

{{reflist}}

• {{officialsite|https://www.outheband.com/}}

Category:2021 establishments in China

Category:Chinese rock music groups

Category:Inside Out Music artists

Category:Musical groups established in 2021