Ottoman Empire

The short-lived Atlanta septet the Ottoman Empire were sort of Georgia indie supergroup starring guitarist Bob Elsey (formerly of regional legends POOL Q’s), bassist Rob Gal (formerly from the jangle pop ironists the Coolies and music partner of former POOL Q’s singer Anne Richmond Boston), guitarist Tag Harper (ex-Bogues), his brother Clay Harper (later on of Jack Logan and Liquor Cabinet) on vocals, and Walter Brewer (formerly of both Southern freak-out specialists Colonel Bruce Hampton as well as the Aquarium Rescue Unit as well as the tragedy-touched jazz-pop combo the Jody Grind) on drums, alongside violinist Danny Pearl and accordion player Dick Tamber. Created in 1993, the Ottoman Empire released their 1st recording, Lester Square (not really, one would presume, named following the Monochrome Set’s pseudonymous guitarist), later on that year within the estimable DB Information. Even though Ottoman Empire’s mixture of jangle pop, alt-country, and delicate art rock and roll textures (believe Electric powered Light Orchestra, not really Emerson Lake and Palmer) was enthusiastically examined, sales had been minimal and following a follow-up, 1995’s Ottoman Platinum, the group splintered. Gal became a member of the punk-poppy 6X, while Tag and Clay Harper released a fanciful and witty children’s record, Not really Dogs…Too Basic (AN ACCOUNT of Two Kitties) with involvement by Ian Dury, Maureen Tucker, among others. Elsey became a member of a re-formed POOL Q’s in the past due ’90s.