Empirion

Empirion is an Essex, United Kingdom electronic group formed in 1993 by Bobby Glennie, Austin Morsley and Jamie Smart after they meet on the Essex club scene. The group works across EBM, electronica and techno, and also draws on industrial, acid house and trance elements. It first records through its own Wanted label, with all three members involved in both recording and running the label.

Early releases and label history

The first single, “Narcotic Influence”, is an acid-trance track that becomes a major early release for the group and is voted one of the 100 greatest dance singles of all time by Mixmag. After this, Empirion signs to XL Recordings. Later single releases include “Quark” and “Ciao”, which help establish the group’s reputation within electronic dance and industrial circles. The debut album Advanced Technology follows in 1997 through Beggars Banquet in a major-label deal.

Style and influence

Empirion is known for fusing hard techno and industrial sounds with acid house, and is often associated with the same underground dance culture as acts such as The Prodigy. Its music is described through a blend of retro and modern electronic styles, with influences including Future Sound Of London, Nitzer Ebb and The Prodigy. The group also gains attention from DJ activity, including Jamie Smart’s sets at Prodigy shows.

Line-up changes and later work

The original trio disbands shortly after the debut album, following Bobby Glennie’s illness. Bobby Glennie dies in January 2005. Austin Morsley later works under the name Oz Morsley and is involved with the project KLOQ. Empirion reforms in 2010 as a duo of Austin Morsley and Jamie Smart, and remains active. The group issues a new EP single in 2018 and releases the album RESUME in 2019.

Reception

Empirion retains a strong reputation among electronic dance listeners, with RESUME continuing themes of technology, human anxiety and the group’s earlier legacy in its lyrics and sound.