With song titles such as «At a Rave with Nicolas Sarkozy», «Proving the Politburo Right» or «Kafka goes to Primark» one might impute a certain eurocentrism to the works of Emperor X. And indeed Chad Matheny seems to spend more time in a tour bus between Lisbon and Prague than at home in sunshine state Florida which makes his recent move to Berlin seem like a logical consequence. Speed Folk is what Matheny calls his discipline: fast and quirky songs crafted with acoustic guitar and a small OP-1 synthesizer, which have travelled with Emperor X through bars, galleries, book stores and college radio stations since the late 90s. Matheny has already shared the stage with everyone we might associate him with: Sebadoh, Nada Surf or Jeffery Lewis. And his concerts are always proper happenings – sing-along teenage angst!