Electronic > Orbital Electronic

Stick with it! You too can grow to love chaos...

Advantages: Sense of urgency and edginess
Disadvantages: Chaotic sound unlikely to attract new listeners

This album purchase was a classic "I really like the track I've heard on the radio, therefore the rest of the CD will be similar in mood". Oh how wrong could I have been... Funny Bones, said track in question, was a fairly easy follow-on from the previous 'Middle of Nowhere' album (white cover). Now at this point, we were talking a chilled, transient tone to the album, and despite being a fairly faithful Orbital follower and knowing their capacity ...
...assumed there'd be more of the same but better. What I actually got on this album, at first listen was 'God - why have they gone the route of creating some really aggressive tracks?' And I think that's the best way I can describe the mood of much of this album. It isn' t the kind of CD you put on to sit back in the living room and slump further into the sofa dreaming about flying effortlessly. It's the kind of album you listen to and feel obliged ...

chunkieuk 25.12.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Altogether, The - Orbital

A timeless classic piece of dance

Advantages: fresh, unique, classic
Disadvantages: dated and a bit simple, not to everyones taste

This reminds me of jewellers, seeing the term 'nothing overstated' This album is like the timeless solitaire diamond, a true classic. Nothing done to excess to spoil its image, and it's most highly respected. I can honestly say I wasn't drawn into buying this album because I was curious about Orbital’s early efforts after hearing the greatness they achieved with later releases. On the contrary, it was this album which I first found in the ...
...of their work. Each tune has a common feel to it, yet they never get repetitive or predictable. The only criticism could come from the songs being rather basic. Amazing audio effects, and ultra-tight production have become accustomed to nowadays, especially from the Orbital. So, in comparison this album can feel a little bit simple. I take that as a positive though, it actually makes for a welcome breath of fresh air. It's nice to be underwhelmed ...

cash40 22.02.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Orbital - Orbital

Mining Gold Sounds

Advantages: The Spirit Of Adventure.
Disadvantages: You Certainly Need One.

...to large-scale anonymity. Snivilisation is wrapped in a grey cover with an oh so clumsy animation that hides the fact that on the inside there is music on a grand scale. It is hard to beat 'Forever' as an opener, flitting as it does between cool keyboard strokes and fluid spacey noises. It seems ready-made for its creators, the Hartnoll brothers, on stage persona of bobbing heads while tweaking instructions through banks of technology. 'Sad But True' ...
...of the few tracks on Snivilisation that is instantly accessible. The convoluted vocals are the first thing that makes you sit up and take notice on 'Are We Here'. You might be asking the same question after going through a full 15 minutes of this song. This is a mite excessive but when the song's power overwhelms you, it may not even seem adequate. At first 'Are We Here' conjures up scenes of slowed down cavalries of marauding robots, pillaging the ...

indiecater 19.02.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Snivilisation - Orbital

In side Orbital's In Sides

Advantages: Brilliant relaxing tracks
Disadvantages: n/a

...'Orbital' albums. Released way back in 1997 'In sides' features the theme tune from the film 'The Saint' as with 'Doctor?' on 'The Altogether' album the Hartnoll's have done a superb cover version. Amidst the fantastic artwork on the CD booklet we find that the first track was written utilising CYRUS - The Greenpeace mobile solar generator, just another case of the boys using almost anything to produce damn fine music. So onto the album itself, ...
...THE GIRL WITH THE SUN IN HER HAIR 10:26 --------------------------------------- This track starts of with a strange bass that sounds like it's going backwards, we then are introduced to the synths that slowly make their way to us, and with no introduction a superb drum n bass kick drum and snare arrive speeding the track up. the main synths continue through the majority of the tune stopping only to let the bass and snares have their say. At first ...

kwildchild 03.01.2003 · Read full review
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Review of In Sides - Orbital

There is no more fitting an end...

Advantages: Visionary, refined, focused
Disadvantages: None - this is a classic

...have signed off. The Blue Album was purchased during the early summer of 2004, during a road trip around the West Country. I'd spotted a Big Issue article regaling the soon-to-be-no-more group, as well as promoting their last ever album. Subsequently, I seriously contemplated attempting to get to Japan the following month to watch their final concert. I'm one of the unfortunate many who have never seen these guys in action, and that's a genuine ...
...so obviously have. The Blue Album is capable of putting a stop to a party in the sense that people just stop what they're doing and listen, because it's that different and it's that good. All tracks bar one on the album are written by the brothers. If you've never introduced anyone new to Orbital before, this collection is a brilliant way to do it whilst ensuring the Hartnoll brothers aren't consigned to 'random techno' brain bin. My mate, previously ...

chunkieuk 25.12.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Blue Album - Orbital