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Artist Biography by John Bush
The Orb virtually invented the electronic genre known as ambient house, resurrecting slower, more soulful rhythms and providing a soundtrack for early-morning ravers once the clubs closed their doors. Frontman Dr. Alex Paterson's formula was quite simple: he slowed down the rhythms of classic Chicago house and added synth work and effects inspired by '70s ambient pioneers Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream. To make the whole a bit more listenable -- as opposed to danceable -- obscure vocal samples were looped, usually providing a theme for tracks that lacked singing. The group popularized the genre by appearing on the British chart show Top of the Pops and hitting number one in the U.K. with the 1992 album U.F.Orb. The Orb managed to remain signed to Island Records throughout the '90s, even as they were releasing some of their most challenging work (Pomme Fritz, Orbus Terrarum). During the 2000s, the group became affiliated with German techno label Kompakt, home to solo recordings by Orb member Thomas Fehlmann; Okie Dokie It's the Orb on Kompakt, one of the group's most straightforward techno releases, appeared in 2005. The 2010s brought high-profile collaborations with two major influences: David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Lee "Scratch" Perry. The Orb returned to Kompakt for 2015's hip-hop-influenced Moonbuilding 2703 AD and 2016's ambient release COW / Chill Out, World! These were followed by 2018's eclectic, vocal-heavy No Sounds Are Out of Bounds.
Tracklist
1 | A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld (Loving You) | 20:15 |
2 | Back Side Of The Moon (Tranquility Lunar Orbit) | 11:25 |
3 | Into The Fourth Dimension (Essenes In Starlight) | 10:59 |