Orblivion

Orblivion
Studio album by The Orb
Released 24 February 1997
Recorded May 1996
Genre Electronica, dub
Length 72:00
Label Island
Producer Alex Paterson, Thomas Fehlmann
The Orb chronology
Orbus Terrarum
(1995)		 Orblivion
(1997)		 Cydonia
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Spin8/10[2]
Almost Cool7.5/10[3]
Pitchfork Media9.3/10[4]
The A.V. Clubfavourable[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
Down Beat[7]

Orblivion is the fourth studio album by The Orb released by Island Records. The Orb, reunited with Andy Hughes and Steve Hillage, returned to their spacy sounds typical of U.F.Orb. The album reached #19 on the UK Albums Chart and #174 on the Billboard 200.[8]

Though Orblivion was recorded in May 1996, it was not released until almost a year later, due to Island Records' desire to promote it as a follow up to U2's techno-rock album Pop.[9] Orblivion sold very well in Europe as well as the United States, where it reached the Billboard Top 200. The first Orblivion single, "Toxygene", was the highest charting single by The Orb, reaching #4 in the UK on 8 February 1997. Despite high sales, Orblivion received a lukewarm reception from UK critics.[10] Similarly to the case of Orbus Terrarum, Orblivion received better praise from American critics, including Rolling Stone who called it a "scintillating contrast of chaos and euphony".[11] To support the album, The Orb embarked on the Organic Tour with Orbital, Meat Beat Manifesto, Underworld, Zion Train, and The Chemical Brothers. The Village Voice described The Orb as "on its way down" and the stresses of touring sat heavily on Paterson, but The Orb decided not to "pack it in" and instead continued touring and producing.[12] The Orb then released the second Orblivion single, "Asylum".

Orblivion features many samples, including "72" from which features a clip from Hair proclaiming "the youth of America on LSD!". The track "S.A.L.T." is based on samples taken from Mike Leigh's film Naked,[13] which features rantings from the main character's apocalyptic preaching.[14]

Track listing

  1. "Delta MKII" – 7:00
  2. "Ubiquity" – 6:13
  3. "Asylum" – 5:19
  4. "Bedouin" – 4:31
  5. "Molten Love" – 6:39
  6. "Pi" – 1:05
  7. "S.A.L.T." – 7:54
  8. "Toxygene" – 5:19
  9. "Log of Deadwood" – 1:13
  10. "Secrets" – 5:32
  11. "Passing of Time" – 9:27
  12. "72" – 11:43
    • – 0:06 [sample]
    • – 5:00 -silence-
    • – 6:37 [hidden track]

Remastered and Expanded edition - 2008

CD1
  1. "Delta MKII" – 7:00
  2. "Ubiquity" – 6:13
  3. "Asylum" – 5:19
  4. "Bedouin" – 4:31
  5. "Molten Love" – 6:39
  6. "Pi" – 1:05
  7. "S.A.L.T." – 7:54
  8. "Toxygene" – 5:19
  9. "Log of Deadwood" – 1:13
  10. "Secrets" – 5:32
  11. "Passing of Time" – 9:27
  12. "72" – 11:43
    • – 0:06 [sample]
    • – 5:00 -silence-
    • – 6:37 [hidden track]
CD2
  1. "Delta MK II (Love Bites Mix)" – 14:20
  2. "Bedouin (The Sheik's Film Mix)" – 10:04
  3. "Log of Deadwood (Implanting Machines Mix)" – 1:24
  4. "Secrets (I Love a Woman in Uniform Mix)" – 8:25
  5. "Passing Of Time (Ambient Mix)" – 9:03
  6. "Molten Love (Orbits Of Venus Mix)" – 12:24
  7. "S.A.L.T. (Snow Mix)" – 9:19
  8. "Toxygene (Kris Needs Up for a Fortnight Mix)" – 7:14
  9. "Asylum (Soul Catcher Mix)" – 7:29

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Spin (5/97, pp.111-112) - 8 (out of 10) - "...combines wry apocalyptic signifying with a headful of refracted rhythms. It also takes Alex Paterson back to his dance-music roots....If the Chemical Brothers are the miscengenated spawn of DJ Kool Herc and the Ramones, Paterson owes his debt to Grandmaster Flash and electropop pioneers Perrey-Kingsley..."
  3. ↑ http://www.almostcool.org/mr/909/
  4. ↑ Pitchfork Media review
  5. ↑ The A.V. Club review
  6. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  7. ↑ Down Beat (7/97, p.64) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...ORBLIVION focuses on what they do best: the elaborate construction and deconstruction of grooves.... sophisticated and inventive, but also playful."
  8. ↑ "The Orb". Billboard. Retrieved 2006-10-24.
  9. ↑ Shih, Howard. "Interview". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
  10. ↑ Silva, Joe (1 February 2001). "Living in Orblivion". Remix Magazine.
  11. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (19 March 1997). "The Orb: Orblivion". Rolling Stone.
  12. ↑ Berkowitz, Kenny (Nov–Dec 1997). "Minimal Impact". Option.
  13. ↑ "Review of the Hammerstein Ballroom, NY live show". Rolling Stone. 9 May 1997.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (29 March 2002). "Orb: Orblivion". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
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