The Orbital Appreciation Thread

Eikman · #1 10-31-2005, 06:28 AM

I've been listening to a lot of old Orbital lately (everything pre-Altogether), and it really brings back good memories. Along with Underworld and Aphex Twin, Orbital was the band that got me into electronic music.
Funnily enough, it was a mp3 of "Desert Storm" from their first album that caught my interest. I haven't listened to that song in years, and i think it's not that great anymore, but back then it probably was...

Brown Album, In Sides, Snivilisation and Middle of Nowhere are spectacular pieces. Even if the latter didn't receive the best reviews, I think it still stands out: "Know Where To Run", "Otono" and "Nothing Left 1+2" are among my favourite Orbital songs ever.
"Snivilisation" is highly underrated as well, since most people always define "Brown" and "In Sides" as the masterpieces. Especially the former doesn't have that much impact (ha!) on me, although "Halcyon" and "Lush" are awesome, hands down.

but my favourite songs have to be

The Girl with the Sun in her Head (in my Top 10 ever and bittersweet memories as well)
Sad But True (the part starting at 2:30 gives me goosebumps)

I must admit i'm glad that they split up after all, because the crap the released after 2000 is barely listenable IMO.

But thanks for everything before that!

(btw, i just realized that it is Goldfrapp doing the vocals on several songs, didn't know that)

Professor · #2 10-31-2005, 07:02 AM

Nice one eikman. Orbital was certainly influential in my musical path. I think the first song i ever heard by them was the single to "are we here"--the really long one with the female vocal. then it was the live version of impact on a comp called "serious road trip". that's the one that sealed it for me. it was live at one of the glastonberrys. although i was really put off by the blue album, i have rediscovered some of those tunes that are working well on the subway. pants works well in a train, and the ambient stuff is actually not too bad. all the "singles" from that album are shite. my all-time fave is the semi--detached/attached from the peel release. the two combined must have been something to see live. oh...and the live version of somewhere out there. when i saw them live in new orleans (a show they posted on loopz at one time) that was what they started with...."i'll remember if it's the last thing i do" ....changed my life. no shit.

Drix · #3 10-31-2005, 08:32 AM

I have to agree with The girl with the sun in her hair. So emotional, and I was stunned the first time i heard it that electronic sounds could be so electronic, yet so beautiful. Quite possibly the best Orbital song ever. Thanks for bringing them up, haven't litened to them in a long time, but I am now.

Leon · #4 10-31-2005, 08:44 AM

Orbital is the band that got me into the good musics. I heard "Know Where To Run" on an Oor (Dutch musicmagazine) cd and I was like WOAH, this is TOTALLY different from any chart song (yes I was one of those

)!!! This goes on for 9 minutes and it has some REALLY cool changes in it!

Well and then I immediately bought Snivilisation (my local record store is crap and didn't have anything else by Orbital). It changed my life. The first half of that album is genious. Orbital's melodies are godlike. Forever has such a great build-up, it gives me chills. Followed by "I Wish I Had Duck Feet" and then... Sad But True... gorgious.

My local LIBARY did have other Orbital releases though, so I borrowed In Sides (and The Orb's U.F.Orb). It was very good, but only a few years later when I bought it, I REALLY understood the music and I still do. It is MAGNIFICANT. In Sides is in my album top 10 because it's LOOOOONG and it DOESN'T bore. It's one of those albums with melodies you've always wanted to hear... Orbital does it.

The Girl With The Sun In Her Head is seriously in my top 3 of best songs of all time (number one is Juanita by Underworld, number 3 is "Neon Ray" by Lunatic Calm).

I thank Orbital for their music. It's something never to forget.

crank · #5 10-31-2005, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eikman

but my favourite songs have to be

The Girl with the Sun in her Head (in my Top 10 ever and bittersweet memories as well)
Sad But True (the part starting at 2:30 gives me goosebumps)

I must admit i'm glad that they split up after all, because the crap the released after 2000 is barely listenable IMO.

I have to say Halcyon was what grabbed me. I had the CD Single and had to sell it (that and others) to buy books for college...DOH! Really wish I had that again...

crank!

holden · #6 10-31-2005, 11:24 AM

i'd only heard bits and pieces of Orbital over the years, usually on compilation albums (stuff like "The Saint" or "The Box" or "Style")...i wasn't too excited, becuase it sounded kinda computer-gamey to me. Then i bought "Work" and never looked back. Each album is like a journey, full of concepts, heady themes and amazing arrangements. "Orbital 2" might be the best electronic album ever, imho. Even "The Altogether" has some fine moments.

Best tracks for me:
"Choice" - Green
"Impact" - Brown
"are We Here?" - Snivilization
"T.G.W.T.S.I.H.H." - Insides
"Spare Parts Express" - Middle of Nowhere
"Meltdown" - Altogether
"One Perfect Sunrise" - Blue

Cadevil · #7 10-31-2005, 04:08 PM

I originally tried to break into Orbital with The Middle of Nowhere about 6 years ago. I did not like it at all. I tried Work a few year's later, and as holden said, found their stuff very "computer-gamey".

But about a year ago I got really into them beginning with the brown album (purchased simultaneously with the Blue Album) and on into In Sides. Something just clicked and I got really into their sound. I think that the brown album and In Sides are amazing pieces...and I really like Middle of Nowhere now, too.

gambit · #8 10-31-2005, 07:19 PM

Man, I was humbly enjoying Kraftwerk's Minimum Maximum when I entered this thread, and then I had to switch over to Orbital (In Sides, for now). Huff!

Anyway, I think it was the summer of 02 for me when I discovered Orbital. I remember borrowing my friend's huge CD case so I could burn a bunch of stuff, and I had just bought AMG's Guide to Electronica book not too long ago, so I was skimming through his collection for the good stuff. I found the brown album (Orbital 2), Snivilisation, and the Altogether (along with Underworld's Dubnobasswithmyheadman and Beaucoup Fish), and burned them all. The first album I listened to was the brown album, and it blew my mind. I literally thought to myself, "I didn't know music could do that." It was so energetic, so beautiful, so precise in everything. Loved it, and that probably was the first great album (electronic or otherwise) I ever heard, and I knew I couldn't turn back to the mediocre shit on the radio. The brown album, while it has cooled off for me lately, is still my top album of all time. It was that influential for me.

jOHN rODRIGUEZ · #9 10-31-2005, 10:05 PM

Per Quote from gambit:

"I didn't know music could do that."

will forever be burned into my memory. Thanks for the laugh. Probably right up there with Steve Martin's, "It's like a ride!".

Bargo · #10 10-31-2005, 10:53 PM

"Lush (euro-tunnel disaster '94)/Walk About" from Diversions and/or the Peel Session CD is still one of the finest pair of tracks ever made in my opinion. I don't know how many tens of times I've listened to it since I first got it, but it gives me goosebumps every damn time. I listened to it again today, in fact, thanks to this thread.