Orblivion

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Orblivion
Orblivion cover
Studio album by The Orb
Released February 24, 1997
Recorded May 1996
Genre Ambient house
Length 72:00
Label Island Records
Producer Alex Paterson, Thomas Fehlmann
Professional reviews
The Orb chronology
Orbus Terrarum
(1995)
Orblivion
(1997)
Cydonia
(2001)

Orblivion is a 1997 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 Album Chart and #174 on the Billboard 200.[1]

 

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.[2] 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.[3] 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".[4] 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.[5] 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 around samples taken Mike Leigh's film Naked.[6]

[edit] 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]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Orb. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-10-24.
  2. ^ Shih, Howard. Interview. Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
  3. ^ Silva, Joe (2001-02-01). Living in Orblivion. Remix Magazine.
  4. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (1997-03-19). The Orb: Orblivion. Rolling Stone.
  5. ^ Berkowitz, Kenny. "Minimal Impact", Option. 
  6. ^ "Review of the Hammerstein Ballroom, NY live show", Rolling Stone, 1997-05-09. 

[edit] External links