Orbital - The Blue Album

On September 21st 2004, Orbital will release their ninth and final album in the United States (followed by the European release on June 21st). The Hartnoll brothers have been forerunners in the live P.A. and dance music scene for as long as most of us can remember a scene existing, and their epic electronic anthems have filled record bags and fueled the world's dance floors since the very beginning of their journey. Now, at their artistic pinnacle, the brothers bring one last album for the fans and the critics.

Let's begin our journey through Orbital's Blue Album, shall we…

The album begins with an array of percussive plinks and digital droning accompanied by a beautiful arrangement of strings; cellos and violins bow and sway over the atmospheric harmonics of Orbital's world as TRANSIENT prepares us for the journey ahead.

PANTIS begins with a broken-beat electro groove that eventually finds its way into the realm of an epic driving ensemble complete with soaring synths and roaring percussive stabs. It eventually releases it's fury in a beautiful breakdown that finishes out the track only to be swept back up again with Track 3.

TUNNEL VISION continues the driving nature of the previous track, yet even more so with its harder broken beats, synth work, and darker sweeping basslines. This track has the feel of a classic Orbital masterpiece fixed with multi-layers and deep movement.

LOST keeps us entranced with a slow and driving beat as its synthetic needles click their way across the sparse melody line of the droning synths and bassline. This minimal composition allows you to relax and take in the mature yet experimental nature of this final release from these master artists.

YOU LOT breaks out with more floor pounding broken beats as the saw wave bassline forces you to feel the groove that is infused within. But rather than rock this movement with the typical builds of a "for vinyl only" production, the track breaks down into a lengthy experimental sweep with Christopher Eccleston preaching "You - are becoming Gods….there's a new master of creation and it's you." As the song falls back into the beat, the vocoded and pitch-shifted vocals continue to rant and rave in synthetic harmony with the swirling digital melodies.

And now we break down into a child-like melody that sounds like the toy piano theme for a British television show; BATH TIME might be just that. But, the journey here is not specifically for you, it's a journey through the psyche of the artists behind Orbital. At any rate, it's extremely easy to fully appreciate the artists' range of experimentation here; as simple as it may sound, the track is full of complex composition and melody.

The next track immediately drops us into a driving 4/4 movement with Orbital's squelching 909 acid madness stirring over a dubbed English vox exclaiming "When the laugh track starts, then the fun starts…" ACID PANTS fully lives up to its name, and I have no doubt that this track will see some serious action on the European dance floors.

EASY SERV must be the soundtrack to a wonderfully peaceful springtime day at a favorite park, full of happy little children and ice cream. I must say that I am truly enjoying the album at this point and the harmonious construction of this song is amazing. The revolving melody has a trancelike effect that prepares you for the next song.

ONE PERFECT SUNRISE begins with the beautifully subtle vocals of Lisa Gerrard; they croon and swoon along as the brothers' driving beats and sweeping synths move in for the kill. The composition is so full of raw emotion and love, it is easy to see why this would be the last song - on the last album - of Orbital's reign.

Orbital has now reached the pinnacle of their artistic freedom, and the Blue Album is the concrete cornerstone and testament to the brilliant genius of this collective. This book is now closed, and we wish you the best of luck wherever the road takes you my friends. Over the years, your music has moved us in ways that words cannot explain. Until we meet again….