Orbital Album: “In Sides [UK]”

I was a late bloomer when I got into techno music. I didn't get into it until I was in college and started going to nightclubs where I was exposed to some really great dance music. I also lived with a guy who was into techno music. Not only did he expose me to Delerium and Leftfield, but he also exposed me to what I consider to be a classic and definitive album in techno music...Orbital's "In Sides". I first heard Orbital on some import compilation of techno music, the song I heard was "The Box". I loved the melodies as well as the intricate beats. A couple of years ago I bought "In Sides" when I found a copy of the cd in the used bins. I haven't listened to it in a long time because of my constant change in musical obsessions. I decided to listen to "In Sides" tonight because I haven't heard it in a long time. Unlike a lot of techno artists/groups, their music doesn't hold up very well with time but Orbital is an exception. Eight years later and "The Box" and "The Girl With the Sun in Her Head" still sounds fresh to me. I love all the songs on the first disc. there isn't one song I don't like on it. The second disc is a live disc except for "The Saint" and "The Sinner". I like "The Saint" but I wasn't too wild about "The Sinner". Overall "In Sides" is still the masterpiece that I thought it was a few years ago.

I have this cd, but I have the release #1 that was put out June 4, 1996. For some reason you can't buy it anymore as far as I could find. The second cd is the only difference between the first release and the second. I can't seem to find any of the tracks that are on the second cd anywhere else except here on amazon but only the audio cassette. Here is what the #1 release looks like if anyone is interested

[...]

1. Girl With the Sun in Her Head

2. P.E.T.R.O.L.

3. Box, Pt. 1

4. Box, Pt. 2

5. Dwr Budr

6. Adnan's

7. Out There Somewhere?

8. Out There Somewhere?

Disc: 2

1. Times Fly (Slow) 7:58

2. Sad But New 7:29

3. Times Fly (Fast)7:53

4. The Tranquilizer 6:27

5. The Box 28:11

I love the second cd, especially the last track it's almost a half an hour long.

I never knew until now that the first cd's tracks had titles the front of cd that I have is pretty blank.The tracks on the second cd are listed on the front. I don't know why for some reason the tracks are listed on one but not the other.

i can't even begin to explain the magnitude of this work. it's truly a masterpiece of techno music. nearly every track is jaw-dropping. when i first bought the cd, i popped it into my portable stereo, pushed play, and was basically in a trance for the whole first track. (the girl with the sun in her head) the way they manipulate sound and put layer after layer of beautiful melody and harmony with an incredible set of percussion loops, and when you think you've figured out the main tune, they'll bring in another electronic noise to absolutely blow you away. i highly recommend the tracks the girl with the sun in her head, P.E.T.R.O.L., Dwd Budr (or whatever it is), Adnan's, and ESPECIALLY out there somewhere? pt.2. adnan's uses trash can beats and drip of water into their percussion, while out there somewhere? pt.2 weaves the melody in and out for almost fourteen minutes of great music. this song lovely.. got to be my favorite orbital song right now, it nearly brings me to tears every time i hear it. this cd, along with diversions has placed orbital as one of my favorite bands, and this cd is in my top five of all time. if you're a techno/electonica fan, get it!

First, I should say the I own every Orbital album and every soundtrack they've been on, atleast one copy of each album. I have bought this album 3 times. I bought it first at the end of 1996, and loved it. A few years go buy, my car is broken into and all my CD's were stolen. I go buy another copy of the album and now the second disk is different, and a wave of depression comes over me. I listen to the new bonus disk and though it is very good it is not as good as the original bonus disk. Tangent-- Now don't get me wrong I enjoy the new disk - especially 'The Sinner' and the live version of 'Halcyon'. But I own the 'Green Album' and 'The Saint Soundtrack' already. Original thought-- After some time hunting for it I finally find another copy of the original In Sides and life is good. I just want to say, if you are an Orbital fan and you have not heard the song 'Times Fly' (fast) or (slow) then you are surely missing out. If you own Snivilization and haven't heard the remix of 'Sad But True' called 'Sad But New' then you are missing out. And lastly, the 28:25 minute 'The Box' opus. You thought 'Illuminate' and 'Frenetic' were the only Orbital song with real singing in them.

As for an actual review of the album. You buy this album and listen to it and you will understand that the greatest writer in the world could not convey emotion half as well as this album. I have had this CD for roughly 7 years and 'The Girl With The Sun In Her Head' and 'Adnan's' still bring a tear to my eye.

Out There Somewhere Pt. 2 is maybe my favorite ambient (in the expansive sense of the term) track ever. Every time I listen to it, I literally get goosebumps. A lot of times I read writing about music, where people try to explain the feeling they get when listening to something they consider beautiful, and I just shrug. It's so hard to explain or capture-- the most you can do is dance around it. In Sides is beautiful. It encapsulates so much of the promise of electronic music, so many of the possibilities. The whole album is organic and united-- not a single track feels out of place. Rhythm is rudimentary but for Orbital it's the melody that's essential-- intricately woven layers of melody that sound more and more precise and necessary each time I listen to the album. When I listen to this I think of faraway places I'd like to visit. It makes life feel dramatic and mysterious.