Disco de Orbital: “Blue Album”

Like many Orbital and music critics a like, save one or two songs, I was very dissapointed by The Altogether, Orbitals last album. It was a messy, uninspired, schizophrenic affair leaving me alienated. My favorite group had fallen from grace.

So I was pretty anxious as to what the Blue Album was going to sound like. I'm in the US so got it on import since I couldn't wait(however, I maybe missing out on some sort of deluxe edition like they did with the Altogether and InSides in the US)

Happy to say im pleasantly surprised! No its not as brilliant as their magnum opus Insides from 1997, but leaps and bounds better than the Altogether, and on par with or perhaps even better than Middle of Nowhere(which im still fond of)

You can hear every Orbital album reflected here, but in a new context. You'll hear elements of other Orbial songs contained within, or even the mash up of a few Orbital songs. It may seem lazy or too self referential, but it works here. It seems more subtle, more refined, more haunting than other Orbital releases. Definitely emotional and sometimes even achingly beautiful.

What it is missing from other Orbital albums is the complex interlocking melodies and counter melodies, multi movement songs, songs seguing from one to the next, and all the songs and the album in its entirety is much too short. (why they left two tracks off is beyond me).

But there is not a single song I hate or strongly dislike on here.

"Transient" is a beautiful and unexpected opener, very Philip Glass with its string and harpsichord arpeggios, with clanging electronics enveloping it. Unlike anything Orbital

"Pants" brings us back to trademark Orbital territory, evoking Dwr Budr from Insides

"Tunnel Vision" visits the dark paranoid side of Orbital.

"Lost" is slow burning and melodic

"You Lot" is definitely the album stunner. Its melodic and percussive then stops on a dime with lush beautiful pads, while a very Snivelization like sample about a man rambling on about man trying to outdo God

"Bath Time" may leave some heads scratching, like a demented children's show theme song, but there is a darkness behind it that grows on you. The mellotron on it is great.

"Acid Pants" turns the time machine to 1993 and is a banging acid stormer with a peculiar vocal from avant-pop group Sparks. You'll either love it or hate it.

"Easy Serv", like Bath Time may puzzle long time Orbital fans, but its a cute little melodic electro-Carribean number, complete with vibraphone. Don't take it too seriously.

"One Perfect Sunrise" is the albums closer, which seems to make perfect sense, sense it harks back to Brown Album like 4 to the floor kick drum Orbital glory with the lulling female vocal of Lisa Gerrard(sang on the Galdiator soundtrack). No its not as good as Halcyon+on+on, but evokes a similar old school rave vibe.

Its a great swan song to one of the best electronic music groups, and a marked improvement in quality and craft from their last album.

However I must say its hard pitting Orbital against Orbital. Because when you put Orbital up against modern day electronic dance music, few things can hold up. The attention to melody, detail and beauty that is so rare to find these days.

Sadly, as Orbital releases its last album, I realize I completely missed the magic that Orbital has created over the years. I unfortunately found Orbital at the end, and man I'm bummed even so. The glory days of the 90's were not my era, but my love for techno and music in general is strong. This album, is beautiful. I hate to say it but besides this, I've only heard Orbital 1, Altogether, and Middle of Nowhere. What I have heard though, what I've listened to in complete musical bliss, is amazing. I'll leave the analysis of Orbital's career to the true fans. What I can say is that this album was made by a true musician. I bet some people are thinking, "Well duh, it's Orbital". You gotta realize, it's one of those things taken for granted. Who gives a sheet if there's no more albums on the way. This is true music.

I came away with mixed feelings after listening to this album. If you're a casual fan of "Orbital" and are looking for the next "Orbital 2 (Brown Album)" or "In-Sides" (both of which are fantastic in their own right, mind you), you will probably not like this album. Yet, ironically, this is the most "danceable" Orbital album since "Orbital 2," but as "downtempo" tracks to open up a set. As a fan of "downtempo" / IDM, I was really quite surprised to hear it coming from Orbital. This is music I would sort of expect coming from Boards of Canada and the like, and, especially since this is the swan song for Orbital, I certainly didn't expect them to reinvent themselves. All-in-all, "The Blue Album" completely jarred my expectations, yet created something I very much like. I don't expect that all Orbital fans will greet this reinvention so receptively, though.

However, hints of classic "Orbital" are certainly throughout, such as the very "Snivilisation"-like, "You Lot." A fantastic track, but second, of course, to the very overpowering, "One Perfect Sunrise," which is really the highlight of the album, and one can see why the track was chosen to the only single for the album. The only track that really seems to not fit is "Acid Pants," and I've already heard a lot of complaints about it. Very interesting track overall, but kind of makes the mood disjointed. I think, though, that the track will likely grow on me with time.

Overall, though, I will admit that the knowledge that this album signaled the end of Orbital likely tainted my overall view of this album. I found myself listening to it a hint of sadness, but really came away with this being probably the "least" commercial Orbital album since Orbital 1 (Green Album). Hence, I'd have to say that it is a fitting end for Orbital.

It is said that the Hartnoll brothers behind Orbital decided to break up in favor of solo projects, due to the fact that they feel that they've exhausted their creativity together. Perhaps that's why this album is such a departure from their previous work. I sincerely hope that they follow through with plans for solo albums, because I can only hope as to where Orbital would have gone next, after this unexpected reinvention of an album.

Overall, I rate this four out of five stars, solely because I only reserve five stars for albums that I think are exceptionally classic and great. "The Blue Album" is very good, if you have an open mind and very diverse tastes in electronic music. I just don't know if I can call it "classic." I'll certainly keep it in my rotation, though, when I'm in a downtempo mood, and put on the other Orbital albums when I'm in a more upbeat mood.

Orbital's progression, or perhaps evolution, expansion, maturation--none of these terms encompass the full extent of the incredible breadth and depth of their tracks over time. I feel strongly they are the archetype of their genre. I'm not saying that so I can use the word 'archetype', either! While individual tracks veer off into flirtations with various styles, the core sound is what you think of when remembering: that amazing night at the club where you melted into an icy yet delicious stranger who dropped something on your tounge so you saw the sounds as 'Tunnel Vision' from their Blue Album flowed forth from the club's almost too-loud-but-not-quite system. Later you consummated your flirtations with that now-glowing hottie while 'Lost' soaked you from your car's stereo--you were in the back seat, remember?

And oh yeah, some of the songs on this volume are a bit 'wack', but that's what gives them the crown--Orbital doesn't take themselves or the world too seriously.

This is a band that brings back a lot of memories. And due to a lot of drug abuse, there was much more forgotten good times. Those were the carefree days. Going to the rave. Getting out of your head. Orbital were the soundtrack. And is the party ending so soon? And even though, like maybe of us, I didn't listen to techno music as much in the past four years as I did during most of the 1990s. Actually I did see Orbital three years ago in New York City and it was the best time I had in a while after 9/11. Even though I had given up on dance music, I thought it would go on without me. Apparently, Orbital must have an end. This album sees them going back to their minimal early days. There are classical moments of trance. There is a fondness for early Moog sounds. It's all around a fairly good album and Orbital will be missed. I am not sure if this is going to make anyone come back and take some E or Special K. But this can be heard as a fine summation of all that Orbital did and all the good times they can be associated with.