Well, there's not much to go by here, except for Artist and Album Title, so I hope I'm reviewing the right thing! That "thing" being what may very well be the finest non-studio album The Orb has ever released.
Peel Sessions consists of three songs that originally appeared on The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld, but that were re-recorded and reworked in 1989 and 1990 for the John Peel Radio Show. Since there are only 3 songs on the album--despite the approximately 40 minute total album length--I'll review song-by-song:
1. A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Center Of The Ultraworld (Loving You): This version clocks in at just over 20 minutes, but absolutely flies by. It starts strong, with the wafting synth, pulsing beat, and randomly-forcing-its-way-to-the-foreground "ah" sounds you'd expect from this old Orb standard, but never quite gets to the really fast part. Not quite as good as the version on Live 93, perhaps, but the vastly superior sound quality allows it to more than hold its own.
2. Back Side Of The Moon (Tranquility Lunar Orbit): This is my favorite version of the almost uniformly brilliant Back Side Of The Moon/Supernova At The End Of The Universe/Reefer Spin In The Galaxy songs, omitting much of the drums in favor of heavy NASA moon landing samples. Indeed, those drums only kick in for about a minute, right in the middle of this 11-minute opus, but they make quite an impression in that short time. Definitely the highlight of the album, and along with White River Junction, S.A.L.T., and Majestic, one my all-time favorite Orb tracks.
3. Into The Fourth Dimension (Essenes In Starlight): Not really vastly different than the original, save for the wonderful circus-music ending, this version puts more of an emphasis on beat. But not to worry, the violins are still there, and as spacey as ever--as are the samples of some guy trying to explain the technical specifications of studio recording equipment (at least, that's what I think it is).
All in all, I think this is the best, most essential "remix" type album in The Orb cannon. It's a shame that it's so difficult to find.
The second Orb Peel Sessions CD was released in 1996. It followed the Orb's successful fourth release Orbus Terrarum (1995). This album captures the direction of the Orb's music at that time. Lots of atmosphere, muted vocal samples, ambient synth with very little percussion.
There are four tracks in this 36 minute release. O.O.B.E. is a nice version of the UF Orb classic. It sounds like the band borrowed a little more of Pat Metheney's acoustic guitar (last heard in Little Fluffy Clouds) for this version. No Fun is the stand out, as the ambient pioneers diverted to play punk for a break in 1992. (Is that Alex P. doing John Lydon? Pretty close. No Fun is lots of fun.)
The best of the more traditional Orb is the version of Montagne D'Or, which is presented in an ambient mix without the noise of the 1995 version. This track is perfection. It is also a nice contrast to its polar opposite "Vesta Mix" version which appeared on the limited edition 1998 Best of: UF OFF CD. (That version is also excellent for its sheer noise. It sounds like someone rammed a Les Paul into a sequencer, shoved into a Marshal Stack, and set on fire. Awesome)
Finally (fourthly) Valley is very good . As well as some new production, this Peel sessions mix adds some structure to the Orb classic, which roams freely and sparcely.
Overall this album does not surpass the first (1991) Peel Sessions, but it is a great addition to an Orb collection.
I only have an audiotape version of this which is warped from overplaying and sitting out in the rain. (I told it not to, but it just kept going out there anyway.)
I want the CD.
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