Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo consisting of rave brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Most known for their album, ‘The Middle of Nowhere’, released in 1999, which reached Number Four in the UK album chart. Orbital were around at the beginning of the acid house scene in the early 90’s, they helped to create the shape of electronic music to come in the next 20 years, however they have been disastrously left behind.
Admittedly, I was a bit embarrassed when I discovered exactly how pivotal they were to rave scene, having never heard of them before this review. I immediately obtained their debut eponymous album, and it is a gem. So it is not a question of being blinded to the true wonder of ‘Wonky’ by having been essentially desensitised by countless hours of new generation dubstep, drumstep, doorstep, drum and step, and all the increasingly ridiculous genres of ‘-step’ that are emerging. However I feel having a fresh perspective on Orbital is useful, as I have none of their previous work in my mind.
The problem is simply that ‘Wonky’ is boring. There is no crescendo, no climax to the relentless anticipation and build-up that each song generates. Each song encompasses the same monotonous drone as the last, giving the impression that the album goes on forever.
The best song of the album is undoubtedly ‘New France’, only because of the collaboration from the infinitely talented Zola Jesus (Her album, ‘Skin’, incidentally, is superb). The perfect harmony between melancholic, yet unexplainably enchanting synths and bass, mixed with the haunting emotional pang of Zola combine to create something quite breathtaking.
Nothing terribly special, although hardcore fans will presumably adore it, I would consider it to be slightly better to listening to the same song over and over again for 45 minutes.
‘Wonky’ is available now.
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Admittedly, I was a bit embarrassed when I discovered exactly how pivotal they were to rave scene, having never heard of them before this review. I immediately obtained their debut eponymous album, and it is a gem. So it is not a question of being blinded to the true wonder of ‘Wonky’ by having been essentially desensitised by countless hours of new generation dubstep, drumstep, doorstep, drum and step, and all the increasingly ridiculous genres of ‘-step’ that are emerging. However I feel having a fresh perspective on Orbital is useful, as I have none of their previous work in my mind.
