The Orb

The Orb are currently front man Dr Alex Paterson, Thomas Fehlmann and Andy Hughes, although since their first ambient tweaks and splashes in the late 80's many faces have past through the towers of dub, including Jimmy Cauty, Youth, Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy (aka System 7) and Kris 'Thrash' Weston. The Orb's have made a firm impression upon ambient music with early releases such as the anthemic single Little Fluffy Clouds, followed by the chart hitting and critically acclaimed album U.F.Orb. However, friction between band members and the record label of the time Big Life resulted in the Orb switching to Island Records in '93, and things were never quite the same again. A string of half-baked albums (Live 93, Pomme Fritz - Orb's Little Album in 1994 and Orbvus Terrarvum in 1995) left the fans disillusioned, whilst the critics had a field day. It may have been a case of over indulging in the recreational pharmaceuticals, or it may just have just been a result of being over experimental. What and however, things went a little pair shaped for a while. But, after nearly three years of silence, '97 saw the Orb return in style with their album Orblivion and single Toxygene.

Album: The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld

[BLR CD 5]
The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld

Track Listing:

Disc one
  1. Little Fluffy Clouds
  2. Earth (gaia)
  3. Supernova at the End of the Universe
  4. Back Side of the Moon
  5. Spanish Castles in Space
Disc two
  1. Perpetual Dawn
  2. Into the Fourth Dimension
  3. Outlands
  4. Star 6&7&8&9
  5. A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain that Rules from the Centre of the Ultrworld : Live mix mk 10

The Orb at their finest. Two discs and two hours of original inspirational ambience. Batersee Power Station will never be the same again.

CD: Peel Sessions

[DE18119-2]
Peel Sessions

Track Listing:

  1. A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre of the Ultraworld (Loving You)
  2. Back Side of the Moon (Tranquility Lunar Orbit)
  3. Into the Fourth Dimension (Essenes in Starlight)

Released '91 on Strange Fruit Records.

Single: Little Fluffy Clouds

[BLRD 98]
Little Fluffy Clouds

Track Listing:

cd:
  1. Little Fluffy Clouds (3:59)
  2. Little Fluffy Clouds - Dance mk 2 (8:25)
  3. Into the Forth Dimension - Essenes Beyond Control (7:00)
  4. Little Fluffy Clouds - Ambient mk 1 (4:25)
12":
  1. Little Fluffy Clouds - Dance mk 2 (8:25)
  2. Into the Forth Dimension - Essenes Beyond Control (7:00)
  3. Little Fluffy Clouds - Ambient mk 1 (4:25)
12" remix:
  1. Little Fluffy Clouds - Drum & Vox Version
  2. Into the Forth Extension
  3. Little Fluffy Clouds - Seven Inch mk 1

Re-released on Big Life Records in 1993 due to public demand. The hypnotic vocals of Ricky Lee Jones describing childhood memories of sunsets and fluffy clouds combine with catchy melodies, cockerels and jet planes. Fab!

Single: Perpetual Dawn

[BLRD 46]
Perpetual Dawn

Track Listing:

cd:
  1. Perpetual Dawn - Solar Youth mix
  2. Star 6 & 7, 8, 9 - Phase II
  3. Perpetual Dawn - Solar Flare Extended mix
12":
  1. Perpetual Dawn - Solar Flare Extended mix
  2. Star 6 & 7, 8, 9 - Phase II
  3. Perpetual Dawn - Ultrabase I
12" remix:
  1. Perpetual Dawn - Ultrabase II
  2. Towers of Dub - Ambient mix

'91 release on Big Life Records. This is one of the few tracks by the Orb to feature vocals, although they work well in this track. Youth lends a hand with the Solar remixes, whilst the knobs are twiddled by Andrew Boys Own/Saberettes Weatherall in the Ultrabase remixes.

Single: Assassin

[BLRDA/B 81 / BLRDB 81]
AssassinAssassin

Track Listing:

Disc one:
  1. Assassin - The Oasis of Rhythms mix
  2. U.F.Orb - Bandulu Remix
Disc two:
  1. Assassin - Radio 7 mix
  2. Assassin - Another Live Version mix
  3. Assassin - Chocolate Hills of Bohol mix

This appears to be a 2 part single in between albums. Produced by The Orb & Lewis Keogh. Released again on Big Life Records in '92, the title track doesn't feature on any of the albums, whereas the Bandulu remix of U.F.Orb features on the album of the same name.

Album: U.F.Orb

[BLR CD 18]
U.F.Orb

Track Listing:

  1. O.O.B.E. (12:51)
  2. U.F.Orb (6:08)
  3. Blue Room (17:34)
  4. Towers Of Dub (15:00)
  5. Close Encounters (10:27)
  6. Majestic (11:06)
  7. Sticky End (0:49)

'92 saw the release of the Orbs third album, which went straight to the top of the album charts.

Album: Live '93

[162-535 004-2]
Live '93

Track Listing:

CD1
  1. Plateau (11:52)
  2. OOBE (11:58)
  3. Little Fluffy Clouds (10:55)
  4. Star 6 & 789 (9:59)
  5. Towers of Dub (12:33)
  6. Blue Room (14:58)
CD2
  1. Valley (10:07)
  2. Perpetual Dawn (9:00)
  3. Assassin (11:48)
  4. Outlands (9:06)
  5. Spanish Castles in Space (10:40)
  6. A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain The Rules From The Centre of the Ultraworld (loving u) (18:52)

Released '93 on Island Red Records.

Album: Pomme Fritz

[ORBCD1/524013-2]
Pomme Fritz

Track Listing:

  1. Pomme Fritz (meat 'n veg) (9:04)
  2. More Gills Less Fishcakes (8:05)
  3. We're Pastie To Be Grill You (7:15)
  4. Bang 'er 'n Chips (7:47)
  5. Alles Ist Schoen (7:17)
  6. His Immortal Logness (2:03)

1994 saw the first release away from Big Life, on InterModo/Island Records. However, Pomme Fritz - Orb's Little Album, was the first of a series of bizarre and abstract recordings that didn't go down to well with fans.

CD Single: Oxbow Lakes

[CID 609/854 315-2]
Oxbow Lakes

Track Listing:

  1. Album Version (7:29)
  2. Everglades Mix (6:00)
  3. Sabres No. 1 Mix (7:20)
  4. Psychic Pals Family Wealth Plan Mix (5:09)
  5. Evensong String Arrangement (5:38)

Released '95 on Island Records.

Album: Orbus Terrarum

[314-524 099-2]
Orbus Terrarum

Track Listing:

  1. Valley
  2. Plateau
  3. Oxbow Lakes
  4. Montagne D'or (Der Gute Berg)
  5. White River Junction
  6. Occidental
  7. Slug Dub

Released '95 on Island Records.

CD Single: The O.O.B.E. Adventure

[SB 04]
The O.O.B.E. Adventure

Track Listing:

  1. Alex vs the KLF (10:18)
  2. ORB vs Coldcut/Kiss FM (14:26)

Released '96 on Sonic Records.

Album: Auntie Aubrey's Excursions Beyond the Call of Duty (The Orb Remix Project)

[DVNT12CD]
Auntie Aubrey's Excursions Beyond the Call of Duty (The Orb Remix Project)

Track Listing:

CD1:
  1. Material - Praying Mantra (17:05)
  2. Killing Joke - Democracy (The Russian Tundra Mix) (17:52)
  3. Keiichi Suzuki - Satellite Serenade (Trans Asian Express Mix) (13:10)
  4. Zodiac Youth - Fast Forward the Future (Bucket and Bong Mix) (7:18)
  5. Primal Scream - Higher Than The Sun (Higher Than The Kite Mix) (8:46)
  6. Ready Made - Ambient State (0:49)
  7. Wir - So and Slow It Grows (The Orb In Atlas Mix) (6:57)
  8. Yasuaki Shimizu - Secret Squirrel (7:47)
CD2:
  1. Yello - You Gotta Say Yes to Another Excess (Orb Extended Remix) (12:58)
  2. Innersphere - Out of Body (Logical Mix) (4:25)
  3. Depeche Mode - Happiest Girl (Orbital Mix) (7:38)
  4. Erasure - Ship of Fools (Orbital Southsea Isles of Holy Beats Mix) (8:52)
  5. Sun Electric - O'Locco (Orbital Therapy Part 1) (6:05)
  6. Maurizio - Ploy (Battersea Was An Island Of Mud Mix) (12:38)
  7. Time Unlimited - Men of Wadodem (Orbital Mix) (4:20)
  8. Paradise X - 2 Much (Start And Depart From Paradise Mix) (6:35)
  9. Pop Will Eat Itself - Home (Home Sweet Home Orb Remix) (11:13)
  10. Love Kittens - What Goes On (Orbient Mix) (5:15)

Released '96 on Deviant Records.

CD Single: Asylum

[CID 657/854 963-2 / CIDX 657 854 962-2]
Asylum

Track Listing:

CD1
  1. 7" Edit
  2. Blood Sugar Mix 1
  3. Andrea Parker's Bezirkskrankenhams Mix
CD2
  1. 7" Edit
  2. Kris & Dave's You Are Evil (But I Like You) Mix
  3. Thomas Fehlmann's Mix
  4. The Soul Catcher's Mix

Released '97 on Island Records. Written by Paterson, Hughes, Keogh, Fehlmann. Produced by The Orb. This is a 2 CD set. CD1 is sold normally, CD2 is sold in a box with an open slot for CD1. The box and the jewel case (CD1, CD2) both have the same cover art.

Album: Orblivion

[8055/524 347-2]
Orblivion

Track Listing:

  1. Delta MK II (6:30)
  2. Ubiquity (6:23)
  3. Asylum (5:23)
  4. Bedouin (4:25)
  5. Molten Love (6:41)
  6. Pi (1:10)
  7. S.A.L.T. (8:15)
  8. Toxygene (5:00)
  9. Log of Deadwood (1:30)
  10. Secrets (5:40)
  11. Passions of Time (9:27)
  12. 72 (0:06)

Released '97 on Island Records.

CD Single: Toxygene (UK)

[CID 652 854 907-2 / CIDX 652 854 909-2]
Toxygene

Track Listing:

CD1:
  1. Toxygene (Edit) (3:37)
  2. Toxygene (Way Out West Begbie Mix) (7:40)
  3. Delta MKII (Dal Vivo a Roma) (6:15)
  4. Toxygene (Kris Needs Up For a Fortnight Mix) (7:17)
CD2:
  1. Toxygene (Edit) (3:37)
  2. Toxygene (Fila Brazillia Mix) (6:10)
  3. Rose Tinted (Dal Vivo a Roma) (7:14)
  4. Toxygene (Toxic Genes Mix) (7:59)

Released '97 on Island Records. Written by Paterson, Hughes and Le Gonidec, except CD1 T3 Paterson, Hughes, Fehlmann, Hillage & Giraudy and CD2 T3 written by Paterson, Hughes, Fehlmann & Keogh. Produced by The Orb. This is a 2 CD set. CD2 is sold normally, CD1 is sold in a box with an open slot for CD2. The box and the jewel case (CD1, CD2) both have the same cover art.

CD Single: Toxygene (USA)

[314-572 105-2]
Toxygene (US)

Track Listing:

  1. Toxygene (Album Version) (5:20)
  2. Asylum (Album Version) (5:26)
  3. Asylum - Blood Sugar's Mix (8:57)
  4. Little Fluffy Clouds - Pal Joey Mix (6:10)
  5. Toxygene - Live Vegas Mix (6:16)

Released '97 on Island Records.

Album: U.F.OFF

[CIDD 8078/524 599 2]
U.F.OFF

Track Listing:

Disc1:
  1. A Huge Evergrowing Pulsating Brain that Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld - Orbital Dance Mix
  2. Little Fluffy Clouds - Dance Mix 2
  3. Perpetual Dawn - Solar Youth Mix
  4. Blue Room - 7" Mix
  5. Assassin - 7" Mix
  6. Pomme Fritz - Meat 'N Veg Mix
  7. Toxygene - 7" Edit
  8. Outlands - LP Version
  9. DJ Asylum - 7" Edit
  10. Mickey Mars - 7" Edit
  11. Towers of Dub - Original Mix
  12. PI (Part 1) - LP Version
Disc2:
  1. Little Fluffy Clouds - Live From Washington DC '97
  2. Perpetual Dawn - Ultrabass II
  3. Pomme Fritz - Orb Remix
  4. Toxygene - Ganja Kru Remix
  5. DJ Asylum - The Soulcatchers Mix
  6. Assassin - Chocolate Hills of Bohol Mix
  7. O.O.B.E - Pool Mix
  8. A Huge Evergrowing Pulsating Brain that Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld - Radio Version
  9. Blue Room - Ambient Mix
  10. Mickey Mars - Red X Edit
  11. PI (Part 2) - Orb Remix
  12. Montagne D'or (Der GVTE Berg) - Vestax Mix



12": Once More

[767/562 969-1]
Once More

Track Listing:

  1. Once More - Bedrock Edit (8.03)
  2. Once More - Radio Edit (3.53)
  3. Little Fluffy Clouds - Danny Tenaglia's Detour Mix (8.03)

Released 2001 on Island Records. Tracks 1 & 2 written by Paterson, Omori, Fehlmann & Hughes. Lyrics by Alex Paterson and Aki Omori. Vocals by Aki Omori. Produced and mixed by The Orb. Track 1 remixed by Nick Muir and John Digweed. Contains a sample from phan kim thanh "cung dan dat nuoc (melody of the country)". Track 3 written by Paterson and Glover. Produced by Youth and Paterson. Remixed by Danny Tenaglia. The Orbs original version of this track is very vocally and sounds very mainstream - not my sort of thing at all. However, its Bedrocks astounding remix that steals the show on this vinyl, with a typical Bedrock sounding progressive bassine and a really addictive riff running throughout. The vocals are cut to a minimum and are cleverly used - fantastic stuff. Other mixes are available on the CD singles.

Other Info:

For further information on The Orb, see the Official Orb Web Site, or this great Unofficial Orb Web Site.

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