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Hecker - Recordings For Rephlex - 31-Dec-06 01:08 AM
I have collected "electronic music" since early 1991 and now have over 4000 records and cds, just in this category. From Xenakis to Autechre - I listen to everything electronic that I can get my hands on. I also own nearly every release that Rephlex has produced thus far. I felt the need to preface this comment with that information because I believe this to be the single most pointless "thing" that Rephlex has yet released (topping Lektrogirl with EASE!). It's not music, by any means. You could call it "experimentation", if you like to experiment with ramming sewing needles in your ears while machines bleep and blare aimlessly around you at deafening levels. I honestly did not find ONE second of this release to be enjoyable. Ya know those "noise" tracks on the AFX Men releases? Extend that silliness over 35 minutes or so and you'll be getting close. There's a bit more variety to these tracks, but they're still ear splitting nonsensical noise. Now, if this is your thing, great! You should pick this up with a quickness. But if you're looking for some good old-fashioned Braindance, this ain't it.

Orb, The - Perpetual Dawn - 11-Apr-03 11:51 AM
A FIVE ALL THE WAY! As stated in my comments for Orb In Dub, I did not enjoy this track when it was released. It was beyond me at the time. While now, I find that the track was WAY ahead of it's time. Reggae-house-pop. All four versions here are different enough to warrant listening to them straight through. In fact, the way the tracks are sequnced makes it feel very much like the track is being broken down more and more with each mix. Ending this release is, in my opinion, the best version of Star6&789 released anywhere. Add the January Mix 3 from Aubrey Mixes: The Ultraworld Excursions and you have a complete breakdown of this song. Deep.

Note #1: Several versions of this song contain real vocals (ya know, like, singing). If this isn't your thing, stay away.

Note #2: I have this on a cassette (long ago converted to MP3). Both side contain all five songs.

Orb* - In Dub - 11-Apr-03 11:38 AM
Nice 12" release from the Orb. The A-side was exlusive to this 12" for many years but has since appeared on the U.F.Off Best of compilation. Real nice mellow ambient intro that lasts for a good 5-6 minutes. It contains some of the same keyboard riffs that was used in the Live 92 version. The riff slowly roles in and out as a Sherif and a hippie are overheard discussing things like how the hippie lost hhis head and how his lisence was hiding out behind his Timothy Leary trip of the month club card. The skit ends as the Sheriff tries a toke of what the hippie is smoking and lets him go. Claps from a live audience would lead me to believe that it's a sample of a live skit (the Orb have used so many samples it's ridiculous and not something I care to keep track of). At that point the dub reggae beat from the U.F.Orb version kicks and lasts through the end of the song. The second half of this song is sample free.

The B-Side is a track that I didn't like at the time, but have come to love. In fact, all the versions of Perpetual Dawn have really grown on me over the years. A completely original track. Reggae-house-pop. Quite ahead of it's time.

Note: This is early Designers Republic packaging (as were almost all of the Orb releases around this time) and may contain a funny little Orb saying (as did many of the DR/Orb releases of the time) such as "Orb Be In You, Orb Be Out You" or, my personal favorite, "An Orb Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas".

Orb, The - A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld - 11-Apr-03 11:20 AM
I must say that I was suprised to see that this record had a FIVE prior to my rating it. It's a classic to be sure, but it's not a FIVE in my mind. I have been collecting the Orb's music since 1991 when someone popped in a U.F.Orb cassette(!) on the way home from a rave. What disappoints me most about the Orb is that their popularity has been slowly dwindling for years, while they have continued to release music of a much higher quality than their ealier releases. It just makes no sense. So in my mind, the Orbs earlier releases must be looked at in the context of their entire catalogue, which is vast to say the least.

Having said all that, I am fully aware that this record usually has the term "classic" applied to it. If I look at it as being from 1990, I can see where it could be viewed as original and groundbreaking, I'm just not sure it's worthy of the "classic" moniker.

The Aide A track was very inovative at the time of it's release. 20 minutes in length with long passages of "ambience" (i.e. - no beats). The ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne swirling keyboard riff that repeats at different tempos through out the track can be very calming or, very annoying, depending on your mood. The Minnie Ripperton "Loving You" sample that used to bring a little smile to my face now just makes me want to hear the Minnie Ripperton song. I do still quite enjoy the use of the helicopter like beat and the horse hooves as percussion.

The B-side mixes sound equally dated to me, but as with the A-side, they are still enjoyable in the context of early Orb and early ambient house music. I believe that these mixes are still exlusive to this 12" (could be wrong) which may be a good enough reason for collectors to hunt this down (but again, be careful as I am fairly certain it was released more than once with the same packaging). However, AHEPBTRFTCOTU has been released MANY times on CD. Most of the mixes don't get too far away from the original A-side included on this 12" release. So for casual listeners, hunting down a CD will be much easier and usaully (unless you get the CD5) allow you to listen to some other Orb songs as well.

I should add that I recall enjoying one of the B-side mixes much more that the other, but I cannot remember which one. Looking at the song titles is not helping so I will just say that one of the B-side mixes in considerably better than the other. It's very up and danceable.

Orb, The - Kiss EP - 11-Apr-03 10:58 AM
I paid way too much for this record and I'm still not sure if I have an original or a re-release. Buyers beware when purchasing this album for high dollar amounts - IT WAS RE-RELEASED. Beyond that, the music is just not that good. Very little difference in the 4 mixes. The drum tracks sound really old and cheesey and it contains a Flava Flav vocal sample; which I never need to hear in another song...EVER! Really, I can't recommend this 12". Find the MP3's instead. This music is pre-AHEPBTRFTCOTU and it shows. Along these same lines, if you find an MP3 of Peace In The Middle East (or an original by all means!), grab it. It's held up againt the test of time much better as far as older Orb songs go.

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