Long-running UK electronic group, originally formed by Jimmy Cauty (of The KLF) and Alex Paterson in 1988, that grew out of a love of ambient music and dub, soundscapes and science fiction. Due to the early work in this style, The Orb became pioneers of the early-90's-born "ambient house" genre. The group's lineup has shifted over the years, with Alex being the only consistent member. Notable members include Thrash and Thomas Fehlmann. Though he was never officially a member, Youth (a.k.a. Martin Glover) was instrumental throughout the group's existence, and co-owned the label WAU! Mr. Modo Recordings with Alex (they had known each other since they were young, and Alex was a roadie for the group Killing Joke, in which Youth played bass).
The Orb
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The Orb
Marketplace 15,941 For Sale
Reviews Show All 41 Reviews
WonderSoil
July 16, 2021
edited 12 months ago
My ever lasting musical reference point. What a gift The Orb has been to a world of curious music lovers for more than 30 years. Sure, among probably 1000s of tracks there's plenty of dated or uninspiring music, especially in the late 90's and early 00's, but at least a good 80-90% of their catalogue are placed in between Great, Awesome, Genius and Jaw Dropping. From their incomparable early Ambient House-sound, through their deeeeeply psychedelic Orbus Terrarum, from their Kraftwerk-esque Fehlmann-influenced Tech House, to plenty of catchy "hits" of different kinds. As a producer and DJ I am and will always be highly influenced by Dr. Patterson in how to fuse genres and moods, in how to combine depth and catchiness, and not the least in how a good and well timed vocal sample can create magic on the dancefloor.
For anyone new to the universe of The Orb I would first of all recommend their Auntie Aubrey remix-albums, because no band can even come close to the levels of Patterson in how to create something extraordinary out of simple audio. But the best album must be their "Live 93"-albums, especially if you already know their early cataloque. Those live-versions are simply beyond words. How I wish I was old enough to have been there, yet young enough to have a heroic dose at a rave.
For anyone new to the universe of The Orb I would first of all recommend their Auntie Aubrey remix-albums, because no band can even come close to the levels of Patterson in how to create something extraordinary out of simple audio. But the best album must be their "Live 93"-albums, especially if you already know their early cataloque. Those live-versions are simply beyond words. How I wish I was old enough to have been there, yet young enough to have a heroic dose at a rave.
psykool8
February 19, 2021
One of their best, hard to find it, lost it the quantity of releases: https://www.discogs.com/Various-Badorbcom-Bless-You/release/172673
adiscombug
September 3, 2020
What is this: https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B08DCZ57CG "Disembodied Voices", Today, it's not on The Orb website. And can't find it anywhere else. Can anyone confirm?
256Pi
April 1, 2020
edited over 2 years ago
Counterpoint to the commenter below me: Do bother with anything after '94. While those first three albums with Thrash are all pretty easily among their strongest work, they've still been putting out plenty of great material without him for years after the fact. I for one love Toxygene and the stuff they were doing immediately after Orbus Terrarum, and all their albums since have had different interesting flavors to them that make them all worth checking out (I personally hold The Dream on par with their early stuff, love it to bits, but I get that's not everyone's cup of tea, if you like their more ambient stuff make sure you check out Okie Dokie or Chill Out World or Moonbuilding). Paterson and company have stayed creative and engaging years after their prime, even to this day (No Sounds Are Out Of Bounds and Abolition Of The Royal Familia are great too), so don't sleep on their most recent stuff either.
lerosa
August 12, 2019
Don't bother with anything after '94, for better or worse Trash was the visionary of the Orb, compare their Live 93 to Toxygene, worlds apart. Hughes or Falconer really didn't get remotely close.
schtel
April 8, 2018
The Orb — a name derived from Woody Allen’s sci-fi film, "Sleepers". [Frank Hoffman, "Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound (2nd Edition)" (Routledge, 2004), p. 778.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAKWKfVcd04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAKWKfVcd04
Rich.C
January 13, 2017
The Orb is perhaps the best-known name in mainstream Ambient music, and for all the right reasons. Since the end of the 1980s, Alex Paterson and a changing list of collaborators have produced chilled-out, ecstatic grooves and fluffy, flowing remixes for dancers greeting the dawn.
Their output is every bit as brilliant and stunning as the rising sun after a long night of physical flow and endless four/four pounding. Multicolored synth lines run like a watercolor palette in the rain. They layer blissful selections from Pink Floyd, Minnie Riperton, Ennio Morricone and Rickie Lee Jones to create a harmonious pastiche of original music, seamless samples and astute dialog.
...As the Orb's pulsating harmonies weave self-contained ecosystems of sound, delirious beats climb up the mix like vines, heavy with sweet fruit, ready for plucking.
Their output is every bit as brilliant and stunning as the rising sun after a long night of physical flow and endless four/four pounding. Multicolored synth lines run like a watercolor palette in the rain. They layer blissful selections from Pink Floyd, Minnie Riperton, Ennio Morricone and Rickie Lee Jones to create a harmonious pastiche of original music, seamless samples and astute dialog.
...As the Orb's pulsating harmonies weave self-contained ecosystems of sound, delirious beats climb up the mix like vines, heavy with sweet fruit, ready for plucking.
AndyPandy2000
January 31, 2016
Always been very keen on both The Orb and Pink Floyd so was very excited and not disappointed by The Orb and Dave Gilmour's 'Metallic Spheres' so why isn't it here?!
Escapist
November 15, 2021