Orbital is an electronic duo consisting of brothers Phil Hartnoll and Paul Hartnoll formed in London, England whose career lasted from 1989 until 2004. They reformed in 2009. Orbital took their name from Greater London's orbital motorway, the M25, which was central to the early rave scene and party network in the South East during the early days of acid house [1]. One of the biggest names in British electronica during the 1990s, Orbital were both critically and commercially successful, being particularly known for an element of live improvisation during their shows, a rarity with techno acts. They were initially influenced by early electro and punk rock. Early years In 1989, Orbital recorded a track called Chime on their father's cassette deck. It was released on Oh Zone Records in December 1989, and re-released on FFRR Records a few months later. The track became a rave anthem, reaching number 17 in the UK charts, and earning them an appearance on Top of the Pops, during which they wore anti-Poll Tax t-shirts.[2]. A few singles and EPs followed, and their first self-titled album, a collection of tracks recorded at various times, was released in late 1991. In late 1992, the Radiccio EP barely reached the UK top forty, but it included probably their most well-known song, Halcyon. The song featured a backwards sample of Kirsty Hawkshaw from It's a Fine Day (a chart hit for Opus III earlier that year), and B-side The Naked and the Dead was similarly based on a line from Scott Walker's rendition of Jacques Brel's song Next. Halcyon was dedicated to the Hartnolls' mother, who was addicted to the tranquiliser Halcion (Triazolam) for many years.[3]. The duo's popularity grew rapidly with the release of their second album, titled Orbital 2, in 1993. The album featured complex arrangements and textures, and opens with the two minute track Time Becomes, which comprises nothing more than 2 slightly detuned, looped samples of a Michael Dorn line from Star Trek: The Next Ge
1 | Planet of the Shapes | Orbital 2 |
2 | Waving Not Drowning | The Altogether |
3 | Impact USA The earth is burning diversion | Diversions |
4 | Acid Pants | Orbital (The Blue Album) |
5 | total paranoia | octane |
6 | The Box 2 | The Box UK |
7 | The Box - Part II | In Sides |
8 | New Style | The Altogether (Disc 2) |
9 | PLANET OF THE SHAPES | Brown Album |
10 | What Happens Next | Orbital (The Blue Album) |
11 | Chime - 96 Festival Chelmsford | Satan Live Part 3 |
12 | I Wish I Had Duck Feet | Snivilisation |
13 | Know Where To Run | The Middle Of Nowhere |
14 | strangeness in the night | octane |
15 | Tunnel Vision | Orbital (The Blue Album) |
16 | Sad But new | Times Fly UK |
17 | Nothing Left 2 | The Middle Of Nowhere |
18 | Funny Break (One is Enough) | The Altogether |
19 | Lush 3-1 | Orbital 2 |
20 | Sunday | Halcyon (EP) |