Orbital – “In Sides” – [Full Frequency]

Kai Sync   6/29/2016   A Library, CD

It feels strange to review an album that the reviewer listened inside out 20 years ago (1996.) It’s definitely not Orbital’s crown jewel — however, it has a very definite tonality grounded in the Orbital knack formula of taking mysterious, odd-beat chord progressions and turning those to melody hooks. Many of the beats also have influences from trip-hop, acid breakbeats, jungle/DnB and abstract/exotic patterns. Another bonus are the eery and sultry female voices used to paint the soundscape. The overall theme is ecology such as the track “The Girl With The Sun In Her Head” that was recorded only using solar power. Out there Somewhere Part 1 and Part 2 is a musical attempt, similar to Orb’s escapades, describing the universe in 25 minutes total. It’s up to the listener to decide if this was successful.

Here in USA this specific album might have been one of the bigger entry points for the audience into the emerging UK/European dance music scene. This US release has a bonus disk that includes a live recording of Sad But New, two versions of Times Flow plus other material.