The Orb is an English group formed in 1988 and originally composed of Alex Paterson and Jimmy Cauty, a duo that released the same year a first title "Tripping on sunshine", a title present on the compilation Eternity Project One.
A mini album called "The Kiss EP" was released the following year in 1989, a mini album where they mainly remixed extracts from the New York radio station KISS FM.
We will later find them as DJs in the London nightclub "Heaven", a place where their fame will seriously begin to grow.
The first title that will really reveal them, "Lovin' you" later renamed "A huge ever growing pulsating brain that rules from the centre of the ultraword", also came out in 1989. A title with an improbable name that will give them their first success.
Despite and because of this growing success, the two friends will increasingly diverge on the continuation of the adventure to the point that they will separate the following year in 1990. Paterson will keep the name The Orb and continue the adventure under this name. As for Cauty, he will start the adventure The KLF, no less !
The group in its new version releases a new Single "Little fluffy clouds" the following year in 1991 and proves de facto that he can quite exist without the presence of Cauty given the level of success achieved by the title.
Title taken from their first album "The Orb's adventures beyond the ultraworld", an album which will also be popular with the public the same year and which will produce another big Single with the title "Perpetual dawn".
Success amplified even more the following year with the release of the album "U.F. Orb », album that will be a real hit in England and mainly produce the huge Single « Blue room », Single which in its original version lasts…40 minutes !
New album « Pomme Fritz » two years later in 1994, album which, paradoxically, will not succeed in producing the slightest Single of big caliber.
The following year it is the turn of the album « Orbus Terrarum » to be released in 1995, album which will do a little better than its predecessor mainly thanks to the title « Oxbow lakes ».
But it is without counting on the album « Orblivion » which arrives 2 years later in 1997, album which finally opens the planetary doors to them with a significant success in the United States. On the Singles side the success will be limited to England but will still allow « Toxygene » and « Asylum » to obtain levels of success at least substantial.
The high point of their career that they will not be able to match afterwards except in 2010 when they released what will remain as the biggest success of their entire discography on the albums side with "Metallic sphères".
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others...) :
80s Decade :
Tripping on sunshine 1988
Kiss your love 1989
The roof is on fire 1989
A huge ever growing pulsating brain that rules from the centre of the ultraworld 1989
90s Decade :
Little fluffy clouds 1990
Perpetual dawn 1991
Blue room 1992
U.F. Orb 1992
Close encounters 1992
Pomme Fritz 1994
Alles ist schoen 1994
Potato fields of electric gliding blue 1994
Oxbow lakes 1995
Plateau 1995
Valley 1995
Toxygene 1997
Asylum 1997
2000s Decade :
Once more 2001
Turn it down 2001
Centuries 2001
Aftermath 2004
Hell’s kitchen 2004
L.U.C.A. 2004
Lunik 2005
Cool harbour 2005
Vuja de 2007
A beautiful day 2007
DDD 2007
Baghdad batteries 2009
Orban tumbleweed 2009
Dolly unit 2009
2010s Decade :
Ball of fire 2012
Hold me upsetter 2012
Police and thieves 2012
Fussball 2013
Making love in dub 2013
No ice age 2013
God's mirrorball 2015
Lunar caves 2015
Moon quake (Slice of silver) 2015
First, consider the Lillys 2016
Wireless MK2 2016
4am exhale 2016
The end of the end 2018
Rush hill road 2018
Pillow fight @ Shag mountain 2018
2020s Decade :
Daze 2020
House of narcotics 2020
Hawk kings 2020
Toi 1338b 2021
Afterlife aftershave 2021
Whippersnapper 2021
Disco bombing 2021
Wow Picasso 2021
No speed limit 2021
Why can you be in two places at once, when you can't be anywhere at all 2023
A ghetto love story 2023
Cracking kraken 2023
H.O.M.E 2023
Tracks :
1988...a first title that will go somewhat unnoticed but you have to start somewhere as they say. For them, it is now a done deal...
1989...it must be said that they opted for a musical style without words that does not necessarily touch all audiences. A bet that is at least audacious...
1989...in any case for the moment it doesn't bring in more than that. So they're going to have to ask themselves some questions about what to do next with this adventure...
1989...it is with this title that they will finally find a semblance of an answer to their questions. It will have been enough just to add lyrics and as luck would have it, success is just around the corner...
1989...they will deliver here a revisited version of the title by Candy Dulfer and Dave Stewart, title also released in 1989. Revisited version which at least has the merit of originality if nothing else...
1990...they took a little time to take off but this time it was the right one in any case. First ranked title on both sides of the Atlantic...
1991...success that is confirmed with this new title even if they will not succeed in amplifying it this time. No matter, the main thing is that the machine is well and truly launched...
1992... when it comes out this song will be about 40 minutes long in its original version ! Here we will only have a concentrated version and that is more than enough to appreciate its quality...
1992...this title will not be officially released as a Single but it would have been a shame to hide it in any case. So here it is, brought back into the spotlight as it should be...
1992...same for this one. The album they came from would only produce one Single and so it was normal to bring others to the surface...
1992...this title on the other hand will be released as a Single and will have a fairly flattering run in the English Charts. But only English...
1994...none of the titles from this new opus will be officially released on the market. Strange strategy on this one...
1994...fortunately the album itself will not go unnoticed. That's at least what they say and it shows that it is not without interest, far from it...
1994...on the other hand it is certain that instrumental music of this type will only reach a very limited audience...
1995...paradoxically, this new opus will do less well than its predecessor in the Charts but will at least produce this classified title...
1995...but as he will only produce one title officially it would have been a shame not to talk about the others. And especially to listen to some of them...
1995...once again, as it is only a question of instrumental music, the impact on the general public will be limited to say the least...
1997...as this title is already more rhythmic it will have a much more favorable echo with the public. As if it didn't take much to move the lines...
1997...who says less rhythmic title says limited success, it's the same result every time. Afterwards it will at least have been classified...
1997...a title unofficially highlighted once again. It would be a shame to only talk about one or two titles max from each new opus...
2001...as always, just add some lyrics and some rhythm and everything is sorted out in the Charts. Too bad they don't do it more often...
2001... an opus that will only release one title in broad daylight, so it will be necessary to show others that have not been brought to light naturally...
2001...despite lyrics and a semblance of rhythms this title will not have the right to be released as a Single in its own right. Hard law of the trade...
2004...we'll have to take advantage of this title because it will be the last one to be classified. Everything that comes out after that will more or less go under the radar...
2004...a new opus which will only produce one Single but which will at least have had the merit of being ranked on both sides of the Atlantic...
2004...not sure they'll be able to repeat the performance later unfortunately. It could be that the best years are well and truly behind them now...
2005...whatever, that doesn't mean the end of the adventure, far from it. It could last a few more years, if not more...
2005...even if this opus will go somewhat under the radar, it does not discourage them at all at first glance. Who could blame them...
2005...certainly not the basic fans in any case who are obviously delighted as soon as a new album comes out...
2007...this new opus will be ranked, certainly, but in the depths of the Charts. But it will be ranked which gives a little hope to the group in an obvious way...
2007...and often it doesn't take much for destiny to become favorable again and the winds favorable. So we might as well believe in it a little...
2007...in any case, whether there is success or not, it is out of the question at this stage that they throw in the towel. They will go as far as possible, it is clear...
2009...a frankly mixed end to the decade considering the lack of success achieved by this new opus. They're still going to have to seriously think about what to do next with this adventure...
2009...especially knowing exactly how they intend to approach the next decade and especially with what type of project...
2009...because they are not without merit, far from it, but it is clear that their music is now only of interest, and above all mainly, to fans of the first hour...
2010...all it took was for them to team up with a big name like David Gilmour to make a stunning comeback to the forefront...
2010...but they're really going to have to make the most of it because this kind of miracle doesn't happen indefinitely. A resounding success that needs to be analyzed in depth in any case...
2012...here they are again in any case and still as motivated. The production of titles remains plentiful and we can therefore imagine that the adventure is far from over...
2012...nothing, and no one, is able to stop them at this stage in any case. Even less the weight of the decades and the changes in musical fashions...
2012...a determination to believe until the end that commands respect without a doubt. After that, only them know exactly what they are running after...
2013...as long as they know it there is no reason to worry about them. They have a very particular thread at first glance that guides them opus after opus...
2013...it is clear that more than one in their place would have put an end to the adventure a long time ago. But without taking into account their unwavering will to continue again and again...
2013...a style and sound that have not changed much in the end and have not for decades. Which partly explains the lack of greater recognition...
2015...it doesn't bother them at all and as long as they enjoy what they do why change anything...
2015...that's what they tell themselves every day when they get up. A surprising but very real extremism that penalizes them irremediably...
2015...but as this doesn't concern them in any way, they continue on their merry way, quietly and above all surely...
2016...five albums will have been produced during the previous decade and six will be produced during this one. If that's not what you call motivation, what is...!
2016...an irrepressible need to produce that will definitely delight the fans of the first hour. And there are bound to be a certain number left...
2016... otherwise the group would have put an end to all this a long time ago. A continuity in the effort that we can only welcome in any case...
2018...and this regardless of the results. Because it is not given to everyone to hang on like that against all odds...
2018...a decade 2010 once again rich in albums and diverse and varied titles. A level of productivity frankly mind-blowing...
2018...every time we tell ourselves that it will surely be the last title and every time they come back again and again. Hats off to you guys...
2020...they are starting their 5th decade of career here, who would have believed it ? And given their level of motivation at first glance, it is clear that we have not finished seeing them and especially hearing them...
2020...they really impress with this level of productivity that does not weaken one iota. Unstoppable, the little guys, there are no other words !
2020...not to mention that the quality level remains at least constant, which doesn't hurt, quite the contrary. Hoping it lasts...
2021...for now it seems to be going to last a little longer. And as more and more former colleagues are also trying to get back on the front of the stage, they are bound to feel less and less alone...
2021...a truly impressive 80s revival at the start of the 2020s, which sees the return of an incredible number of old groups that we thought we would never see again...
2021...on the other hand we're not going to complain about it, far from it. Especially since most of them come back with top-quality merchandise...
2021...this can only reassure the group that they were absolutely right to hang on no matter what because history proved them right in the end...
2021...they will have managed to get through the years, decades and fashions without ever denying their fundamentals and it has paid off no matter what since they are still here today...
2021...they will have produced 5 albums during the 2000s, 6 albums during the 2010s, can we expect 7 albums during the 2020s...
2023... that would be truly incredible but as with them nothing is impossible, who knows. It is clear however that the weight of years in terms of age of some will inevitably end up posing a problem at some point...
2023...because even if we stay young in our heads, the body ages irremediably. And so at some point they will no longer be physically capable of continuing to produce in this way...
2023...in the meantime the adventure continues at all costs. We therefore deduce that the end will not be soon or at least in the years to come...
2023...after that we are not going to lie to each other it is clear that they will not exceed this decade in terms of production of titles. If this is the case it will really be a real feat...
2023...now it remains to be seen what they have in store for us next. Hoping that there will be a sequel but knowing them the opposite would be very surprising...
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