The Orb

Long before late 90’s repetitive beats and various forms of dub became as uninspiring as a 70’s afro and gold necklace costume for Halloween, The Orb helped invent the electronica sub-genre known as ambient house. Leading the way for bands like Orbital, Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy to bring the sound from a late night rave secret to dorm rooms and amphitheaters.

Orb mastermind, Alex Patterson has returned from the laboratory with Bicycles and Tricycles – his first Orb release in the 21 century. Inviting his largest pack of contributors yet, it features Patterson’s long-term collaborators (Jimmy Cauty, Thomas Fehlmann), and some new guys (The Corpral, Soom-T).

Pulsating rhythms, colorful beats, and a unique sound collage invigorate the album to become more than just another dance record. Soom-T’s lyrical rhymes provide “Aftermath” a hip hop-meets-house spark. “The Land of Green Ginger,” a multi-layered effort epitomizes the twisted electronica The Orb is renowned for. “Hells Kitchen” experiments with various beats and samples that offer more mood swings than a Cure song. Don't be fooled though, there are still plenty of flat spots found throughout - dull dub, monotone bass and other servings better offered late night on your favorite form of energy. But tunes like “Gee-Strings” is the apex of the all house beat tunes on Bicycles and Tricycles, proving The Orb can still make you dance, and challenge your ears simultaneously.