Aug
21
Review: The Orb – Baghdad Batteries
Posted (Van Santos) in Music on August-21-2009
The two teamed up last in 2005 for “Okie Dokie it’s the Orb on Kompakt” with a minimalist ambient effort that surprised a number of fans.  Gone were the intricate blending of layered samples and long pulsating tracks The Orb was known for, replaced with minimalistic – almost eerie – dub and techno that took the project known as The Orb in a whole new direction.
With my headphones on, the room dark, and Baghdad Batteries playing on I CD player I’ve found that The Orb revisits that truly unique creative place that only Paterson and Felhmann seem to know of in order to produce both beautiful, as well as disjointed, minimalistic music.
I find the first four tracks to be simply some of the most relaxing and beautiful pieces of ambient I’ve experienced in years. The soundscapes and textures created by the duo simply awe inspiring – and most of it accomplished without any recognizable samples. I’m sure samples were stretched, editable and tweaked in order to add to the experience but the listener wouldn’t even know it.  The standing out of the first four tracks is “Chocolate Fingers”.  The entire set is almost… well… almost very Eno/Fripp esque.
Suddenly, starting with  track 5, Dolly Unit, things change…  the atmospheric feel of the previous tracks is still present; however, minimalistic techno / dubby beats are introduced to the album.  Not only that, the team adds a seemingly random and unpredictable pattern key changing to the songs. The method adds a slightly disturbing listening experience – one second you are lulled into a sense of what to expect, the next who knows what is coming.  This behavior and mix of minimalist beats makes tracks 5 through 8… well.. a distraction from the rest of the album.
Just as quickly the organized chaos was added to the album it disappears with track 9, Pebbles, and remains missing for the rest of the album.  We are once again treated to an atmospheric ambient experience that graced the first half of the album.
Putting Paterson and Felhmann into a studio produces some really unique, really adventurous work.  I have to say that, while I enjoy the album, I find tracks 5 to 8 misplaced.  It’s almost as if they belong on another album  All said and done, I cannot wait to see what the next outing between the duo can bring.

The long awaited, once delayed, new release from The Orb is days about two weeks away from release.  Titled after the archaeological find believed to be the 1st ever batteries, “Baghdad Batteries” sees Alex Paterson and Thomas Felhmann join efforts once again.

The two teamed up last in 2005 for “Okie Dokie it’s the Orb on Kompakt” with a minimalist ambient effort that surprised a number of fans.  Gone were the intricate blending of layered samples and long pulsating tracks The Orb was known for, replaced with minimalistic – almost eerie – dub and techno that took the project known as The Orb in a whole new direction.

With my headphones on, the room dark, and Baghdad Batteries playing on I CD player I’ve found that The Orb revisits that truly unique creative place that only Paterson and Felhmann seem to know of in order to produce both beautiful, as well as disjointed, minimalistic music.

I find the first four tracks to be simply some of the most relaxing and beautiful pieces of ambient I’ve experienced in years. The soundscapes and textures created by the duo simply awe inspiring – and most of it accomplished without any recognizable samples. I’m sure samples were stretched, editable and tweaked in order to add to the experience but the listener wouldn’t even know it.  The standing out of the first four tracks is “Chocolate Fingers”.  The entire set is almost… well… almost very Eno/Fripp esque.

Suddenly, starting with  track 5, Dolly Unit, things change…  the atmospheric feel of the previous tracks is still present; however, minimalistic techno / dubby beats are introduced to the album.  Not only that, the team adds a seemingly random and unpredictable key changing to the songs. The method adds a slightly disturbing listening experience – one second you are lulled into a sense of what to expect, the next who knows what is coming.  This behavior and mix of minimalist beats makes tracks 5 through 8… well.. a distraction from the rest of the album.

Just as quickly the organized chaos was added to the album it disappears with track 9, Pebbles, and remains missing for the rest of the album.  We are once again treated to an atmospheric ambient experience that graced the first half of the album.

Putting Paterson and Felhmann into a studio produces some really unique, really adventurous work.  I have to say that, while I enjoy the album, I find tracks 5 to 8 misplaced.  It’s almost as if they belong on another album  All said and done, I cannot wait to see what the next outing between the duo can bring.

Tracklisting
01. Styrofoam Meltdown
02. Chocolate Fingers
03. Baghdad Batteries
04. Raven’s Reprise
05. Dolly Unit
06. Super Soakers
07. Suburban Smog
08. Orban Tumbleweed
09. Pebbles
10. Woodlarking
11. OOPA

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Comments:
Wandering Coyote on August 21st, 2009 at 9:06 pm #

OK, how did you get a copy 2 weeks before its release?

I love the passion in this post! You should look into being a music writer.

Van Santos on August 21st, 2009 at 11:38 pm #

Well, back in my old DJ days I made friends with a number of PR and record pool folks. Over time I’ve managed to keep the connections in place and… wouldn’t you know it, one showed up!

Thanks for the comment on the passion. When I was writing the post I felt… well.. really “in” the zone. Now if I could only some how continue to keep such feeling in my writing.

lazy on August 28th, 2009 at 11:09 am #

mate get back to me please!,I have people waitin to get on the site!!

Van Santos on August 28th, 2009 at 4:45 pm #

@Lazy

I emailed you back, no reply from you.

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