Orbital 2

Oh bloody hell, here we go, more fucking electronic garbage. Seriously, this is my 330th album so far and my 27th of the electronic genre. That's too many! I realize that 27/1001 is only about 2% market share for genre, but like goddamn, even that is too much for me. I do not want this on a train, I do not want this in the rain. I will not put this music in my brain.

When an album starts out with a track that repeats ‘where time becomes a loop’ for nearly TWO MINUTES, you know you’re in for a banger of an album 🙄. Hot garbage.

This album sounds how I imagine a tofu + dragonfruit salad would taste. It's literally nothing. This is a toddler playing with FL Studio presets for an hour. I think listening to white noise is a more thrilling experience than this.

Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop Where time becomes a loop

th*t w*s fucking p**nful

I'm sure there is a through line from Brian Eno, to Orbital, to the techno I listened to college and beyond. There was a moment while listening to this that I kind of wanted to go back and listen to Brian Eno again to see how it compared to this. But I quickly thought better of it. Unlike Eno, Orbital builds and layers in a way that feels rewarding. (I think, again I'm kind of blocking Eno out and I'm not ready to undo that.) Yes, sometimes certain segments drag on too long, but overall I liked Orbital. It was vaguely familiar at times, but I couldn't figure out if I'd heard this or just similar early house/electronica. Happy to have this on as background music.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was one of my favorite shows. The original one. I've been writing reviews so I don't have much time to watch the new one, but I hear it's good. Though I never listed to Orbital in the 90's this is a huge throwback for me. My pacifier and glowsticks, oversized pants, pigtails, pumas and DANCING! Oh, how I loved Special K and dancing. Anyway, this is a huge throwback and I did enjoy listening to this. There's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music and There's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music and I liked this but probably won't listen to it again unless I get nostalgic or eat more Special K.

Absolutely love this, just pure bliss. It was a happy day back in 1997 when someone pressed this into my hands at uni. Obviously had some familiarity with Orbitals before that but it didn't extend much further than Chime, The Box and Satan. I didn't even know Belfast at that point. Anyway, got a hold of this work of genius and I didn't look back. Walk Now... is admittedly annoying, but the rest of the album is basically perfect, so despite not liking one track it's getting 5 because of all the bellends giving it 1.

Sounded astonishing at the time and holds up well.

I thought this list was supposed to contain music albums, not just noise probably generated when one of the guys fell asleep on the sound machine

The first wholly great dance album of the rave era - 91 is pretty early to make a complete masterpiece. Halcyon is a thing of wonder.

amazing...halycon on and on is a classic. studio masters before digital studios

The repetitive sample tracks on this are a little annoying, and please tell me I'm not the only one who thought I was having problems with my headphones to start with? But the central sonic voyage of "Orbital 2" is mind-blowing, and I prefer it to the overrated "Insides."

Killer dancey electronic album. Love the intro and Impact in particular. This list desperately needs more electronic music but I'm happy that this is included at least.

Long, sure enough, and repetitive to boot. But Orbital produce an album that's impossible to take in as anything but a piece, and that piece is compelling. Alright, Halcyon stands on its own, but that's an all-time track, even better than the album it sits in. I'm not sure whether phased or continuous listening is best for Orbital 2, because the recording is clearly phased but self-contrasting.

As a fan of Steve Reich (thanks Miles) I liked the phased intro and outro songs. Generally a great album and a step on the way to "Chill Lo-Fi Beats to Study and Relax To" playlists so I'm a fan. Glad to hear this album.

This album defines "90s electronica" for me and is a stone cold classic as far as I'm concerned.

One of the best electronic albums of all time

It's great. How did they make all these sounds? Was going to mark down for a bad car journey with Mike, but it's brilliant. One of the first albums that hit me away from guitars...

Pour ne rien vous cacher, cet album m'a donné envie d'ingurgiter plusieurs cachets d'ecstasy et de danser au milieu d'une foule de personnes baignées dans leur sueur.

This was like being at a rave without drugs. The first track was excruciating. An exercise in futility.

Solid beats, interesting progressions. Often embarrassingly 90s.

Classic

I thought this album was surprisingly cool. A lot of the early to mid 90s electronica stuff doesn't age super well, especially the techno. This album is a lot more varied, and consequently has a much more modern feel than a lot of its contemporaries. Despite the complexity baked into the album, it still works great as a dance album too. This is definitely an album that I'm going to come back to 4/5

I was born of the Untz and will die under the Untz. Peace Love Unity Respect and Triple Stacks. One love.

If you don't remember Halcyon + On + On from the intro of Hackers (1995), add that film to your list.

It's February 1994 and I am at a spontaneous illegal rave on a beach near La Perouse. I am dancing in the ocean the water up to my thighs. The sun is just coming up on the horizon as the cops come to tell us to move on. Apart from a few sculls of goon on the drive there mind is not altered in any way, just vibing to the beats and rhythm coming off the sound system. I'm not sure if even anything off this album was playing that night, which was mostly local doof DJs but listening to this album evokes the memories of that night. I still love listening to the Orb, this album threading the sacred ground between anthem and come down music. Best played through my headphones at a volume not right for my damaged ear drums.

Very hypnotic early dance. Loops that wiggle round in unexpected ways and keep you more involved than the 6-10 minute runtimes for each track should.

This album has a hard time getting off the ground. Begins with some Steve Reich type phasing, which I thought was going to break out into a beat, but never did. Then, the second track goes into another hard panned intro section of its own and doesn't drop a beat until it's 1:44 in. Once I got past my initial frustration with the prolonged opening, I enjoyed the rest of the album well enough. I like that they walk a line between more atmospheric headphone music and meatier dance material.

Nr. 125/1001 Time Becomes 1/5 Planet of the Shapes 2/5 (3x) Lush 3-1 3/5 (2x) Lush 3-2 3/5 (2x) Impact 3/5 (3x) Remind 2/5 (2x) Walk Now 2/5 (2x) Monday 2/5 (2x) Halcyon and On and On 3/5 (3x) Input Out 1/5 Average: 2,57 Not really a techno fan. Some songs I liked better than expexted.

I’m noticing a trend with 90’s Electronic albums. The album covers are terrible, the albums themselves are always too long, they’re boring. I listened to the entire thing and I don’t think I am any better for having done so. 2 stars

Surprisingly good throughout.

very cool

Awesome.

Amazing. Loved every track!

Asides from the first track, this album is superb.

One of my all time favourite albums

Alt-Techno with Class

Loved it

Again, I forgot how much I enjoyed Orbital. At over an hour, this album flew by perfectly.

Shocked this is 1993. I kept thinking about Prodigy’s Firestarter. That was 1996. So this is really novel stuff for that time.

This was much better than I thought it was going to be after hearing the first track. It might've help that I was driving for the entirety of this album, but I thought it was a super engaging, early techno album with a lot of compelling ideas. Each song was unique and yet satisfyingly repetitive. My wife even liked it! Probably too niche to keep in rotation but might throw it on while gaming. Impact, and Halcyon on and on are standouts.

This was mostly music. I think it is definitely something you can listen to as background music.

The opening and closing tracks are just rubbish but the rest is very passable. Track 2 is the highlight

How the fuck are there MULTIPLE Orbital albums on this list but only ONE Daft Punk album??????

Maybe I need to give this another listen, but it didn't strike me as particularly amazing. I paid more attention to the spotify recommendations after this album.

So I usually have a bit to say about just about every album – and enjoy electronica (i.e. Deadmau5, Thievery Corporation, etc.) but “Orbital 2” was just incredibly dull… Actually, felt like one long track – with the exception of the first and last – both of which had the incessant phrases on a loop… Not much originality, not much substance, and no chance I will EVER listen to this again…

Why, just fucking why? What is wrong with Dimery that he gets off on electronica so much. 99.99% of electronica is just absolute shit. And the 0.01% that is worth listening to he just doesn't include on the list. Somebody with actual good music taste needs to remake this book. I think the only way I'd enjoy this is if I was on molly or a shit ton of coke at a club while also being like 10 drinks deep. Or in other words, I would need to be a literal monster to enjoy this absolute steaming pile of shit. What a waste of 65 minutes of my life.

It's bad when the first song has me looking at the time left to make sure I don't have to listen to it for too long; "Time Becomes" is a terrible opening song to this album. The repetitive lyric thing gets old real quick, and I was dismayed when it happened again in the second song, which actually had some interesting beats, and the final song. As the album went on, however, I found my attention waning; the songs and the beats just didn't grab me, certainly not enough to enjoy listening for over an hour. Perhaps it's just dated, because I can see why people would have liked it at the time; I just can't get into it now. "Halcyon and On and On" was probably the best song on the album.

I started to play this album and forgot I was listening to something since it's like staying 1 hour in an airport. After 4 or 5 albums here with this kind of electronic music and/or ambient songs, I think I got what the thing with these songs is: Somehow, they are almost transgressive, but they are highly dependent on some kind of deep knowledge of music history and musical structure that it's virtually impossible for regular people to really GET it. All in all, still, I'm not too fond of it. "Halcyon + ON + ON" is the only song that almost looks like real music here.

Well Loop de fucking Loop! Laaaange samples som hvis man lige havde fået Dee-Jay til sin PC i 90erne Utrolig kedeligt

More fucking bog UK techno that goes for an hour. I don't just hate this album, I hate anyone who actually likes it. 1/5.

Nope

Brings back a lot if mems, a classic when all this electronica was young and experimental. A great set of songs quite low key but pushing all the right butons.

THIS IS THE SHIT

A strong 5 from me - I fricking love Orbital. I see a lot of reviewers moaning about "Time Becomes" - first of all, have some respect, that's Worf talking! Secondly, I wanna play these people some actual experimental music and watch their heads disintegrate like time-lapsed rotting pumpkins. 😈 Fave tracks - "Halcyon + On + On" is an all time fave track of mine from any band in any genre, so there's that. "Lush 3-2" also stood out on this play through....

Trippy electronic trance. 5/5

I loved it - a fantastic sound kaleidoscope! Couldn’t be happier floating away on a river of techno.

I've never heard of Orbital before. Not my usual listening, but another nice find from the generator.

Banger, perfect music to program/work to

5/5 - classic

I can't tell one song from the next but that's ok. I was engaged and entertained throughout.

Electronic music from the 90s anytime man

I don't go clubbing to techno, but this made me want to go clubbing to techno

LOVE IT

Big fan of Orbital, was really looking forward to this especially after the last couple. Faves, Impact (The Earth Is Burning), Walk Now..., and Halcyon and On and On

nice glad i discover something new

Great flow music.

This shit slaps. I loved it. I think it may because I listened to it while working, but this is perfect background working music.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this album, 10/10

Tarda unos minutos en despegar, pero cuando lo hace, verga. Larga vida al ravé.

4.5. Would make a great dystopian anime soundtrack!

Oni su mi iz underworld definitivbo najdraži album oriented elektronski izvođač devedesetih. Ovo, zeleni, sansvillion i in sides su jebena remek djela

Um eletrônico bem legal, cheio de elementos diferentes e alguns vocais melódicos.

It’s been a long time! Really great.

I’ve probably listened to this just once before and I remember enjoying it a lot, and I’m not at all disappointed in revisiting it. It’s just an excellent electronic record from start to finish; there are no filler tracks here (it could be argued that the first and last tracks are not necessary, but I think they’re cool). Orbitals most played song Halcyon and On and On is an obvious highlight and never out warms its welcome even at almost 9.5 minutes. Even at over 30 years old this album sounds ahead of its time, and like the best electronic music albums it serves just as well as background music as it does close listening. Electronic music is an area I’ve explored quite a bit in recent years after being uninterested for a long time, and this is one of the finest examples I’ve come across.

Makes me wanna MOVE. SO good

Amazing. Especially the tracks that are linked together and the Halcyon and On and On.

Cool

Once more, today’s artist is one of haven’t heard of before. I suppose they were a little before my time if this album was widely known in 1993, but it’s certainly not someone who is still talked about today (at least in my circles). Let’s listen and see how it holds up! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Lush 3-1, Remind I had this playing while I was working yesterday, and found myself loving it. I’m truly finding a love for IDM through these daily albums that I never would have discovered otherwise. I was sad when it ended because I wanted it to carry on for ages. I love how the opening and closing tracks are minimal yet very odd, and how they bookend a conduit for musical flow state with me. Very enjoyed. Very recommend.

This took me straight back to 1993 when I was listening to more electronic music than I do now, mainly the weirder end including; The Orb, William Orbit and this. Strange how they all like globes... loved all the repetition and all the squelchy noises. The Lush's are banging and 'Impact' is full of squelch and sampled horns, love it. Nice to discover the singer on 'Halcyon' was actually the one from Opus III as it sounded like her. Loved nearly every minute of it, maybe apart from Worf from ST-TNG at the start. Well worth a low 5.

Did I really need to listen to another album of electronic music, especially from a repeat artist, before I die? I think not. Did I enjoy it, nonetheless? Yes, I did.

To all you haters out there: f*ck you. This is f*cking gold.

Loop-dee-loop.

Early goa nice!

I have begun to be a big fan of Orbital for the innovation and mass appeal. This album does not disappoint.

where time becomes a loop where time becomes a loop where time becomes a loop where time becomes a loop where time becomes a loop where time becomes a loop

4.75

A classic of Electronica, Orbital 2 contains some of their best work including HALCYON+ON+ON. Besides the obligatory beats and samples (the first song samples Worf from Star Trek TNG, current at the time), Orbital 2 includes the type of driving rhythms more associated with EDM. A pioneer in 90s electronic music, Orbital helped create the template for modern Electronica in large part with this album.

Um, yeah, I dig it. This is pretty freaking incredible! Made back in the days we simply called it electronica or techno, this album stands beautifully tall even today. I will undoubtedly be coming back to this one!

Really great early techno album. Had a lot of elements that would absolutely be used in later techno music, especially in the 90s

Greatness

Fantastic

I loved it. Caroline, not so much.

Honestly, after I found the intro annoying, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Being released in 1993, I feel like you can hear the influence a record like this has on the late 90s/early 00s, in terms of the dark, bass-heavy music these guys were putting out. Favorite tracks: "Halcyon and On and On", "Walk Now..."

I enjoyed the weird glitch like soft electric tone of the album. Not a background album

Good atmospheric jams

Definitely worth the money - with tracks lasting between 5 and 10 minutes, you get a whole lot for your cash.

Murdering your wife isn't as much fun as this record makes out. From the first note it bangs on about just murdering your wife when you next see her. Every song finding a new way of getting the message across and really drilling it into you. Murder your wife. Murder your wife. FINE! I'LL MURDER MY WIFE!

this feels like a time machine i love it. damn do these synths sound incredible and the use of phasing and looping throughout rips. awesome discovery for me!!