Reviews (page 4 of 8)
I liked this quite a bit and it finished strong.
i know this is part of the territory with electronic music but if you start your album that i'm listening to as part of a (theoretically) album listening exercise with 3 straight minutes of looped spoken phrases, i'm not gonna be very charitable to the rest of your beeps and boops. that being said, there were a few good beeps and boops after all that nonsense.
3.5! hovered at "nice, into it" with occasional dips into "annoyingly repetitive"
This was fun and weird (positive). The last track being the strangest one works for me, it's like I listen to some pretty fun stuff and then a weird little guy is there at the end to see me off.
I wanted to give this a 2 because it's really not for me, but I'm pushing it to a 3. Although it's not my style, something in it made me not hate it, and that's actually a pretty good effort.
Fun club music. “I would put this on while I work.”
Orbital sampling Sydney pedestrian crossing signals way before Billie Eilish. Throwback to raves in Uni days and attempting similar sampling techniques in my “audio” classes. 4/5
65
Time becomes a loop. Hell yes
shite
To quote one of my past reviews, I hate electronica and no album is going to change my mind on that.
I listened to the album. Then went and smoked a J and listened to it again. It was way better the second time. I never knew the entrance to yellow world had a sound track, but I think I just found it (hat tip to Dougie Fresh). By the end of the second listen my inner 20-something was begging me to go buy the multipack of glow sticks and have a hell of a night. I’m glad this 1001 project exposed me to some Techno, but being the Techno music aficionado that I am, this could have been any similar album and I wouldn’t have noticed the difference. Footnote: For research purposes I think it’s important to mention that by the end of my listening session I had a MONsTeR headache. It may have had to do with the steps I took during today’s listening time, but we’ll let the scientists figure that part out.
I could make a better album with a sample of the demo mode song from the 1980s Casio keyboard using garage band on your iPhone during an airport layover … this is just utter nonsense. And, I literally have no words for all you asshats that have given this a 4 or a 5. Are you serious? What the fuck are you even doing here? Go back to your room and let the adults do the talking from now on.
I have never hated an album more.
Sure, good vibe stuff but didn't really do much for me
Do I know this song Halcyon and On and On? Another album that is fine, but could easily be replaced by the SNES Donkey Kong Country soundtrack. Might re visit.
This is certainly unique and different, that's for sure. Was not a fan
Thoroughly enjoyed this album, great production choices and nice beats, jot much misses here
I don’t understand why so many people hate electronica (though I don’t think this one is good either)
Time Becomes 1.7 Planet of the Shapes 2 Lush-3-1 1.8 Lush 3-2 1.8 Impact (The Earth Is Burning) 1.7 Remind 1.6 Walk Now… 1.4 Monday 1.5 Halcyon + On + On 1.3 Input Out 1 Score: 1.58
Strange, but not bad. Would never choose to listen to this, though.
This was okay. Not the best I've heard, but not the worst.
This one landed in an odd spot for me. It’s clearly thoughtful, clearly influential, and definitely easier on the ears than the abrasive distortion-fest of Cross. There’s a sense of patience and architecture here, like Orbital were actually trying to build something instead of just bludgeoning you with synths. But the problem is time. In 1993, this probably sounded futuristic. In 2025, it mostly sounds like the DNA of every electronic track that came after it. A lot of these textures feel like “default patches” now—not because Orbital were boring, but because everyone has borrowed their vocabulary so heavily. I respect the craft, but it doesn’t feel novel anymore, and it’s hard to un-hear that. Still, it’s a more enjoyable listen than I expected. The atmospheres are pleasant, the grooves are steady, and when the melodies peek out (especially on the famous Halcyon + On + On), you can absolutely hear why this left a mark. I just don’t love it as a full album in the present day. It’s a solid, respectable listen—good background immersion, historically important—but not something I’m going to reach for regularly. A comfortable three.
Synes den begynner litt kjedelig; setter heller på Steve Reich om jeg vil høre phasing-experimenter! Men så fort Lush 3-1 begynner er det cerebral techno fra øverste hylle. Peaken er selvfølgelig Halcyon and On and On, som er en tidløs klassiker. Det er nok litt datert, men jeg synes mye av den elektroniske musikken fra 90-tallet fortsatt leverer der det teller, som er interessante synth-patcher, stødige beats, kreativ bruk av samples, og slight variation av repetiv musikk ved å stadig tilføye og trekke fra elementer. Lush 3-1 til Remind er omtrent en pre-made DJ-mix, og det er her LPen funker best som skive. Tåkehornene i Impact tror jeg fortsatt ville fått klubben til å koke, og 303en i Remind er umulig å gå lei. For en jam! Hadde skiva vært disse fire låtene og Halcyon hadde det vært en easy femmer og techno perfection.
Bra kok på plata her, men igjen ikke helt opp min gate.
Jeg tror faktisk denne lista begynner å indoktrinere meg til å like britisk elektro
Does this earnest strain of techno-futurism still live? Forgive me, I’m long out of touch. This is a cracking set, fun and roomy - lots of space to enjoy each element in. “IMPACT (The Earth Is Burning)” stands out both for its lithe shifts and the title’s charmingly idealism; it’s fun listening to this a day after “Nevermind”, close in time, galaxies apart in intention. Nirvana’s sounds are nearer to my core, but my sentiment now prefers the Orbital Bro cyber-hippies. Proportionally, I reckon far fewer arseholes love Orbital than Nirvana.
Good god this is tedious. Electronic music seems to attract "looped Casio keyboard default settings"-type reviews here, but those epithets are very pertinent in this case. Doesn't even have the decency to include "Chime", their one good tune. Ravers used to tell me mysteriously that "The Brown One" was Orbital's best; I regret never taking strong enough drugs to understand what they meant.
Don't think there's a group that is as aptly named as this one. I felt in orbit
Reminded me of a lot of music I've heard in the past, including the Rescue Heroes theme. I also found the use of repeating, desynced phrases a very intriguing listen.
When it comes to looping, you can easily lose me if it goes too long. After a while, I may even get annoyed and frustrated. I don't do well with repetitive noise that has no variance or build. This album felt frustrating for most of the way. It worked better as background noise while I was doing chores. I'm sure it's much more enjoyable at a rave or club. However, when Halcyon + On + On started, it really clicked. It's too bad it was the last track because that song really grabbed me. I wish the rest of the album shared a similar sound.
Good, but some of the songs remind of the Anti-piracy ad - Piracy. It’s a crime. from the early 2000s.
probably the type of music that people hate in certain contexts but i heavily fw it Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: probably not 4.1
IMPACT // MONDAY // 3.5/5
++: Time Becomes, Impact (The Earth Is Burning), Remind, Input Out +: Planet of the Shapes, Lush 3-1, Lush 3-2, Monday +-: Walk Now... -: Halycon + On + On 4,2/10
You want to know when time becomes a loop? It’s when you have to listen to all these god awful proto EDM albums from the 90s.
good
Love halycon
Kind of pretentious BS but better than most electronica popping up on this list. This eventually falls into a good groove.
Not gonna lie, this just sounded like sound effects to me
I might feel differently about this style of music if I were in my 20s and three drinks deep at a club. But I’m not. And I don’t.
I’m thankful they let me know from the opening song this was an album intent on annoying listeners. Also thankful cds only had 80 minutes of space. A child could make more interesting music.
Always repetitive, often annoying. 2.5* rounded down.
I was supremely blessed to wander into an Orbital live set at a little music festival in Asheville NC about 15 years ago and it was incredible. Listening to their music, especially HALCYON + ON + ON takes me back there and makes me feel connected to all the other heads that have vibed out to this over the last 22 years and I love that. Very pleased to have gotten this one today, will certainly listen again. 4.4/5
Orbital has some great music, it's just not contained on this album.
Techno has gone straight downhill from here
I usually like the electronic stuff in this challenge, but I'm making an exception with this album. Almost a 3. The good bits were great, but there were too many dodgy repetitive tracks. Track 1 sets the tone!
A bit repetitive and tedious - but could be great music to disassociate to, noting it down for next time I need to enter the loop of mindless numbness.
This really isn't my thing, probably will revisit later and maybe like it, but way too repetitive
Sleepy boring music
Listening to this at work was about as appropriate a setting for the music as listening to death metal at a wedding. That being said it was an interesting vibe throughout. Lush 3.1 was my favorite song. Probably won’t be a regular listen, but I could definitely see coming back to it once or twice.
Thirty years ago, I would’ve said that electronic music has no future. I live next to an arena, and year after year there are four or five huge raves that they throw. The legacy of Orbital and the like is unmistakable. I’ve been to a few of those raves in the arena, and I can attest that since I’m like the only one not on ecstasy, they’re boring as shit. They completely lack emotion, thus your brain can’t practice empathy. It’s just background music to trip to. You can have the same experience on acid listening to your vacuum cleaner. I suppose these events give people a reason to trip together en masse. But on a record, Jesus Christ, why did they have to torture us with those two minute long vocal loops?
This sounds so outdated. This is a real problem with the early techno and house music. The music developed so fast that almost none of the old songs are still fresh. Back in the days Ornital were actually the next big thing.
I mean. It’s fine.
Track #1 is beyond dogshit, and I assume that many stopped listening afterwards. Bad choice though because this album isn't even too bad. It contains a lot of stuff that reminds me of the og Ratchet & Clank soundtracks by David Bergeaud. So if you've played these games, you're in for a treat. Other than that, it's not like I'd intentionally listen to it, so it fits pretty well as background music. And one more important thing: even with "Time Becomes", it's still better than Elvis Costello 🤣
Well, I was due for something to be my first 1 rating. I just did not enjoy this at all. Electronica is already a genre I really don't gravitate towards, and these songs felt incredibly repetitive and boring. The only reprieve I had during the album, was when one song ended and a new one began, because there'd at least be some kind of new musical component to be a breath of fresh air. However, as with each song preceding it, that breath of fresh air turns stale rather fast when it's repeated in the exact same unending way for the following 5 to 10 minutes. I'm sure these songs were great in the club/rave scene in the 90s, but it's just not my jam.
1.5
Tostón. Solo se salvan los tres primeros minutos de Halcyon.
Great electronic music to mow to. I’d imagine it’s good in the club, if I was that type
Lush 3-1 is amazing. The rest are so so or worse.
I was born at a young age. Then, after a bunch of childhood trauma that won't be discussed in this review, I became an adult man. Through my childhood (and since), I have built mental fortitude the likes of which are rarely seen upon this ball of rock, water, and living things. Nothing could have prepared me for the experience that this album is. You are getting off a busy night at work. It has been a long night. You work at a 911 dispatch center. You are exhausted from many difficult calls including an addiction, a sewer explosion, and a car driving down the street on fire along others. You have something to look forward to: a great album that makes you happy and gets you out of the rut that your mind is in. 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 Needless to say, not even I could muster the strength to complete such a task. The RNG gods who have cursed me with such blasphemy shall tremble when I defeat them. I must train for that glorious day. They serve no purpose but to mock me, and for this they shall receive their recompense. They may have won the battle, but the war has just begun.
Other than the first and last tracks, there are some fun songs here that at worst get slightly annoying, but it was more manageable in my opinion than other electronica albums on this list.
I enjoyed the didjiradoo by of Walk now but very little else. Orbital perfectly capture a genre i dont like. The music makes me feel anxious not exhilarated. The looping jokes on the opening tracks also wear thin very quickly.
This kind of dance music isn’t my bag at all. The opening and closing “tracks” gave me a headache. The rest was just noise. If I had a 1.5* option it would get it, but I didn’t hate it enough to give it 1*.
Starting off a record with a clip of Worf from Star Trek should really appeal to me, as I am a nerd. But my goodness that opening track was annoying. And then it was followed up with 9 minutes of "Withnail and I" plus an incessant beat. By about a quarter of the way through, I was considering allowing myself a DNF, but the completest in me decided to stick it out. Suffice to say, I suspect being completely off your tits on amphetamines in a field is probably the optimum way to experience this album. I however, was completely sober making leek and potato soup. By the time the didgeridoo appeared I had well and truly had enough. This album was basically my idea of hell. 1/5
C’est vraiment la semaine des rebuts de la liste! Cet album-là m’a mis dans la peau de quelqu’un qui n’aime pas la musique électronique, c’est vrai que c’est tout le temps la même crisse d’affaire! Donnez-moi de quoi de bon s’il vous plaît, je sens que je vais craquer
1993. Selected Ambient Works de Aphex Twin es de 1992. Music Has The Right To Children de Boards of Canada es de 1998. Por contextualizar un pelín la música electrónica que empezaba a asomar en ese momento y la que vendría unos años después. Algunos temas están chulos, pero no podía dejar de pensar en esos otros discos que me gustan más, y en lo difícil que es envejecer para la música electrónica a partir de cierta fecha. Se me hizo un pelín repetitivo y predeterminado, aunque creo que es más una cuestión de expectativas porque me esperaba algo más IDM o experimental en vez de techno. No me entró del todo bien pero le daré otra oportunidad.
Im at album 600+ and I everytime I hear some crap like this I double guess the ability of the "curators" or "editors" of this list that they are clueless. There is no space in a top anything list for electronica. It just sucks. I imagine the dj of this group engenieering the first song and feeling like that was going ti be a mindblowing intro when in fact I almost blew my brains not to keep listening to that crap. Id give this album a 0 stars
Great beats thx!
Just off the back of Underworld and always odd getting dance albums in the day and listening in this way. Glad to have Underworld as a comparison. Felt much more layered, accomplished and with depth. This feels a little empty and lacking in many ways. Tinny, no crescendo, basic, lacking middle. Transitions even basic. I lol’d at a review that said this was ahead of its time. Are you kidding?! It sounds ancient already and is basic for even then. I see why drugs are sometimes needed in this world. And even then I think I’d be left wanting. So boring and repetitive, without any punch. Where is your bass?! Glad for it to end. With the worst bookends of songs to an album ever. (2.5)
Perfect yoga music
Decent background music.
Took me about 12 hours to finish. Make of that what you will.
Snore-bital Poo
I'll search for detailed information about Orbital's album "Orbital 2" (also known as the "Brown Album") to provide you with a comprehensive review covering all the aspects you mentioned. Let me search for more specific information about the album's critical reception, themes, and influence on electronic music. Now let me fetch more detailed information about the album's production and influence. Based on my research, here's an in-depth review of Orbital's second album (Orbital 2 / The Brown Album): # Orbital 2 (The Brown Album) - In-Depth Review **Released:** May 24, 1993 | **Label:** Internal/FFRR Records | **Genre:** Techno/Ambient/Electronic ## Overview Orbital's second self-titled album (commonly known as "Orbital 2" or "The Brown Album") represents a watershed moment in 1990s electronic music. Following their successful debut "Green Album," brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll created a more sophisticated, atmospheric, and conceptually unified work that elevated them from rave pioneers to electronic music visionaries. ## Lyrics & Vocal Elements **Philosophy:** Orbital largely eschew traditional lyrics in favor of samples, vocal fragments, and atmospheric textures. This approach creates a unique form of storytelling through sound rather than words. **Key Samples:** - **"Time Becomes"**: Opens with the same Michael Dorn Star Trek sample from their first album ("There is the theory of the Möbius..."), creating a clever continuity trick - **"Planet of the Shapes"**: Features the memorable Withnail & I quote: "Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day" - **"Impact (The Earth Is Burning)"**: Contains the haunting "cry for survival" sample from an unidentified French film - **"Halcyon + On + On"**: Built around Opus III's "It's a Fine Day" vocal sample, creating ethereal, wordless melodies ## Music & Composition **Structural Innovation:** The album's most groundbreaking aspect is tracks 2-5 flowing seamlessly together, creating a 28-minute continuous piece that replicated the live rave experience for home listening—a revolutionary concept in 1993. **Key Tracks:** 1. **"Planet of the Shapes"** - Gradual build from crackling vinyl effects into propulsive techno 2. **"Lush 3.1 & 3.2"** - A two-part suite showcasing the brothers' melodic sophistication 3. **"Impact (The Earth Is Burning)"** - Apocalyptic techno with layered brass and that unforgettable "cry for survival" 4. **"Halcyon + On + On"** - The album's emotional centerpiece, dedicated to their mother's tranquilizer addiction **Musical Techniques:** - Steve Reich-inspired phasing techniques - Complex rhythmic patterns and polyrhythms - Dense layering of synthesizers, samples, and effects - Dynamic shifts between ambient passages and driving techno ## Production & Sound Design **Technical Approach:** The Hartnoll brothers employed a hybrid approach combining: - Atari ST computers for sequencing - Roland TB-303, SH-09, and R-8 drum machine - Korg Wavestation and Yamaha DX100 synthesizers - E-mu Emax II sampler - Field recordings (including Sydney zebra crossing sounds on "Walk Now...") **Production Philosophy:** Rather than programming everything perfectly, they embraced spontaneity and "happy accidents," including the TB-303's unpredictable behavior when batteries ran low. **Sound Characteristics:** - Warm analog textures contrasting with digital precision - Extensive use of reverb and delay for atmospheric depth - Creative sampling transforming everyday sounds into musical elements - Dynamic range from whisper-quiet ambient passages to thunderous techno peaks ## Themes & Concepts **Environmental Concerns:** "Impact (The Earth Is Burning)" explicitly addresses environmental destruction, while the album title's reference to Earth's brown, damaged surface suggests ecological themes. **Time & Circularity:** The album's structure mirrors its philosophical concerns—beginning and ending with looped samples while the middle sections flow continuously, suggesting time as a cyclical rather than linear experience. **Technology & Humanity:** The balance between mechanical precision and emotional resonance reflects the tension between technological advancement and human experience. **Personal Struggles:** "Halcyon" was inspired by their mother's addiction to prescription tranquilizers, adding emotional depth to the album's conceptual framework. ## Influence & Legacy **Immediate Impact:** - Elevated electronic albums from collections of singles to cohesive artistic statements - Influenced countless electronic artists to adopt album-oriented approaches - NME awarded it 9/10, Mixmag named it one of the best albums of all time - Established Orbital as festival headliners, culminating in their legendary 1994 Glastonbury performance **Long-term Influence:** - Pioneered the continuous mix album format later adopted by artists like The Chemical Brothers and Underworld - Demonstrated that electronic music could achieve emotional depth comparable to traditional songwriting - Influenced film scoring, with Orbital later composing for movies like "Event Horizon" and "The Saint" - Inspired a generation of electronic musicians to pursue album-length narratives ## Pros & Cons ### Strengths: ✅ **Innovative Structure**: The seamless flow between tracks created a new album format for electronic music ✅ **Emotional Depth**: Achieves profound emotional resonance without traditional lyrics ✅ **Production Excellence**: Warm, layered sound design that remains fresh decades later ✅ **Standout Tracks**: "Halcyon + On + On" and "Impact" are genre-defining classics ✅ **Live Translation**: The album perfectly captured their legendary live energy ✅ **Timeless Quality**: Sounds remarkably contemporary despite being over 30 years old ### Weaknesses: ❌ **Accessibility**: Demands patience and attention—casual listeners may find it challenging ❌ **"Monday"**: Generally considered the weakest track, disrupting the album's flow ❌ **Repetitive Elements**: Some listeners find the looping samples and extended passages monotonous ❌ **Context Dependent**: Requires proper listening environment to fully appreciate the nuances ❌ **Limited Commercial Appeal**: Too experimental for mainstream success beyond the electronic music community ## Final Assessment Orbital 2 stands as a masterwork of electronic music that successfully bridged the gap between underground rave culture and album-oriented artistry. The Hartnoll brothers created a work that functions simultaneously as dance music, ambient soundscape, and conceptual art piece. While it may not convert techno skeptics, for those willing to immerse themselves in its carefully constructed world, it remains a deeply rewarding listening experience that reveals new details with each play. The album's influence extends far beyond its initial release, establishing templates for electronic album construction that artists continue to follow today. More importantly, it proved that electronic music could achieve the emotional and conceptual complexity traditionally associated with rock and classical music while maintaining its essential function as body-moving dance music. A landmark achievement that redefined what electronic music could accomplish within the album format.
I appreciate that it takes all kinds of music to make the world go round, but this was utter garbage! Didn’t make it past Where Time Becomes a Loop, over and over again!
Hypnotic beats, mind bending textures and crazy rhythms. I was listening to it on the way home a bit drunk and high and it made me feel like I was in an action movie.
This is pretty good. Good to drive to and workout too. Does get a not too repetitive in parts but it bounces most of the time
cool electronic
Sounds like interstitial loading screen music for PS2 game about the future. My immediate thought was the .hack game where you go in the computer but I don’t even have a clear memory of that game let alone the music. Anyways it’s fine but not something I would go out of my way to listen to
479/1001 🌗🌑🌑🌑🌑
A lot better than I thought seeing as how I only knew Halycon on and on.
Might have been more impressive at the time. Now sounds like someone got too repetitive with garage band loops. Too precussive to be good focus music, and any vocals tend to disrupt my attention.
Not my genre
.......
Honestly cool conceptually but I am not feeling a techno album almost ever. Need to expand my mind
The one thing I dislike more than concept albums is bullshit electronica records
Been a fan for y ars!
I did not like this album. Repetitive and annoying at parts. Feels like something a 10 year old could have made with a mixing app.
Liked this better than Snivilization but only because it was shorter.
NOPE
Meh
This ok. Not really my thing
I like electronic a lot - I'd wish this list would feature a lot more. But this album? Aphex Twin had better ambient, and Prodigy's experience better dance tracks, both 1 year earlier. Sure the both Lush songs are great (I like the slow buildup), but the rest of the album? The voice samples were annoying (Propellerheads nailed that a lot better - of course a lot later), and Walk Now/Monday are clearly subpar songs. Overall I don't see why this album belongs on this list.
I'm sorry. I can't. Don't hate me.
Ahead of its time.
Quite literally the perfect background working music. Favourite Songs: Lush 3-1, Impact (The Earth Is Burning), Remind, Halcyon + On + On. Least Favourite Songs: Planet of the Shapes, Walk Now....
So many of these electronic albums remind me so much of old ps1 games. This one wasn’t too bad, a few catchy tracks.
First album in this challenge I have not been able to listen all the way through 😵💫
Excellent instrumental, except the last track.
As far as bleeps and ploops go, it's not the worst.
Well. It's an album. Did it deserve inclusion? Nope. But, the author thought otherwise, so there we go. A thoroughly unenjoyable listening experience.
Loved! Made me feel like a bee dancing.
Good
★★½
I remember buying this when it was first released. I loved it then and I still love it now. Great album.
is there any autechre on this list
4.5/10 Repetitiverepetitiverepetitiverepetitiverepetitiverepetitive
Just not my jam. Some of it was catchy but it was too repetitive to be interesting.
I don't even know what I heard. I think I'm going crazy now 7/10
A bit too floaty for me
Where tolerance becomes a loop Where tolerance becomes a loop Where tolerance becomes a loop Where tolerance becomes a loop Where… Input translation: tolerance not achieved…
Yeaaaaaah, that’s a no for me dawg.
Not nearly as bad as I was expecting based on the first "song." I thought it was actually pretty decent for jamming through emails, but not a great listen if you're actually paying attention. 1.5/5
Another goddamn electronica album. 66 minutes of the following: Lt. Cmdr. Worf saying “Time is a loop” on a loop for 2 minutes, static & silence for 2 minutes, a Super Mario 64 desert level track, a Mortal Kombat ripoff, “HEY-AH” repeating over a beat for 4 minutes, and a track with both vuvuzelas and a fucking didgeridoo. This music is not meant to be listened to, it’s meant to be in the background at a club to dance to while you’re tripping balls on molly and trying to get laid. Anyone who puts this on in their car to earnestly listen to it is a psychopath. Now, the bar for a 1 is set at “Is it better or worse than The Shamen?” It is slightly better, so it gets the lowest of 2s, but I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.
nss nss nss nss
One or two songs I got into, the rest were a bit meh
👎
Initially I at all enthused about a second Orbital album, but if Halcyon is good enough for the Mean Girls end credits, it's good enough for me.
Almost had a panic attack listening to “Where Time Becomes a Loop” on the subway to work this morning. Like yes work is stupid and repetitive and maybe I just shouldn’t go anymore? Anyway, after that it became the soundtrack to a future Blade Runner remake set in India.
Not my jam. I think I get it though, and it is actually quite listenable, but beyond that it's just "there". It gets a small star rating bump because I caught myself bopping my head to some tracks, but that was it. The definition of OK.
Let’s get this out of the way - this is very long, and it’s very repetitive. Normally I would mark those as major negatives, and whilst they still aren’t positives, I feel like this album benefits from both of them. This isn’t really an album you listen to, but as ambience I think it works really well, and I was surprised that I quite enjoyed it. I always thought I hated EDM, but clearly some is right in my groove - Chemical Brothers and this lot seeming to be there. It’s not getting a huge mark, and I’ll likely never listen to it again consciously, but I wouldn’t turn it off. 3 stars, but a high 3 stars.
Electronic garbage.
Certainly was electronic music
great stuff, enjoyed a lot.
A classic that sounds just as good today as it did three decades ago.
Electronic band, before their time. Good music.
One thing that this 1001 album list has taught me is that I don't like electronica. I just don't see the appeal. This album feels like a constant loop of elevator music and that music that plays when your call is placed on hold. It is slightly enjoyable so I'll give it a 2
That first song.....SOOOOOOO EDDDDDGGGGY and clever. <eyeroll> The rest is just typical EDM. Not a huge fan, so I can't really comment on quality. It was fine for background music.
Really good, 4
One of my favorites!
Maybe playing on a large system at a rave party this would be ideal. I can almost visualize the lights and dancing bodies. On its own years later it seem too simple and doesn’t even work for me as background music. Definitely would not have included this in a top 1001.
Absolut nicht meine Musik - aber hat was hypnotisches!
This is not my preferred genre so anything above 3 stars was going to be a challenge. Most of the album was fine background music but not particularly interesting and could have been 3 stars because they were inoffensive. but 2-3 tracks were just weird repetitive words that were too long and very annoying so that brings it down 1.
Listening to this through headphones feels like doing drugs in the 90s.
At first I was taken aback by the meandering dialogue but by the time the album ended it was full out dance time.
Electronic - this album is not for me.
Experimental
Right down the middle on this one. Didn't like or dislike it. It was not terrible and I don't remember anything about it.
Nice.
Orbital 2 took me on a journey. The first song was extremely repetitive for being so short, but the immediate next song was fascinating: psychedelia with influence from South Asian music. I vibed to the whole album because of the second song; I could not have come back around on Orbital 2 without "Planet of the Shapes." Good working music.
Yeah, we get it; "where time becomes a loop". Aside from that annoying track 1, the album picked up quite a bit and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong; I love techno and dance music, but a lot of these techno albums of the early 90s were slogs for me, personally, due to repetitiveness. This album somehow escaped that for me, anyway. They live up to the name "Orbital", as they seem to have a lot of earthy and even sci-fi themes cascading through the song titles and minimal lyrics. And like any good space age listening, it's a tad bit industrial, too.
Wow, this is incredibly repetitive and unbearably boring. I can usually find something worthwhile in every album, but I had a hard time finishing this one.
Day 43 It was ok, just not something I listen to. 4/10 Highlight Lush 3.1
Interesting and enjoyable.
It was a cool first listen but has absolutely no replay-ability
Rhythmic beats with other sounds overlaid on top. Not ideal for an extended family road trip.
Ambient, repetitive dance electronica. Nothing to be too excited about. At least this album has a little bit of groove to it.
I don't get starting and ending your record with annoying repetition. Yeah, let's rate this sandwich filling when it's on the stalest of wonder bread. I didn't know wonder bread could even get that stale. As for the filling, I still don't know what I'm supposed to do with a techno album. Am I supposed to have a dance party at home? Am I supposed to do drugs to it by myself? Or is it just a promo for a show? If so, who buys this? Is this background music for people? Does anybody actively listen to this by themselves? I get raving to some of these tracks. I don't get putting this in a CD player and consuming it end to end. Maybe I don't do enough drugs or go to enough house parties.
I just couldn't get through more than one track on this one. Each attempt to do more was met with a skip button or my headphones coming off in frustration.
This might be rated higher if I was zonked out of my mind at a rave but listening at my house while working is probably not the right frame of mind to enjoy it.
I might’ve just been in the perfect mood, but I really enjoyed this. Techno is very much not my genre but I was bopping to every song on Orbital 2
Groovy, fun. 90s dance is often excellent
Had to listen to it all the way through to try to figure out if there was a way to give it six stars (even though I actually think Orbital is their best album rather than Orbital).
Rave fuel. Sweat and strobe lights. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Lush 3.1 - IMPACT (The Earth Is Burning) - HALCYON+ON+ON
Electonic, repetitive
I think the title "Halcyon + ON + ON" describes this album perfectly. You're happy for about 20 seconds then the song manages to drag on for another 5 minutes. Orbital is a sick band name. Too bad this is terrible. The music isn't even really all that danceable so why is it considered a great dance album?
Not in my edition of the book! 1993. 2 stars. Well done electronica, but after initial interest a lot of the tracks sound the same. And no-one needs multiple 7 minute+ tracks.
this was cool. it was a lot of pure techno just to sit here and listen to on headphones but it was pretty good at least
The Good: We know what to score to give the album… The Bad: What if we like to give it a higher score, do we change the album name? The Ugly: For those who didn’t like it the album would be called Orbital Shit… EMD… it be what it be. Having said that, oddly enough, I found that this album worked perfectly as background sound while you are working on a project… and for this I would almost go so far as to give the album a 4* score… almost. My main gripe with this album, and similar works, is that they tend to suffer from too many extended mixes—I don’t want to listen to a rhythm pattern for 9 minutes long… It could have been a 4* album had the play length been shorter...
Spécial… pas sûre d’apprécier
A really fun electronic/house/dance album. Perfect to put in the background while gaming.
I’d rather listen to AI slop, garbage music, than this.
2.9
Anaemic techno made only a year after The Prodigy dropped their seminal debut Experience, which may be an unfair comparison, but as far as electronic music goes that record was light years ahead and tons more interesting. This just feels super light-weight and bereft of ideas.
No
Hated it
I actually didn't mind a few of these songs. But damn the intro and outro were so obnoxious. Definitely early stages of house music. Not something I'll ever go back to
And again the wrong Orbital album. You’re just doing this to spite me, right?
Honestly I struggle to justify either a 1 or 5 rating generally, but I just don't get this one. Every song sounds the same and there's such little variation. This is background music in a store.
This music smells like cocaine.
Nothing on the album stood out to me. I believe the 90s rave music has its place, but it's not for me. Mostly it bothered me that some tracks had to have the volume all the way max to even hear them. I can recognize that Orbital was likely influential in their genre, but didn't enjoy this one.
Love it
Nmg
it was fun electronic. Chill electrobeats to work out/study to
Techno isn't something I'd normally stick on bit, if I did, this is what I'd want from it. Well constructed album & actually really enjoyed it.
Quite repetitive so not too bad to have on while working. Not my usual type of thing but enjoying it more than I thought I would.
Forgot the fucking thing was playing most of the time. Intro was a little cool though (I think I'll bump this to a 3)
Next time I’ll just put a stethoscope against an outdoor transformer
Decent but not my cup of tea
This is the kind of electronic dance music that I don't care for, although I can imagine that if you listen to it under the right circumstances, you will automatically enter a trance.
I guess I have a hard time believing anyone would actually listen to this album. It might work as rave music, or as background music, but other than that? Definitely an album I won't listen to again.
Amazing
I thought some tracks were quite engaging and interesting, and found others more monotonous. Cool atmosphere overall. 3.5
Cool electronic rave album. Much more interesting than the Orbital book that is floating around right now. This sounds fairly modern for being released in '93. Like planet of the shapes and halcyon+on+on a lot. Very easy to listen to and quite danceable.
i want to take part in a futuristic fashion show with this entire album as the soundtrack. the beats are so cool. idk why i procrastinated listening to this but this is gonna become my go to electronic album, more accessible than depeche mode i think (even though i prefer depeche mode)
Optimistic early rave, simple, DIY, upliftingly naive. There was a sliver of hope I think in the mid 90s and you can feel it. Makes me think of Trainspotting, the orgazoid, and the future current doom-music mourns. Like Burial or bicep seek to be yearning for a time where the future seemed tomopen and inviting. Instead, we have puffy chested hysterical racists flapping their tatty rags.
Techno/Electronica (EDM?) record. I don’t find it terribly groundbreaking or original, having listened to Delerium, FLA, The Prodigy, etc. for years. It was a pretty big hit and is considered influential in the genre, which I’m not a huge fan of and don’t follow
Dropping acid and dancing all night was never my thing. As a sit down and listen experience this is a little dull.
Sounds like techno to me. 3/5
Album really flows from one song to the next, not my usual taste in music but enjoyed the album.
Listened to the first track. Couldn’t take it…
I usually like this sort of thing, but I found this one very (for lack of a better word) jarring.
Love the 90s dance club music. Really like the sitar in there. A little bit repetitive, but that goes with the territory. I don't know if this paved the way for 90s dance music, but makes sense if it did. The weird whispery singing in one of the songs creeped me out a little...actually, now I like it.
Favorite Track: Lush 3.1
I saw Orbital at Glastonbury 2002, headlining the Other Stage on the Saturday night, and it was a transcendentally good thing to do. Listening to them at 10.50am working from home on a Wednesday? Different, let's just say that.
Have am ens done commercial flop in my life and I will be
I don't typically care for repetitive EDM music. But this is better than OK while I'm working and not needing to pay full attention. Was this some OG EDM?
Decent at far as house-techno goes. Easy to have on in the background, not necessary to engage with, fully.
The so-called Brown Album, because it's mostly shit?
No. 1.4.
Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
Their second album. Electronica. Hypnotic Dance loops. Repetitive and almost primal in a way. It's a chilled out, come down kind of album. The production is good. HALCYON + ON + ON is a decent track. It's an okay album but most of the tracks are too long and it gets boring. Without chemical enhancement it's a tough listen.
So repetitive. If I was in a dance club and on a lot of drugs, this might be more appealing. I think we all know why it's called the "Brown Album!"
Thought the time loop thing at the start was a good bit, but then it went for another minute or so and just became annoying. The outro was annoying too. Overstaying a welcome is pretty much the overarching theme of this 65 minute long album. Lot’s of songs that could have 3 or 4 minutes instead of 7 or 8. Despite that, I actually almost enjoyed it at times. Felt like I was listening to the background music for some indie space-themed RPG.
I’ve never really dabbled in recreational drugs. Whilst I think recreational drugs would have made this album much more enjoyable I think the come down of realising I enjoyed this hot pile of shit would be worse than the high.
Halcyon is still a brilliant song. Rest ok 3/5
I'm not a fan of songs that are too long or too same-y. But it's certainly closer to the kind of electronic music that I do like than all that's come before (on this site).
sounds like 90's 2D videogame music. The songs are way too long
I listened to this for the first time a couple of years ago. I love it, and I don't even really listen to techno like that. But anything with creative, well-executed sampling grabs my attention and holds it. Lush 3.1 is my favorite track, but the didgeridoo always deserves a shout-out. From Wiki: "Walk Now..." samples the sound of a Sydney zebra crossing alert and a didgeridoo, which were both recorded after a trip to Australia to perform at an illegal rave named Welcome 92." Haha, awesome.
De los primeros de electrónica que escuche.
Good for background music if I need to focus on work or something. Otherwise don't see myself listening to this on its own.
I'm not the biggest techno fan
Starts with Worf, so already a winner. Can sound a little dated and a little unvaried, but still plenty of solid beats and rhythms. First Orbital album is better though. 3.5 - rounded up Heard before? Yes, a long time ago Owned: No. 1/1001, 1/11 (8.5%) Will I get? No Recommend: Sure
wtf
Nope. Really didn't like this. So tired of electronic music. It's so repetitive and boring.
This is a classic of the UK late 80s early 90s dance / rave / electronic / techno scene. The album flows through each tune from the lush Lush(s) to the halcyon Halcyon. Maybe the first, Green, Orbital album should have been included instead, and not sure third album Snivilisation should have made the list, but you can’t deny Orbital’s contribution to the genre.
There's a really great electronic album in here that is unfortunately dragged down by a few weak tracks. The section from "Lush 3.1" to "REMIND" seems to be telling the story of a massive disaster, which is very cool. I'll give this one the benefit of the doubt. Favorite tracks: "Lush 3.1," "HALCYON + ON + ON," "IMPACT"
I see the influentialness of this album but it just doesn’t hold up like someone like Aphex Twins. Yes there are some good takeaways but a lot of mid electronic music I could make. A song I did like was HALCYON+ON+ON which was getting me dancing. Other then that overall pretty mid that’s why I give this a 5.4/10 2.7/5
It was pretty boring.
good album from a band that get much much better bit later . 3
Almost put me to sleep
I reviewed Orbital's Snivilisation about ten months ago, and I thought it was very good. I'd never heard of them before, but I tend to like electronic music, and Snivilisation happened to be right up my alley. I imagine that I'll probably enjoy this one too. I thought Orbital 2 was excellent from start to finish. Every song was layered in a way that I really enjoyed, and the way that higher and lower pitched sounds were combined was one of my favorite details that I noticed about this album. I was really pulled into every song, and I felt like the whole album had an atmosphere that really pulled me in, filling the space with beautiful sounds. I thought "Planet of the Shapes" was pretty good as the album kicked off, but it wound up being my least favorite song on the album, minus "Time Becomes" and "Input Out," which really don't count in my opinion. Once "Lush 3.1" started, I was really hooked and fully immersed in this album. The songs transitioned from one song to the next really well, but each song was still very unique in its sound and structure. I'm probably not alone in saying this, but I thought "Halcyon + On + On" was the best song on the album, narrowly beating out "Lush 3.1." This is easily the best techno/dance album that I've reviewed so far, and it's definitely one that I'll be listening to again soon.
Great
*1993 English electronic album. *Good for coffee shop background music, but that's about it. *Just sounded like a DJ practicing. No real ebbs or flows - just the same sound on each track. RATING - 3/10
Very brit-electronica. Very of its time. Not my speed.
Electronic. Bear was very boring.
Sounds like one long DJ set. Too long. Hard to tell where a song stops and a new one starts. It was obviously made for dancing, not for listening. It's very repetitive. Not very melodic. It probably sounds exactly as intended. Favorite song: impact.
Just a bunch of noise
Nothing special just came off boring all the way through.
Wtf was this?
Really struggle with this weird ambient electronics.
They really reached the pinnacle of their genre. Fantastic record.
Crumpet is right
A interesting piece of IDM. For me not their best album but a solid collection all the same. The newly released extended version has some excellent additions.
Didn't quite do it for me in; though I do really enjoy some music in this genre, and can see how this has influenced other artists
Some of this I liked, some of it I felt like I was short circuiting
Weird start
When it's not endlessly repeating a phrase this is fun to listen to.
There’s a time and place for a rave, today wasn’t one. I might get with this on 1 of any given 5 days.
Trancy. Good slow music. 4/5
Not a big fan of the electronic sounds, too basic
I was slightly surprised to recognize one of the songs for sure, maybe two of them, as I wouldn't have said I knew anything by Orbital before listening to the record. I'm assuming it made it on a soundtrack or similar. In general I like this sort of thing. Ambient music with a beat, or maybe more accurately, EDM without it being ridiculously high energy and over the top. It's good for things like driving or as background music when playing games. I think this is a solid representative of the genre and the sort of thing that a lot of folks -- who are open to electronic music -- might like.
Enough with this electronic bogus!!! I don’t want to do it anymore!!
I said it before and I'll say it again: Orbital has a talent for playing variations on a theme. It only rewards the patient (or bored) and I can easily see someone dropping out of the album early on, but there's something here that just builds on itself in a way that I find compelling. But, it's still early nineties beep boop and that can overwhelm me on close listening. I was gonna dock this, but I realized I was being a hater. It helps that HALYCON + ON + ON is one of the greatest songs ever so you know what? Let's give it a 5.
Nope. Do not dig this.
Can’t say I liked this one very much. The whole album was a too conceptual, abstract, and repetitive for my taste but that doesn’t make it bad. The band was certainly doing something different from what was popular and, based on the little I know about electronic music, doing it pretty well. It was a weird album to start this journey with.
Undoubtedly good songs. Not a big fan of the intro, it felt more like an experiment than something worthy of an album song but I guess they thought it created a mood. I couldn’t listen to the whole thing in one go but there isn’t a bad song on it and orbital clearly have talent. Great background stuff and I could imagine clubbing to it too.
It's that lousy electronic dance music from the 90s made for people who didn't actually like music.
нормалек, люблю такие вещи.
I really enjoyed this. I'm on a bit of a retro electronic music phase at the moment, Autechre and the like. Considering this was made in the early nineties, roughly the same time R.E.M. were releasing Out of Time and Automatic for the People, this is surely a fairly groundbreaking album, even if it's not the most interesting. There are definite shades of Autechre here; you can hear some of these sounds on Amber which is a couple of years later, so the line of influence from stuff like Orbital to Autechre and through the electronics of the 2000s is probably fairly clear at least from a newbie listener.
I actually liked the first and last track i suppose its some fancy way of saying rhythm is more complicated than we think
Solid EDM. Great for a dance workout or simulator video game. Beautiful in the background.
After Boards of Canada, I was not extremely excited to get into another early electronic album. This one, however, is a little more my speed. I had friends who made electronic music in the early 00s, and this feels remarkably similar to what they were making even a decade later. I guess that's triggering a sense of nostalgia in me, even though I've never listened to this particular album nor do any raving in the 90s.
Matrix ass album
Hypnotic 90s dance/techno. Neat synth instrumentation and layered beats that flow seamlessly. Did it need two entire tracks entirely consisted of a phase shifted vocal loop though? Nah
Big fan of electronic music, but hadn’t listened to this. I get why it’s a classic
Für mich nur irgendwelche Geräusche. Konnte dem Ganzen nichts abgewinnen.
Gear: HEDD Audio HEDDphone Two Artwork: 💩💩💩 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎛️🔄🕸️ Rating: 🕰️(🕰️)/5
New rule: When it's an album people primarily listen to chemically altered, the chemical(s) must be provided lol This could have been a 5 ⭐
Interesting album…I liked it!
I should have hated it but I didn't because I needed background music while working on a project.
Aka The Brown Album. A perfect distillation of early 90s rave, and half taken over by one continues mix of Lush, Impact and Remind. If I'm honest, probably not my favourite Orbital album or tracks, but it does encapsulate a moment. Starting and ending with Alvin Lanier style loops, letting arrangements flow rather than fitting regular song structures - it's not necessarily an easy listen in places. One more track of the like of Belfast, Satan, One Perfect Moment, Chime...etc and it would be a 5*. All this aside, as a piece of art, it deserves to be here
Very early 90s electronica aesthetic. Decent pace, interesting enough for me to have on in the background while I crushed some work. Wouldn't likely spin this otherwise.
I thought i was going to hate Orbital 2 but it was a surprisingly very good album. I guess since the last electronica album (Timeless by Goldie for those of you who are wondering) left a bad taste in my mouth, I thought that this album was going to be an overly repetitive slog but i was pleasantly surprised. A lot of the songs here were incredibly catchy and didn't get too repetitive despite their long lengths. There were also some cool ideas on display like Walk Now sampling an Australian pedestrian crossing light. It also felt like this album went by quite a lot quicker than their other album on this project (mainly because it was shorter). The first and last songs are definitely something that really should have been cut down but despite that, This was a great album. Best Song: Monday Worst Song: Input Out
Bad. Bad, not good. OH that's where they got the name from.
Drags for too long at times, but interesting album nonetheless
Honestly, kind of boring
Excellent. Good for working to.
Yet another dip into the endless well of mediocre 90s British electronic music.
What in the actual fuck is this??? They can Orbit around deez nutz!
Crazy sound, very sci-fi
It was an okay experience, but I will definitely never listen to it again.
I saw the cover and immediately knew it was going to be more random Brit-electro dance music that was on in the background of annoying dance clubs in the '90's. How do these albums keep getting added to this list? Side note, was this sort of cover art and font the stock for albums in the '90's? I feel like it was used a lot.
Kinda dated and monotonous, not terrible though.
Me lo esperaba peor. No acabo de entender a la gente fan del techno, pero pensaba que sería más insoportable. No ha estado tan, tan mal. Pero que no me pongan mucho más tecnho ni ambient techno ni cosas de estas.
Bom album, os anos 90 foram muito bons para a música eletrônica, algo bastante experimental, então encontramos muitas repetições, alguns sons industriais leves, o que pode dificultar algumas tracks.
One of the cornerstones of British techno. The Lush-Impact-Remind suite is a heavenly 30 mins of electronic music. Halcyon tops it off. Essential
Hell yeah, I was jamming hard to this
Kino.
I was so happy to revisit this one. Some of the best of techno and definitely a full album experience.
Favoriten Lush3.1 Halcoyn +on+on
For almost 20 years, Len Houmous thought this was an album about the roadworks and improvements being made on a road works! 3.3 3/10 Lush 3.1
Not impressed
Довольно монотонно и однообразно, однако, как фон сойдёт изредка. 5,5 из 10.
Very reletetive but I actually enjoyed it way more than I expected.
I mostly feel similarly with this album as I did to Snivilization. Both great albums! I don't think I prefer this one quite as much, but it has some truly standout tracks. I also liked the polyrhythm thing they did at the start and end. Pretty cool! Favorite Track: HALCYON + ON + ON
Not my favorite. Leans real hard into the synths and I'm not quite sold. Some fun sounds, but overall it just feels very repetitive. Not my cup of tea
A pretty fun 90s EDM album. Seemed to get better as the album continued. Not everything i'm looking for, but was fun. I can see why in 93 this would be a big deal.
I think that this is not for me. It’s too scientific and repetitive. It’s like annoying and irritating.
Easily one of the most annoying beginnings to any album with "Time Becomes" - lazy/tiring throwaway to show off their early ability to utilize cut and paste. Fascinating. :/ Which leads into the beginning of the 2nd track doubling down on the same thing. Come on. We've had their album "Snivilisation" which I thought was perfect background/zone-out music but it takes too long to get into it here... I suppose this is on the list because a) they're English b) it was some sort of early adopter of EDM and c) they're English. Maybe it's unfair and it's Monday morning and I haven't had a proper coffee intake yet but I'm not feeling it even the way I was able to get a little bit into Snivilisation. Repetition is the name of the game in this genre but this was too much (or too little?). Couldn't hold my interest or vibe. 4/10 2 stars.
I can make this music on my Yamaha electric keyboard.
Dessa jävla elektroniska akter som är rena blöjsynthen.
It's OK. Need to take a few yokes or shrooms next listen. 2 and a half
The Intro and Outro were dumb. But the rest was ok!
Straight from earth into orbit
2 plus
Starts off quite dull. Would last about 7 minutes if extraneous repetition was removed, but I sense this is the main feature of this music. If you can read this you may not be on enough drugs to enjoy it. If you can read this you may not be on enough drugs to enjoy it. If you can read this you may not be on enough drugs to enjoy it. Two stars. Better than Morrissey.
Oh I KNOW people gonna hate this album to pieces, don’t even need to look at the reviews to see that. Beautiful 90’s electronica with nice choice of sampling, great drums, and gets better with every song. I knew it would be a baller album when the “when time becomes a loop” bit played for 2 minutes in the nice stereo sound bit at the VERY START OF THE ALBUM. crazy producers like to do crazy things to almost gatekeep their albums from the folk who wouldnt like it haha.
Even though this album is fairly repetitive (especially with the opening and closing tracks), it was such a good dance/electronic album. For listening to this album whilst studying, it was a good mix of repetitive and new ideas.