Snivilisation

1994 was an amazing year. At a Halloween party that year, I hooked up with a beautiful Asian woman dressed as a cat (she could have been any nationality now that I think about it, and was dressed as an Asian cat - anything was possible in '94). I was dressed up as The Joker. Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's Batman to be precise. She and I left the party to go to her place and fool around. Before things got too deep, she paused and said, "Now go into the bathroom and take off your makeup. I want to see what the real Joker looks like." We'd been making out a while, and she had some of my Joker makeup on her face so it was hard for me to take her seriously. I told her this was my true appearance. Apparently, I was quite protective of my secret identity back in those days. We all were. I went down on her as the Joker instead. That's who I am. I'm a giver. That's as far as we got. Joker Brand Products didn't include Joker Brand Condoms in '94. If they existed, they'd surely be purple and shaped like a smiley face. I still think about that little minx a lot. We probably could have built a wonderful life together. 1994 was also the year Jackie Kennedy, Kurt Cobain, and Nicole Brown Simpson died. It was the year when the baseball strike cancelled the World Series, and this album was released. So it wasn't all hooking up with Saucy Asian Felines, even though it felt like it was. I also met my future wife a week after that Halloween party. We were married for 9 years until she divorced my ass, but have two wonderful children together who continue to amaze, inspire and fill me with joy everyday. What I'm saying is a lot of good things came out of 1994, but this album certainly wasn't one of them. Thankfully it wasn't on my radar in '94. In fact, I didn't have to suffer listening to any of this until today. But life's funny like that. Maybe I went to that Halloween party because there was no World Series. If the Joker had more than one night with that Asian Cat Lady, I would have never met my (first) wife, would never have experienced the joy of my children. Which reminds me: on our first date, my wife and I went to the movies. I wanted to see Pulp Fiction, but went the safe route and chose Forest Gump. And I bet if we saw Pulp Fiction that night, we'd still be married. That Asian Cat Lady would have LOVED Pulp Fiction as much as I still do. Maybe if this album was playing at her apartment after that Halloween party, I would have gladly washed off my Joker makeup. Maybe we would have had unprotected sex. Anything to drown out this album.

The bleeps where very bleepy and the bloops where just as bloopy. Not something I would of seeked out but glad I gave it a listen.

Although Orbital's music is classified as "techno" there can be no doubt the brothers' skills transcend that poppy genre and this album is their finest work. It is a concept album so you must listen to it from beginning to end and every track (with one exception) is excellent. The album comes to a climax on "Are We Here?". Perhaps what is most commendable about Orbital is their ability to build a beat in the abscence of a central boom-boom beat that is so common in electronic music. If you listen closely, the beat is actually built by layering the loops carefully so as to build a rhythm that dances around where the beat would be.

Tech-NO

Felt like I was on hold for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Listening to this record is like having to watch your 6 year old brother after he just got done snorting pixie sticks and there’s no sign of his sugar high ever wearing off. Overly busy, grating electronica. Zero chill. It’s maddening.

Mysterious secrets of the rave. Minimalism, experimentalism, and classic techno collide. Conceptually rich, diverse and epic.

I so wish that this kind of stuff was breaking when I turned 18. Trap and Dubstep will always have a special place but this is so much more interesting and mind blowing. Totally out of control soundscape that transports you to a different universe via an aural blackhole. This record is the 50m high solid gold gate that leads to the other astral dimensions we've been seeking since the beginning of time.

Excellent background music, but not much that drives it into the foreground for me.

“Snivilisation”, a title with Gen X reek: easy cynicism, a cheap pun, comfortable edginess. Slowly, the kids are beginning to hate us as much as the Boomers… Dated title apart, this is alright. Better heard on headphones if not in a club, my favourite parts creep around the ears, just a little off-kilter. The sarcastic corporate samples are largely tiresome, reminders of well-worn 90’s cynicism. The best clichéd 90’s sample source will always be “Robocop”, or “Scarface” if you’re listening to the Wu Tang Clan. Unlikely to seek out again, but wouldn’t complain if someone put it on. Two point seven. Was three, but ending the record with two ten minutes-plus tracks is a contemptible move.

Is it a dance fest, am I playing Sims, or is this a happy hardcore party? Definitely a bit too crazy for me to listen to during work.

I seldom listen to electronic music so I am woefully unfamiliar with this genre and the artists who practice in it. Nice to get more intros into the form through this project. This is a really good album. I've moved beyond old prejudices I held before; the ones that had me declare "I prefer music made with REAL instruments" in some misguided torch-bearing for 'authentic' music or some such made-up nonsense standard. I am very grateful to be far more open to music made by, well, anything. I'll experience it how I experience it, or at least I do my best to program my mind to receive and perceive all art through that process. This album has some excellent music in it and I enjoyed the experience of listening to it. At times, it was a little too frenetic for me, but I understand this band was into the rave thing and that kind of music is probably right for that scene. (I'll bet that sentence comes across as unhip and square as I am in real life ;-) I am very early in learning music, mostly as a guitarist but also a little voice and piano as well as music theory through my various studies. Honestly, this album has piqued my interest in this genre, so I won't be surprised if I add it my course of studies.

Packed with personality and filled with surprising twists and turns. Great beats with music that kept me guessing. Those overlapping piano loops in “Kein Trink Wasser” are beautiful. Highlights: “Sad but True,” “Crash and Carry,” “Kein Trink Wasser,” “Attached”

Acid, experimental, eerie sounds and so modern that I sometimes forget that this is more the 25 years old.

Orbital! I didn't realize they'd made this album. THANK YOU TO THIS LIST for enlightening me. Ever since Halcyon+on+on, I've been a fan. Easy 5 stars.

this takes me back, playing in the room of every cool kid in college in the early days before we all figured out that nobody among us was really cool at all. Typical Orbital, ravey but pleasant and melodic without being too challenging, not bad really although the vocal samples are pretty annoying in places

Wow. The. Repetitive. Nature. Of. EDM/House Music. Is. Not. My Jam. Sorry, Orbital - I am definitely not your target audience so I'm rating this one as such. I'd never revisit this. There are a couple of positives I did take away from this album that I will never listen to willingly again: the first 4 "songs" didn't grate on me. This earlier portion of the record was fairly easy to do some "deep work" to as it played in the background. Some of the tracks, like Crash and Carry, had some melodic spots. And then things completely traversed into noisy EDM repetition, including "songs" more than 15 minutes long that made me want to jump off the closest bridge. Memory unlocked: I do recall there being an Orbital song on the EDM/electronica-heavy soundtrack for the forgettable 90s movie "The Saint," though - why I bought that as a teen, I do not remember. Certainly not because of Orbital (sorry, Orbital). Interesting factoid (only one this time) from Wikipedia: *The band released the album at the time of the launch of the Criminal Justice Act, the legislation that gave British Police greater legal powers to break up unlicensed raves that gave Orbital its name. The Are We Here? single featured the track "Are We Here? (Criminal Justice Bill?)", which consists of four minutes of complete silence. Standouts: Forever, Crash and Carry

Wow, amazing album. One of the Best things that happened in 1994. I have never heard about this band until 1001. Thank you!

Nice house/dance vibes with Snivilisation, great to chill out to or have in the background whilst working/studying. Best: Science Friction Worst: Are We Here?

So that's two Orbital albums and zero They Might Be Giants. We're in the last 200 albums of this experiment now. No Lemonade. No Breeders, Ween, Whitney Houston. Two Orbital albums, though. I mean I get maybe putting one on here to represent this corner of the music world. But what can two Orbital albums do for us that a single The End of the Tour cannot?

This album is so cool! Can’t believe it wasn’t on my radar before now. Right up my alley.

cool

richtig gutes Album, schön abwechslungsreicher Elektro

Decent until Crash and Carry, then it becomes amazing.

Partially too experimental, but in general - an epic electronic opus

This is right up my street. Added to my collection, heard a fair bit of dirge from orbital, and some that I absolutely love, (illuminate is my absolute fave and I can't stand David Gray usually). Anyway, this was a great listen, not one for every day, but great end of busy week relaxing album.

Pretty good beats to relax to.I was doing other stuff while I was listening.Perfect for that.

Very unique ambiance, I love it !

Beep boop beep

Not necessarily the Orbital album I woulda chosen, but what the hell, you can't go too far wrong. This is very much the sort of chin-stroking intellect-masturbatory music that appeals to the specific type of nerd that I am. I started out being a nowt-but-metalhead but I could see the utility in ambient music for soothing scene-setting. Orbital was the first act that made me think I could enjoy upbeat electronica too. Fave track - "Forever", maybe, or "Are We Here?" - I'd happily listen to the whole album again at the drop of a hat though...

Huge part of my 90s soundtrack

There's a special place in my heart for this album, even though I haven't listened to it in a long time. I discovered Orbital around the time I started my first year of college (2009), which was a time of great musical exploration for me, going to club nights and gigs in the city for the first time, and of course music festivals. I actually got free tickets to see Orbital that year (or maybe it was the year after) and went with a friend, had a brilliant time. This album was always my favourite of theirs, so takes me back to those days. Theirs some really interesting blending of styles on here, and the few vocals there are offer interesting critique of technology's impact of society, advertising, and also the crackdown on electronic music in the 90s. I'm not sure if I picked up on all that before, but after a couple of closer listens it all makes sense. The standout tracks for me are Forever, Kein Trink Wasser, and Are We Here, but there's not really any weak tracks imo.

Incredible

Exactly what my brain needed on a stressful Wednesday morning. Orbital are at their best when they're doing more chilled-out stuff.

My wife introduced me to Orbital, and this is one of the albums she had a physical copy of and was in high rotation. For people who know me they would understand that I Wish I Had Duck Feet is a fave. I really like Philosophy by Numbers and the way it feels more like an extension of Science Friction. Kein Trink Wasser, Quality Seconds are great and Are We Here? is another favourite.

Found a new favorite artist

Holds up exceptionally well in my opinion

I like it

A peculiar album, even the repetitiveness of the album doesn't make it boring, it makes you follow a kinda dream. It's just so interesting to hear but I don't think it's and album to hear everyday or every moment

As a huge Brown album convert, I could never get into this album on previous occasions. Something is happening however today, I'm really digging it. Feel like I'm waking up to this record for the first time. Maybe it's something about the hooks, they're less obvious, insistent perhaps, but they're there. I'm loving every track in different ways. Finished very strongly as well with Are we Here and Attached. Going into rotation.

Extremely good album. Together with Insides, Dubnobasswithmyheadman and Exit Planet Dust, probably my favourite 4 electronic albums from the 90s.

Fantastic album, arguably Orbital's best work.

Awesome

Great synth soundscape.

Expected to hate this, but loved it.

Can’t believe this was 1994….

IDM with deep themes? That's like catnip to me. Love this so much.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Forever, Sad but true, Crash and carry, Kein trink wasser, Quality seconds, Are we here?

I’ve listened to orbital before and loved them so seeing this album come up got me excited and it was a really good listen! All tracks I really enjoyed.

Amazingly groundbreaking IDM from the 90's. Still sounds fresh and new.

Very interesting and enjoyable.

Fantastic

Cool soundtrack

Very cool electronica. Enjoyed it a lot

Great walking album, nothing crazy memorable but overall an enjoyable listen.

pretty sure whatever i wrote about the last orbital album applies here, it'll be something along the lines of the biggest hits being on the first album but it's still a very solid album.

3,5

Maybe an 8. I feel like it's pretty solid but I also don't care for techno.

Not their best but a great album nonetheless. I love Orbital’s pioneering dance sound. These feel like classical compositions in depth and heft and really elevate the genre. Probably 3.5 stars for me for this particular album but I’m rounding to 4 in case this is the only Orbital album on the list!

It's Orbital, and if you're in the mood for Orbital, you'll like this album. It's a time period for me: Orb, Orbital, other electronica/acid house music

Snivilisation is perhaps one of their most ambitious works, ranging from house to hard rock, using the voice in the subtlest of ways and integrating samples in almost mimetic ways. It is also their most "physical" album, which is a testament to the duo's greatness. (7/10) FT: Forever, Kein Trink Wasser

Weird electronic / house but not bad!

Techno. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

Definitely eclectic but I liked it a lot! Thought about going with 5 but there really aren't any lyrics so it's not stimulating in that way. Really good musicality!

I liked that way more than I thought I would. For ambient techno, it never quite hits that "oh just kill me" level of repetitive noise. It's interesting, complex, compelling, and really incredible GSD background music. Seriously, I was so productive with this in my ears. Well done, Orbital. You get an extra star for helping me work.

Listened to Orbital back in the day. This is like comfort food to me. A headphone ride to say the least. It all flows quite smoothly except "Quality Seconds." The way the vocal samples are used is a quaint reminder of the time period in which this came out, but I think they add to the rhythm and body of the songs.

nice album; good for long, contemplative rides/runs/etc.

Good sounds to hear for me

I wasn't that impressed the first few listens, but this one grew on me the more I listened to it.

Enjoyed this album surprisingly. I think my rabbit did too

La pasé muy bien, parece soundtrack de película experimental con algo de ciencia ficción y me siento comprometido con eso. El sonido como de lluvia/agua de "Forever" me sacó de onda al principio. Otras canciones que me gustaron mucho: "Sad But True", "Philosophy by Numbers" y "Kein Trink Wasser". 8.5/10

Sí me gustó bastante, un poco lo tuve que poner de fondo. Pero sí está chida su vibra ecléctica de all things EDM

Initial 3, minor interest in the genre. Later after reading positive reviews and a couple more listens- 4 stars. There is a lot of different going on both in each track, and across tracks.

I liked this a lot. High quality electronic shit from the 90s. Mixing and shit has the same texture and feel of Dummy by Portishead. Added something from this album to a playlist I’m working on. Not 5 stars, but a solid listen.

Another great proof of concept. I like techno overall but had never hear of these guys. 1001 Albums led me to discover another great time decoration. Art decorates space and Music decorates time....

I had never heard of this and was prepared to hate it based on the title. I thought for sure it was going to be some jokey, snide, statement about how, well, civilization is sniveling. And maybe it is but that kind of thing always feels pretentious and annoying to me. So I was happily surprised to find that it's a fun, cool, 90s techno album. I like it! I don't know where the title came from, but it's not an overpowering theme in the music itself. This was fun. I should listen to more 90s techno.

Bleep boop

Excelente possibilidade de audição de eletrônico com muitas camadas de batidas e melodias.

Gimmedabloop Gimmedabloop

Another artist I had heard of, but never heard. It was surprisingly enjoyable considering my usual tastes, great for a chilled evening. Currently sitting at artist #1207

Diverse collection of electronic tracks. Great beats

Enjoyed this in 94 and still liked it all very much today. Quite Krafwerkian with the layered sounds and (mostly) absence of big beats a la Fat Boy Slim and Chemical Brothers. Still absolutely love Kein Trink Wasser.

It’s a bit over reliant on the vocal samples when I think they’re not necessary, but the sound of this thing is great. Not too busy, but very energizing.

Man love orbital, love this album brings back so many memories.

Enjoyable background. Very cohesive and immersive aesthetic

Sounds like Orbital to me!

Compared to the previous Orbital album, this one has a little more variation with less club music. The club music is still the highlight and very well done.

Great merge of EDM and ambient genres.

spunky beats to squirm to

I vibed with this, fun and heady

Fantastic for my focus groove.

4 - very good with only 1/2 jarring tracks

Like a dank funky version of a Mr Scruff record. I loved every second of this goofy time

Crazy funky electric beats, something that had to grow on me to really enjoy Never could listen to these songs individually tho

Yassss

Techno funk juzz from the 90s at it's finest.

While it might be my favorite album from Orbital, this is still a great ambient-ish techno release to check out. Favorites: Sad But True, Science Friction, Are We Here?

I’ve listened to songs by Orbital in the past, but this was my first time hearing a full album. I really enjoyed this album. The music is interesting and has that 90s electronic music sound with a lot of cool samples. Great music to listen to while working! My favorite songs: Forever, Crash and Carry, Kein Trink Wasser, Are We Here?

sound of snilver

Not their best album. Probably not in their top 3. Still very good though.