Home
sign up| reviews / member general review |
 content by: member |
|
Noodly (adj), safe dance music for 30-something, ex-raver Dads. Some of The Blue Album, the last release by the Brother's Hartnoll before they go their seperate musical ways, is noodly. Luckily, some of it is atmospheric, and some of it is phat (yes, with a 'ph'). NOODLY There's at least 3 tunes which use samples that made me cringe. Cheesy quotes in northern accents over fairly standard, chunky Orbital beats and sweepy Orbital synths. Track 2, aptly titled Pants, is a thudding house affair that is let down by such a sample, but rescued somewhat by a storming, tension-buidling break down. Noodliest track of all is like the soundtrack to a low rate kid's fantasy cartoon. Given Orbitals reputation for making spinge-tinglingly beautiful, blissed out anthems like the epic Chimes, it's a shame that their more recent attempts at such a vibe leave me cold. ATMOSPHERIC I believe The Middle of Nowhere was Orbital's last great album. In it, they demonstrated a sound that was edgy, cinematic and full of attitude. There are a few tracks on the Blue Album which further this sound, and they are the highlights for me. Album opener Transient is a largely beatless, string-led mood setter. Later tracks, while sounding similar to older material, are satisfyingly deep. I think if Orbital had embraced their edgier side rather than trying to repeat their halcyon days on and on and on, I wouldn't be quite so accepting of their departure. PHAT The brother's ability to rock the house has never been in question. They have always been cunning beatsmiths and wizards with basslines and punchy stabs. Luckily there are parts of the Blue Album that will have you dancing round your bedroom, proclaiming "I knew they still had it!" (Or, if you're a 30-something ex-raver Dad, maybe "I knew I still had it...") Overall, then, I think Orbital have had their time and spent it wonderfully. Their Glastonbury set this year reminded us all that they are masters of their craft and utterly at home in a concert setting. This last album is a reminder of what they've done for the scene, but it's probably a good thing that they're calling it a day before the nostalgia gives way to dissapointed utterings of "had it, lost it..." DISCLAIMER: due to the questionable method of aquisition, track order and naming might be awry. Feel free to discuss in one of the many 'merits of downloading' threads...
 conversations
Read members' comments.
|
 |
see also
books  books and comics archive Author interviews and reviews from 2002 to 2008. film  film archive The best of cinema in the UK from 2002 to 2008. |
send to a friend
more reviews by this member