Orblivion

Orblivion
Studio album by
The Orb
Released24 February 1997
RecordedMay 1996
Genre
Length72:00
LabelIsland
Producer
The Orb chronology
Orbus Terrarum
(1995) 		Orblivion
(1997) 		Cydonia
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
DownBeat[3]
The Guardian[4]
Muzik8/10[5]
NME7/10[6]
Pitchfork9.3/10[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
Select4/5[9]
Spin8/10[10]

Orblivion is the fourth studio album by English electronic music group the Orb, released on 24 February 1997 by Island Records. With the album, the group, reunited with Andy Hughes and Steve Hillage, returned to their spacy sounds typical of U.F.Orb (1992). Though Orblivion was recorded in May 1996, it was not released until almost a year later, due to Island Records' desire to promote it as a follow-up to U2's Pop.[11]

Orblivion sold well in Europe and the United States, reaching number nineteen on the UK Albums Chart and number 174 on the US Billboard 200,[12] while its lead single "Toxygene" became the highest-charting single by the Orb, reaching number four in the UK. However, the album received a lukewarm reception from the British music press,[13] but similarly to the case of Orbus Terrarum, it received better praise from American critics, with Rolling Stone calling it a "scintillating contrast of chaos and euphony".[8]

To support the album, the Orb embarked on the Organic Tour with Orbital, Meat Beat Manifesto, Underworld, Zion Train, and The Chemical Brothers. The Village Voice described the Orb as "on its way down" and the stresses of touring sat heavily on member Alex Paterson, but the Orb decided not to "pack it in" and instead continued touring and producing.[14]

  1. ^ Cooper, Sean. "Orblivion – The Orb". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. ^ Kot, Greg (18 April 1997). "The Orb: Orblivion (Island)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  3. ^ "The Orb: Orblivion". DownBeat. 64 (7): 64. July 1997. Orblivion focuses on what they do best: the elaborate construction and deconstruction of grooves... sophisticated and inventive, but also playful.
  4. ^ Bennun, David (14 February 1997). "The Orb: Orblivion (Island)". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Push (March 1997). "The Orb: Orblivion (Island)" (PDF). Muzik (22): 109. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. ^ Dalton, Stephen (22 February 1997). "The Orb – Orblivion". NME. Archived from the original on 14 November 1999. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  7. ^ Schreiber, Ryan. "The Orb: Orblivion". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  8. ^ a b Wiederhorn, Jon (19 March 1997). "The Orb: Orblivion". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  9. ^ Perry, Andrew (March 1997). "The Orb: Orblivion". Select (81): 110.
  10. ^ Gehr, Richard (May 1997). "The Orb: Orblivion". Spin. 13 (2): 111–12. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  11. ^ Shih, Howard (August 1997). "The Orb – Interview". Perfect Sound Forever. Archived from the original on 1 July 2004. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
  12. ^ "The Orb". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2006.
  13. ^ Silva, Joe (1 February 2001). "Living in Orblivion". Remix Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 May 2006.
  14. ^ Berkowitz, Kenny (November–December 1997). "Minimal Impact". Option.