IDM Mailing Archive

Firstly, I'd like to say that if you were disappointed by 'The Box', don't worry, the album will restore your faith. It's called 'In Sides', out on April 29, and consists of six (long) tracks, entirely separate and unconnected. I got my promo copy this morning, and so far it's sounding pretty hot. I'll post a proper review later, but for now I'll just say that the opener ('The Girl With The Sun In Her Head') is superb, the boys back on top form. Sheer melodic beauty, a sort of mixture of 'Forever', 'Halcyon' and 'Semi Detached' (the TEX version, definitely one of my all-time favourite tunes). 'The Box' is on there too, in a new form, basically a very long build into the first part of the single. More to come... And going back to their earlier albums - I definitely rate 'Orbital 2' as their best ever - I love every single track on it, and it just defined their style perfectly. I love the way it's almost like one long piece, the tracks flow beautifully, and it also formed the core of their best live sets. 'Snivilisation', on the other hand, I'm relatively disappointed with - it's a lot patchier, and a lot of it just doesn't work. The new one's sounding a lot better... dj k lmnop <ghhorne@DELTA.IS.TCU.EDU> started off with...

quoted 5 lines Must _everyone_ dump on Orbital?

>Must _everyone_ dump on Orbital? >the two tracks off of _snivilization_ >that could be considered 'jungle' >[sad but true + are we here?] were, at >the time, incredibly fresh and different.

True. But neither of them were really what you could call jungle. They just got inspired by the techniques and adapted them in their own way, at their own *tempo*. 'Times Fly' is far more junglistic (and far better, IMO)...

quoted 4 lines i can't remember hearing a jungle track

>i can't remember hearing a jungle track >prior to _snivilization_ that didn't >rely on the same stock of breakbeats, >reggae samples, etc.

Well, you obviously hadn't heard a lot of jungle then...

quoted 4 lines had _snivilization_ not

>had _snivilization_ not >been released, i seriously believe that >the genre we dearly call drum'n'bass would >be drastically different.

And this is where it got interesting. Personally, I think Orbital have had about as much influence on the jungle scene as Oasis have. No disrespect to anyone, but the vast majority of jungle producers would *not* have been in any way influenced or inspired by these tracks... Chris Hilker <cspot@hyperreal.com> then says (in response to another post)...

quoted 4 lines So you're claiming that techno bands that make jungle tracks have

>So you're claiming that techno bands that make jungle tracks have >nothing to do with the development of jungle, and then you recommend a >compilation that features a track in the style by a techno band (Global >Communication) as an example of that development?

Firstly, I would hardly call Global Communication a techno act, but that's just being pedantic. Secondly, and more importantly, their jungle track is very much 'in the style of' a load of other jungle tracks which *Bukem and co.* pioneered. Don't think for one minute that 'Amenity' or 'Links' (or whichever version is called what) was an original track in a new style. They were just adding their own touch to an already well- established sub-genre. I don't think the Global Communication boys were any more responsible for the development of the drum & bass genre than Orbital, they just jumped on the bandwagon (albeit in a beautiful, fairly individual way). Don't get me wrong, overall I think Pritchard and Middleton are amongst my very favourite musicians, I just think that it's wrong to give them credit for developing drum & bass. Although, as you say, 'Natural High' was an influence... see ya ____________________________________________________ tom churchill e-mail: tom@chrchfam.demon.co.uk 'each new hour holds new chances for new beginnings' dj/musician/clubber/reviewer......scene but not herd ____________________________________________________