Legendary British electronica icons Orbital return in 2012 with their first new album in eight years and a landmark concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Reunited in 2009 after half a decade of separate solo projects, Paul and Phil Hartnoll come back to the studio buzzing with inspiration from two years of rapturously received live shows - including triumphant headline sets at the Big Chill, Coachella Festival and Glastonbury, where they were joined onstage by Doctor Who star Matt Smith.
As yet untitled, the new Orbital album puts a contemporary spin on the duo’s signature blend of propulsive, gleaming, cinematic techno. As with all of Paul and Phil’s previous work, the new album stands outside pop fashion, but still acknowledges current developments in dance music.
“It is a kaleidoscope of everything we like about electronic music,” says Paul. “But the biggest influence on this album has been two years of playing live, listening to old Orbital music. We wanted to make music that we would like to play live. It had to flow and ebb like a live set.”
The album is being mixed by superstar producer Mark “Flood” Ellis, whose impressive list of past collaborations includes Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey, U2, Nine Inch Nails and The Killers. “Working with Flood is the most exciting thing for me,” says Phil. “He is so well respected, and we get on really well with him.”
Paul and Phil are officially launching this new phase of Orbital in April with a mega-show at London’s most prestigious venue, The Royal Albert Hall. Having last played there in 1996, these masters of techno are returning to reclaim their throne as the undefeated champions of live electronic music. “Absolutely fantastic,” says Phil. “A great place to have a launch party. You can’t get much better than the Albert Hall.”
Orbital may have been dormant since 2004, but their influence never died out. Decades after they first crossed over from rave-scene favourites to charts stars with evergreen electro anthems like Chime and The Box, you can still hear echoes of their pulsing, melodic, emotionally uplifting sound everywhere – from rising clubland champions like dubstep supergroup Magnetic Man to the supple analogue synth-pop throb of Caribou, Fever Ray, M83 and Delphic.
Having created a timeless sound, Orbital are firing up their musical Tardis once more. “It’s been like picking up a conversation were we left off,” Paul explains, “but there is a freshness to it as well because things have moved on. Which is good because we stopped when it seemed like we were treading water, whereas now it’s a like a house on fire of creativity. We have learned so much by going off and doing different things.”
Orbital are back, refreshed and reunited – and it feels so good. “It has been great,” says Phil. “I’m really loving it. We lost our way, but now we’re back and it feels like how it always should have been. We feel rejuvenated and regenerated – like Doctor Who!”
UK 2012 Tour Dates:
5 April - Manchester Academy
6 April - Leeds Academy
7 April - Glasgow ABC
8 April - Liverpool Academy
9 April - Cambridge Corn Exchange
10 April - London Royal Albert Hall
UK 2012 Tour Dates:
5 April - Manchester Academy
6 April - Leeds Academy
7 April - Glasgow ABC
8 April - Liverpool Academy
9 April - Cambridge Corn Exchange
10 April - London Royal Albert Hall
Published on 24 October 2011 by Wayne Feltham
