Orbital Is Calling It Quits

Click on 'News' to get the bad news:

"After 15 years working together as Orbital, Paul and Phil Hartnoll have announced that their forthcoming LP the "Blue Album" will be their last. Following the album's release on 21st of June, Orbital will play Brixton Academy on 25th of June followed by their last ever English live show, closing the second stage on Sunday June 27th at Glastonbury."

"I think we feel that Orbital has run it's course," says Paul Hartnoll. "We're both pursuing different avenues with our music. And we've been sat, as brothers, in the same room for 15 years now-and studios are always confined spaces-I think it's time for a change."

[...]

The brothers extra-mural interests have all informed the character of The Blue Album, the bands seventh, which evolved gradually over the course of 2003 with the band free from record company expectations and schedules for the first time since their career began. "If anything," says Paul "It's closer in character to our first album than our later ones, if only because we made it in our own time and for ourselves."

Orbital's "The Box" off MTV's AMP and "Halcyon + On + On" from the Hackers soundtrack were some of the first electronica songs I heard and liked. Until then, I didn't get what trance music was about and thought it was all a waste of time and electrons before then. The Brothers Hartnoll have been integral in my understanding of what trance and breaks music really is and I can't thank them enough for their work. I've seen them live in concert two times, something that I can't say for most artists I like. Along with Underworld and Prodigy, they provided the right music at the right time for me to grow deeply and quickly into the art form.

I will mourn their decision to stop making music together, but I have to give them credit for the choice as well. They'll be leaving the business after a long and productive career spanning the most important eras of electronica. They'll be leaving behind a worldwide legacy almost without taint. They'll be able to take some time off and (hopefully!) go back to release Orbital music that hasn't enlivened the ears of their fans. Even more uplifting is the chance they'll go on to produce music on their own. Double the pleasure!

I own Orbital (Green Album), Orbital 2 (Brown Album), Diversions, In Sides, Middle of Nowhere, and The Saint EP. I'll probably buy the rest as a gift to myself on my birthday to celebrate their Glastonbury show.

Because as much as I want to, going to Orbital's last concert just isn't going to happen.

Posted by Drizzten at April 22, 2004 04:04 PM