The Orb is a British electronic music band known for pioneering the genre o… Read Full Bio ↴The Orb is a British electronic music band known for pioneering the genre of ambient house. The Orb is heavily influenced by dub music, and much of their later output has been in the electronic dub category, more so than ambient house.
The group was formed in 1988 by Dr. Alex Paterson (full name Duncan Robert Alex Paterson) and Jimmy Cauty (one half of The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu and later The KLF). The Orb's first release was the acid house anthem "Tripping on Sunshine".
In May 1989, The Orb released the "Kiss EP", which was heavily influenced by New York's KISS FM. Paterson began DJing around London, England at this time when he met Paul Oakenfold. At Oakenfold's behest, Paterson began DJing at Land of Oz, the chill-out room at Heaven.
Paterson mixed samples of BBC nature recordings, NASA space broadcasts and everything in between into the music of ambient pioneers such as Brian Eno. Around this time, Paterson met Steve Hillage and Hillage later contributed guitar to the Orb's "Blue Room" single. In return Paterson worked on Hillage's System 7 project.
In October 1989 The Orb released the 22-minute single "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From the Centre of the Ultraworld", which contains large chunks of Minnie Riperton's "Loving You". The single managed to reach the lower end of the UK chart. Although Paterson and Cauty had been working on a debut album, the two split in April 1990. Cauty removed Paterson's contributions to the album and released the remainder as "Space".
Killing Joke's Youth, who'd recently found dancefloor success with Blue Pearl assisted with the single "Little Fluffy Clouds", but existing commitments made it impossible for him to be anything more than a part-time member. In his place, Paterson recruited Kris Weston (aka Thrash), a young studio engineer who had worked on "Little Fluffy Clouds" and recently left Fortran 5.
In April, 1991, The Orb's debut album, "Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld" was released in the United Kingdom to critical acclaim. The double-album obtained a top 30 placing in the UK.
"U.F.Orb" was released in July, 1992. It featured the 39 minute 59 second "Blue Room" which was their third single to reach the UK charts, although the album version was only 17 minutes long. Early pressings of the album were available in three differently coloured sealed plastic packs (black (10,000) and blue (5,000) in the UK and green (1,000) in the US) containing an additional disc with the soundtrack from Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (Patterns & Textures edition), a mail order only long form video released by the Orb.
During 1993 and 1994 The Orb were dismayed by Big Life's intention to re-issue some of the Orb's earlier material. As a result, Paterson and Thrash opted out of their contract and Paterson signed an international deal with Chris Blackwell's Island Records. The double-album "Live '93" soon followed. It was a mix of recordings made in Glastonbury, Copenhagen and Tokyo. The album's credits included, Simon Phillips, Nick Burton, Kris Weston, Fluff and of course Paterson.
In June, 1994, they released their first studio album for Island, "Pomme Fritz (The Orb's Little Album)". The album reached number six on the UK, but critics hated it, even comparing Paterson to Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett.
August, 1994 saw the release of a collaboration between Robert Fripp, Paterson, Weston, and Thomas Fehlmann, hence the name FFWD or Fripp, Fehlmann, Weston and Duncan. Weston's input was already diminishing by this time and following the release of FFWD, he finally parted company with Paterson. He was replaced by Thomas Fehlmann.
"Orbus Terrarum" was released in March, 1995. In February, 1997, following an ambitious world tour, they released "Orblivion".
The retrospective "U.F.Off" came in October, 1998 and was initially available in a Limited Edition double CD.
"Cydonia", although recorded in 1999, was delayed by Island until its release in February, 2001. Several different versions of the album were leaked on the Net some time before the official release.
The 2004 released album "Bicycles & Tricycles" strongly departed from their earlier ambient sound, and incorporated strong hip-hop influenced rhythms, including rap on one of the tracks.
In 2005 The Orb released a new studio album, "Okie Dokie It's The Orb On Kompakt", which focused heavily on the microhouse and pop ambient sounds that the Kompakt label is well known for.
2005 also saw the release of "Orbsessions Volume 1", which was an album of rarities from throughout The Orbs' career.
Sadly, Andy Hughes, long-time mixer and producer of many of The Orb's works, passed away on June 12 2009, following a 'short illness'.
The group was formed in 1988 by Dr. Alex Paterson (full name Duncan Robert Alex Paterson) and Jimmy Cauty (one half of The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu and later The KLF). The Orb's first release was the acid house anthem "Tripping on Sunshine".
In May 1989, The Orb released the "Kiss EP", which was heavily influenced by New York's KISS FM. Paterson began DJing around London, England at this time when he met Paul Oakenfold. At Oakenfold's behest, Paterson began DJing at Land of Oz, the chill-out room at Heaven.
Paterson mixed samples of BBC nature recordings, NASA space broadcasts and everything in between into the music of ambient pioneers such as Brian Eno. Around this time, Paterson met Steve Hillage and Hillage later contributed guitar to the Orb's "Blue Room" single. In return Paterson worked on Hillage's System 7 project.
In October 1989 The Orb released the 22-minute single "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From the Centre of the Ultraworld", which contains large chunks of Minnie Riperton's "Loving You". The single managed to reach the lower end of the UK chart. Although Paterson and Cauty had been working on a debut album, the two split in April 1990. Cauty removed Paterson's contributions to the album and released the remainder as "Space".
Killing Joke's Youth, who'd recently found dancefloor success with Blue Pearl assisted with the single "Little Fluffy Clouds", but existing commitments made it impossible for him to be anything more than a part-time member. In his place, Paterson recruited Kris Weston (aka Thrash), a young studio engineer who had worked on "Little Fluffy Clouds" and recently left Fortran 5.
In April, 1991, The Orb's debut album, "Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld" was released in the United Kingdom to critical acclaim. The double-album obtained a top 30 placing in the UK.
"U.F.Orb" was released in July, 1992. It featured the 39 minute 59 second "Blue Room" which was their third single to reach the UK charts, although the album version was only 17 minutes long. Early pressings of the album were available in three differently coloured sealed plastic packs (black (10,000) and blue (5,000) in the UK and green (1,000) in the US) containing an additional disc with the soundtrack from Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (Patterns & Textures edition), a mail order only long form video released by the Orb.
During 1993 and 1994 The Orb were dismayed by Big Life's intention to re-issue some of the Orb's earlier material. As a result, Paterson and Thrash opted out of their contract and Paterson signed an international deal with Chris Blackwell's Island Records. The double-album "Live '93" soon followed. It was a mix of recordings made in Glastonbury, Copenhagen and Tokyo. The album's credits included, Simon Phillips, Nick Burton, Kris Weston, Fluff and of course Paterson.
In June, 1994, they released their first studio album for Island, "Pomme Fritz (The Orb's Little Album)". The album reached number six on the UK, but critics hated it, even comparing Paterson to Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett.
August, 1994 saw the release of a collaboration between Robert Fripp, Paterson, Weston, and Thomas Fehlmann, hence the name FFWD or Fripp, Fehlmann, Weston and Duncan. Weston's input was already diminishing by this time and following the release of FFWD, he finally parted company with Paterson. He was replaced by Thomas Fehlmann.
"Orbus Terrarum" was released in March, 1995. In February, 1997, following an ambitious world tour, they released "Orblivion".
The retrospective "U.F.Off" came in October, 1998 and was initially available in a Limited Edition double CD.
"Cydonia", although recorded in 1999, was delayed by Island until its release in February, 2001. Several different versions of the album were leaked on the Net some time before the official release.
The 2004 released album "Bicycles & Tricycles" strongly departed from their earlier ambient sound, and incorporated strong hip-hop influenced rhythms, including rap on one of the tracks.
In 2005 The Orb released a new studio album, "Okie Dokie It's The Orb On Kompakt", which focused heavily on the microhouse and pop ambient sounds that the Kompakt label is well known for.
2005 also saw the release of "Orbsessions Volume 1", which was an album of rarities from throughout The Orbs' career.
Sadly, Andy Hughes, long-time mixer and producer of many of The Orb's works, passed away on June 12 2009, following a 'short illness'.
Ubiquity
The Orb Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Ubiquity' by these artists:
Ali Love Now’s the time to feel feel the love around you It’s been…
nicky night time Now’s the time to feel feel the love around you It’s been…
Sons of the Sun Hey girl, I'm an omniest, so whomever you pray to…
zetra I am everything Ubiquity I am everything Ubiquity I'm …
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Orb:
A Beautiful Day To the North of Kathmandu There's tiny children sniffing gl…
A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From the Centre of the Ultraworld Loving you Is easy ′cause you're beautiful Making love with …
A Huge Evergrowing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld (Orbital Dance Mix) Loving you Is easy 'cause you're beautiful Making love with …
Ali Baba My dream last night was about Ali Baba With the forty…
Captain Korma O'g'ling yurmas izingdan, bosh egilsa qizingdan, Neki bo'lsa…
Centuries Du du du du, du du du-du Du du du du,…
Codes The lyrics are in french, performed by Caroluna (The song, "…
Daze You've been been missing for daze Missing for daze Missing f…
Delta mk 2 Over the past few years To the traditional sounds of the…
Double Barrel I am the magnificent, I'm backed by the shack of…
Earth Klytus, I'm bored. What play thing can you offer me…
First The first time ever I saw your face I thought the…
Golden Clouds - feat. Lee "Scratch" Perry So Mr. Parí oolaí oolaí what were the skies like when you…
H. O. O H.O.M.E high orbs mini earths…
Have You Seen Her One month ago today I was happy as a lark But now…
House of Narcotics Hey Baby Yeah, yeah, yeah Hey baby, yeah I just need to be…
Little Fluffy Clouds Over the past few years To the traditional sounds of the…
Little Fluffy Clouds (Ambient Mix 1) Over the past few years, to the traditional sounds of an…
Little Fluffy Clouds (Cumulo Nimbus mix) Over the past few years To the traditional sounds of the…
Little Fluffy Clouds (dance mix 2) ''John Waite'' over the past few years, to the traditional s…
little fluffy clouds (dance mk Over the past few years To the traditional sounds of the…
Long Shot Kick De Bucket What a weepin' and wailin' dung a Caymanas park What a…
No Fun No fun my babe no fun No fun my babe no…
O.O.B.E. Mayan moon was burning We saw visions of the past…
Once More Tree grow to new dimensions Leaves fall further than before …
Pi Pt. 2 I don't wanna be alone I don't wanna be alone Derrama tus…
Plateau And now folks, for an old familiar favourite We've had many…
Police & Thieves Police and thieves in the streets Oh yeah! Scaring the natio…
S.A.L.T Did you ever get the felling you're being followed? Are y…
S.A.L.T. Did you ever get the felling you're being followed? Are you…
Slug Dub [Thomas] Aww... slugs again! [Samuel the Narrator] Yes,…
Taking Tiger Mountain We climbed and we climbed, Oh, how we climbed My, how we…
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face The first time ever I saw your face I thought the…
Towers of Dub Security Hello, is that reception, London Weekend Television…
Toxygene Oh what a beauty I've never seen one as big as…
Uptown Top Ranking See me in me heels and ting Dem check sey we…
Warszawa Mmmm-mm-mm-ommm Sula vie dilejo Mmmm-mm-mm-ommm Sula vie mi…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Josh Humble
Revisiting this album - the one that started my Orbalicious adventure - it baffles me how they composed this masterpiece.
Daniel Lo Presti
This was my third Orb album... unfortunately it all went downhill after this one. A lot of drama in the Orb collective over the years..!
I used to wonder the same thing, until I discovered the fascinating and unique composition (performance) approach of Dub music. Some time later, I almost coincidentally applied a similar process in my own productions, and it all made sense! It's hugely enjoyable and leads to a lot of pleasant surprises...
Basically prepare all your static tracks on the PC, then play them out all out live to a mixer, with a bunch of outboard fx, and record a live performance as you "play" the tracks by riding the faders, doing dynamic fx sends on certain passages etc., to create a whole moving, living, breathing piece which is much more than the sum of its parts.
(Laniakea on my channel was written this way, if at all interested ;) )
Roman Gervaise
I was wondering the same.. But then i realized the FX nowadays are the same as before except they all can be contained in one tiny computer..
Our mind is the limit, and we lost it in the past two decade somehow..
Jerbo 1
I always have the same thoughts... How the hell did they compose arrange & produce this music using mid 90s equipment
Jerbo 1
The transition that grows builds around @4:30 peaking @5:00 is one of the most beautiful pieces of sound I can think of
Matthew Ellis
this track is what connects Orbus Terrarum and Orblivion ... after traipsing through the dense undergrowth of jungles and beautifully majestic landscapes, we enter this subterranean ever-busy metropolis and witness all the goings on in here
didier G
this track resume perfectly THE ORB genius and this period
EvilEddtheRed
Instant classic.
OdengTang
Well god damn, this brings me back.
rev2600
Sub-bass so good here