Deluxe 2CD with 7 extra tracks, including 5 previously unreleased originals After a barnstorming live reunion which saw them play to ecstatic audiences across Europe throughout 2017, Britain's giants of electronic music Orbital are back for good - with new music and an upgrade of the legendary live show that transformed festivals across the world. First single Tiny Foldable Cities opened the account, an intricate piece of electro-hypnotica, takes their signature sound forward into a new and fascinating phase, heralding their first new album in five years, Monsters Exist. Throughout 2018 they play a string of high-profile festival dates and headline shows across Europe, featuring new material alongside classics like 'Chime', 'Belfast' and 'Impact'. This surge of creativity shows how reunited brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll have rebuilt one of electronic music's best-loved partnerships after Orbital's surprisingly bitter break-up in 2012. They'd been onstage with Stephen Hawking at the Paralympics, in front of the whole world. They'd remixed Madonna. They'd played Glastonbury many times and travelled the world - yet were driven apart by music's strange and infamous brother-vs-brother dynamic. But now the brothers have a pact: whatever happens, Orbital does not stop. They've learned to talk and accept each other. As Paul says, "If we were both the same, then it wouldn't be Orbital."
D**T
Keep listening!
A long time Orbital fan. Right from the get go, I was there. I always hoped that Orbital would, well - resume orbit! Anyway, Monsters Exist. I've got to admit, I did struggle with it as well at first. But, I've let it maintain orbit in my CD player for a number of cycles now. The boys excellence in their field is now shining through. I've got the deluxe album and I really love the tracks on CD2 as well. For all of those people that are struggling with it - let is spin and spin baby! It will become good and make sense in your mind eventually. An excellent release, I prefer this compared to Wonky. Insides is one of my all time favourite albums. Insides got me through one of the toughest times in my life. So I will always be an Orbital fan. An excellent release boys - looking forward to the next one!
U**T
Monsters really do exist!
Orbital albums are rather like new pair of boots - A bit uncomfortable at first but like an old friend when you get used to them. This one is no different.Disk one seems to be a collection of nearly recognisable remixes of past offerings concocted for a computer game backdrop (at first) but listen on and your brain will begin to make sense of the sonic cliq fest and really enjoy it!Disk 2 seems a whole lot more familiar from the get-go and I have to confess it's by far my favourite of the two.If you're a seasoned orbitoid you'll love Monsters, if you're orbicurious ease yourself in with the blue album or insides first!Will probably be 5 stars this time next year when they've worn in a bit!
J**Y
Great album
Great album, I can’t however find where to use my download code.
G**N
Disappointing
I've been a massive Orbital fan for years ("eeeh, been a fan man and boy") but have to admit I've been going back to their earlier albums (Brown, Snivilisation and Insides in particular) for a fix of everything I used to love about them - the intelligence of their melodies / layers, the variety and distinctive / different styles they covered.The albums released since then (e.g. Middle of Nowhere, Wonky etc.) had a bit of 'filler' creep come in with jarring, clanky and ill-fitting melodies, but still had some cracking tracks on them that were classic Orbital.Alas, having listened to this 'triumphant return' several times today, the day of launch, I'm not impressed at all.Hoo Hoo Ha Ha, P.H.U.K and Vision One are the strongest (read: still a bit pants though) tracks among a generally poor new outing which doesn't seem to have moved on from their last albums at all. It sounds like a soundtrack to a Resi Evil film made by artists who've been given a new sound effects machine and they want to hit every button in every song - interesting melodies rise and then disappear, replaced by other, jarring sounds, jingles and clanking noises that are just slapped on. Rinse and repeat.Where's the epic, multi-layered, intricate melodies that build and build and then metamorphisise into something just as intriguing before blending back into the beginning with such intelligence? Tracks like The Girl With the Sun in her Head? Halcyon? Lush? The punch of Where is it Going, the highlight of the Wonky album? Not on here, that's for sure.The political commentary of this album too is laughable - want to make a social statement? Well what better way to make it than with a downbeat, dull, depressing load of noise that, if played backwards, I'm sure would tell us to top ourselves. Plink plonk smash wallop dur dur dur dur...."hey, I really dig what these guys have to say about society". Pffft.As for the 'bonus' tracks on the Deluxe edition, they are another load of b-side rubbish that they must have found in their deleted items folder. They add absolutely nothing. In particular, A Long Way from Home is 90 seconds (no, you're not accidentally listening to a YouTube ad) of a guitar playing a dull tune. 'Deluxe' indeed.I know I sound angry, and I am (and also, I'm allowed to be) as I expected more from this - Orbital's quality has slowly declined over the years and this is another nail in the coffin.Sorry Paul and Phil, but this album is quite boring. I've got tickets to see you in December and I have to say I'm not particularly excited about it, but I know the crowd (and I) will still go wild for the tweaked 'old stuff'.And there's the rub. People like hearing the older stuff...because it's better.
J**D
Haven’t stopped listening to it!
Two albums! This has been worth the wait! With some albums I’ll end up skipping tracks or repeating a couple that I really like. With this one I’ve found myself thinking “this is my favourite”, then the next track comes on and I’m “OK, no, this is my favourite!”
S**Y
It's a Grower
First listen to this album was O.K although P.H.U.K is by far the best track. A few more plays and I now like the majority of the tracks. If you are an Orbital fan (I am) then you need this in your collection.
A**T
Orbital at their best
I've been an Orbital fan since way back and until now Snivilisation has always been my clear favourite. This is at least its equal, if not better. Consistently good tracks the whole way through. A joy to listen to.
P**R
Sadly not their finest hour ...
NOT the most memorable pieces from the wonderful Orbital … there are definite stocking-fillers that could have been banged out by anyone … in an interview recently they said they'd created some of the tracks very quickly - and sorry, it shows … next time how about you spend longer on making the music, and hopefully less time between albums - hopefully not a 6-year wait for the next one … Oh and CD2, er the point of that being …? It's junk, obviously half-worked and abandoned ideas for the album. Orbital, you can do so much better than this :-(
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