Orbus Terrarum [Import]

With all the "Little Fluffy Clouders" scared off by "Pomme Fritz" ( A nice pun on pomme frites and Pommie ( English ) and Fritz ( German ) - ie Paterson and Fehlmann respectively, "Orbus Terrarum" brilliantly combines some of the aleatory, textural jungle of sounds of the previous album with a good foundation of groundedness in beats on this one.

It is NOT a return to "UFOrb", however, but a masterful synthesizing of beat-driven Orb with Ligeti-esque Orb. "Orbus Terrarum" sails us into "terra nova" and further out to explore frontiers like the new lands depicted on the brilliant Madark cover. AND, like the earth, that sonic land is rich with life, positively SEETHING with it. The music of this album is so appropriately organic, full of rich and surprising developments, things growing out of the present moment in permutations so multifold that it takes MANY listens to really hear the breath-taking mastery of this Orb release. It's like a sonic rainforest, hissing and spiraling with life, uncurling and opening in several directions at once.

Paterson and Fehlmann, along with several other "members along for the journey", created a new platform and a fresh starting point to launch further explorations from on this release. The tour that promoted "Orbus Terrarum", the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" Tour, as it were, was a marvel to see and experience. In so many ways The Orb were the New Pink Floyd, in a different musical millieu perhaps, but as far as uncompromising vision and jaw-dropping stage shows goes, the Orb, that summer delivered pretty much the same sonic and visual awe as did Gilmour, Waters, Wright and Mason back in the 70's.

"Valley" and "Plateau", the first two tracks prepare the ground, so to speak, for everything that follows, mellowly, but with detail and atmosphere. By the time we get to track 3, the single, "Oxbow Lakes", an Orb classic, we are ready for the gigantic sound of full-flight Orb. "Oxbow" is definitely the favourite. The peak of the album comes with the next track, "Montagne D Or" which practically blows your speaker cabinets half-way across the room once the monstrous drums come thundering in. "White River Junction" and "Occidental" ( which was a great piece live ) are very fine tracks that take you back down from all the power and strength. "OT" wouldve closed best here, but "Slug Dub", the obligatory dub workout, has its charms.

This new ReMaster is a must. Like the others in the series, "OT" is a pure delight. The new and revamped packaging, with extensive liner notes and visuals is a feast for the eyes, nostalgic and informative. The wonderful sound quality and the inclusion of a disc of formerly unreleased and excellent mixes makes this an irresistible bargain.

When I bought this, I had UFOrb and Ultraworld. This one is entirely different so beware. It it a much more subtle listen. There aren't nearly as many beats, and no straightforward songs. You won't find any "Little Fluffy Clouds" on this album. Everything is much deeper down, buried in the mix. I must say that i still have trouble with it. If you haven't heard the orb before, or don't own any albums, buy Ultraworld or UFOrb first. This album will take a lot of time, but it is rewarding in the end. "Plateau" is a great song, and most of the others are too, once you get used to them.

Honestly, I can't say much more than was evidenced in the past stellar reviews. This album is THE most sophisticated ambient/electronic work I've ever heard in my life. No other album has been so appropriately named (this album continues the ORB irony, in that you feel like you are anywhere BUT on a terranious field).
The intracacy and the depth of the excursion is BEYOND any ultraworld that I could have imagined in earlier years. Patterson and Fehlmann have synergized to a state in which I could only imagine as euphoric beyond imagination.