Audiopile Review: One of the first big albums to move beyond the UK rave scene and into the mainstream, the 1991 self-titled album from the legendary Orbital gets a fresh reissue, its first in a decade. Following their top 20 crossover hit “Chime” (the shortened live version appears here), the Hartnoll brothers continued to meld Detroit techno, Chicago house, and the proto-IDM sounds of the then blossoming bleep subgenre into a new style of electronic music that was equally embraced by the ravers as it was by the punters. Despite the success of the album, now considered a landmark of early 1990’s electronic music, Orbital were rather uncompromising in their approach. Rarely stepping off the gas, they eschewed simplicity in favour of denser production and lengthy excursions, exemplified by the 12 minute odyssey of “Desert Storm”. That said, Orbital still knew how to weave melodic intrigue into each track, with both the anthemic “Chime” and the escapist bliss of “Belfast” becoming some of the most enduring and beloved tracks from the era. An absolute staple and must-own for any fan of ‘90s electronic music.

Double LP version. Following on from the UK Top 20 success of 2022’s 30 Something (LMS 5521698), and the Top 10 for 2023’s Optical Delusion (LMS 5521858), London Records launch an extensive 2024 campaign for Orbital, revisiting 1991’s seminal debut Orbital (The Green Album). The Green Album heralded a brave new world for the UK musical landscape (DJ Mag would later decry that the album “rewrote the rule book for rave”). Brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll eschewed formulas and clichés, choosing to explore wider textures, rhythms and stranger mind spaces within dance music. Their resulting album would enjoy both chart success and an enduring legacy, influencing and inspiring artists from Björk to Bicep, with the Hartnoll brothers going on to collaborate with artists as diverse as Madonna, Ennio Morricone, Kraftwerk, Sleaford Mods, and Professor Brian Cox. 33 years since its original release, the album is revisited.