Search - Orb :: Vol. 3-Baghdad Batteries: Orbsessions

Another brilliant Orb cd!

Brian J. Roach | Brooklyn, NY United States | 09/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Orb have done it again. A year or so after 'The Dream' they return with the latest volume in the 'Orbsessions' series. However, this is a brand new album, a soundtrack to a German(?) film called 'Plastic Planet(?) I believe. This album reunites Alex Paterson with Thomas Fehlmann and has more in common with 'Okie Dokie it's the Orb on Kompakt..' than with 'The Dream,' it's more ambient and mellow. However, there are some great beats on here and the whole album has a nice cohesive vibe to it. Perhaps at this point Dr. Paterson is looking at having basically 2 Orb's, one with Fehlmann for this type of more mellow ambient oriented material, and another for the more uptempo, sample heavy dub and bass driven material that dominated 'The Dream.' Whatever he decides, the Orb continues their brilliant musical journey, and I'll continue to go along for the ride, wherever it takes me!"

Paterson + fehlmann = yinn + yang

M. Reilly | Orlando, FL United States | 02/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first thing this album did was make me realize how much I miss Thomas Fehlmann. After this many years, I feel like his tighter, more intricate style just goes like pb&j with Alex's looser, soulful, more dreamy style. The two together really take things to another level. I feel like this album has a little more Fehlmann than Paterson, and that was a surprise at first. I think I expected the opposite for some reason, probably since Fehlmann had been off doing his own thing for a while. I'm the last person to complain since my heart belongs to ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dub...but this album made me see what I didn't know I was wanting more of. The other surprise to me was the feeling I got with every single song. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but finally I realized--I don't hear a climax or peak in any of the pieces. They seem to have more of a steady upper region they mildly peak at instead. Very different, even from what I'm used to from Fehlmann. At first it was disorienting, but I've really grown to like it. I gotta say...this is one unique, lovingly done, beautiful work. I love it!"

A gold star for this one

CK | Australia | 12/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With the release of 'Bikes and Trikes' I had thought The Orb's batteries were completely flat. This album shows they are once again fully charged.



This album is not dissimilar to 'On Kompakt'.



I am glad to find mind-numblingly monotonous trance beats absent, in their place more thoughtfully crafted rhythmic patterns. For the most part an enjoyably imaginative and quirky suite of soundscapes. Excellent work. Five stars."