It’s been nearly three years since Orbital played their last gig at Glastonbury, bowing out while at the top of the electronic dance music tree. Paul’s taken his time returning and, true to form, hasn’t simply revived the successful formula. The two singles – electro-based ‘Patchwork Guilt’ and stirring Robert Smith collaboration ‘Please’ – showed something wider was afoot and he doesn’t disappoint, realising his cinematic influences to their full potential often using full orchestra and choir on tracks like sweeping opener ‘Haven’t We Met Before?’. Other collaborators include US singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur on the Bowieish rock of ‘Aggro’, Lianne Hal on the eerie ‘For Silence’ and South London’s Akayzia Parker on the string-drenched chamber-indie of ‘Nothing Else Matters’. ‘Dust Motes’ and ‘The Unsteady Waltz’ take the classical fixation even further and, apart from the cinematic element, luckily harness a similar kind of emotional power to Massive Attack. This means the album has moved away from Orbital’s euphoric grooves but it’s kept the quality that made them special in the first place, which was emotion and widescreen melody. The album is the sound of a dance music trailblazer growing up and realising his long-held sonic dreams. The fact it’s so well done elevates it beyond indulgence and into the realms of great albums.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: KRIS NEEDS
