I am a huge fan of the immersive The Orb album Orbus Terrarum released in 1995. Even though it's been 29 years since it was released, I still regularly find my listening ear hankering after this stone cold classic, or at the very least craving a wee read around the subject matter, perhaps open up the Wikipedia page or find a YouTube analysis of the album.
Why is Orbus Terrarum so good?
As well as an unwavering sense of nostalgia that keeps me returning to this album, there's also a hypnotic je ne sais quoi about Orbus Terrarum that keeps it fresh no matter how many times I revisit this work of art. Maybe it's that I was an impressionable young whippersnapper in the year 1996 when I first discovered Orbus Terrarum, or the fact that The Orb were absolutely at the top of their game when they released said album. It's hard to pinpoint something so transcendental. Once you love a piece of art you become faithful to it's ethos.
Orbus Terrarum is an album that is still relevant
One thing's for sure though, Orbus Terrarum has stood the test of time and then some. It remains as powerful and relevant today as it did in 1995. And why wouldn't it? With intricate soundscapes and samples like that, it's no wonder people return to this album again and again. I can't imagine life without it John.
The Orb knocked it out the park
But it's not just the intricate soundscapes and samples that make this album great. It's the overall package. The seamless blending of genres and influences, from ambient to dub to classical music is a tour de force. The diverse array of guest musicians, including Steve Hillage and Robert Fripp is integral, as is the way it creates a hypnotic and otherworldly atmosphere. And who can forget innovative use of field recordings and found sounds. When The Orb created this timeless classic, never mind the ball park, they knocked this one out of the solar system. This bad boy is in danger of bothering Voyager.
Has Orbus Terrarum stood the test of time?
Of course, there are other albums out there to be argued for. Harder, better, faster, stronger. Some might argue that Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld is better than Orbus Terrarum, or that The Orb is better than The Orb. They may well have a point. But for me, Orbus Terrarum will always hold a special place in my heart. And 29 years tickling the meridian response does not lie.
Orbus Terrarum in conclusion
To sum up, Orbus Terrarum is a wonderful thing, an album of unrivalled quality. It's an album that has etched itself into the psyche, distributing untold tingles up the spine, hogging synapses and monopolising neurons that could otherwise be put to use appreciating more important, or perhaps more useful information. But no matter what life throws at me, I know I can always rely on Orbus Terrarum to deliver the goods.