Search - Orb :: Peel Sessions

The Second John Peel Sessions CD

Monk | Sin City | 10/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For anyone not sure, this is indeed the second Orb John Peel Sessions CD.



1) OOBE (12:17) ~ This version of OOBE strikes me as somewhat stripped down. The biggest differences are a repeating acoustic guitar "riff" and a minimal (though different) amount of samples. OOBE is one of my favorite Orb tracks and I found this to be a great variation on the original.



2) No Fun (5:28) ~ Just as OOBE fades out, this song kicks in and jars you. This is Stooges cover song - guitar, drums, bass and not a trace of ambience to be found. =) This is actually a fun (no pun intended) track, though you kind of wish it had been placed at the end of the disc so as not to interrupt the flow of things. On the other hand, maybe that's the idea.



3) Montagne D'Or (9:09) ~ Once again, a bit stripped down and different samples are found here. I actually like this version more than the Orbus Terrarum one as I find it to be a bit less harsh; the drums here have a much more acoustic sound to them. Excellent.



4) Valley (9:44) ~ Yet another of my favorite Orb tracks. This version starts out with a familiar sample from Pomme Fritz ("We're happy to be with you..."), which quickly fades into the familiar Valley groove. The drum sound on this track is just amazing. Lots of chanting-type samples populate this version along with those beautiful keyboard washes. This is an awesome version of an already awesome song.



I know that 5 star ratings are handed out on Amazon like candy, but I truly believe this disc is deserving of such a rating. Others may be more put off by No Fun than I am; I certainly think this disc could have done without it, but hey - just program or skip over it. You're still left with three amazing versions of Orb classics. This is a definate must have for any Orb fan."

Essential Rare Orb

David Booth | Winnipeg, Manitoba | 02/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The second Orb Peel Sessions CD was released in 1996. It followed the Orb's successful fourth release Orbus Terrarum (1995). This album captures the direction of the Orb's music at that time. Lots of atmosphere, muted vocal samples, ambient synth with very little percussion.



There are four tracks in this 36 minute release. O.O.B.E. is a nice version of the UF Orb classic. It sounds like the band borrowed a little more of Pat Metheney's acoustic guitar (last heard in Little Fluffy Clouds) for this version. No Fun is the stand out, as the ambient pioneers diverted to play punk for a break in 1992. (Is that Alex P. doing John Lydon? Pretty close. No Fun is lots of fun.)



The best of the more traditional Orb is the version of Montagne D'Or, which is presented in an ambient mix without the noise of the 1995 version. This track is perfection. It is also a nice contrast to its polar opposite "Vesta Mix" version which appeared on the limited edition 1998 Best of: UF OFF CD. (That version is also excellent for its sheer noise. It sounds like someone rammed a Les Paul into a sequencer, shoved into a Marshal Stack, and set on fire. Awesome)



Finally (fourthly) Valley is very good . As well as some new production, this Peel sessions mix adds some structure to the Orb classic, which roams freely and sparcely.



Overall this album does not surpass the first (1991) Peel Sessions, but it is a great addition to an Orb collection."

So confusing

cloudia | Seattle, WA United States | 03/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I only have an audiotape version of this which is warped from overplaying and sitting out in the rain. (I told it not to, but it just kept going out there anyway.)I want the CD."