Search - Orbital :: The Altogether

Not perfect, but honestly, what is?! Certainly not In Sides,

Derivative Contrivance | Outer, Space | 06/19/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, there is such a thing as selling out. There is also such a thing as degenerating artistically & being plagued by a stagnant creative flow. Unfortunately, those allegations could be made of many musicians. But not Orbital. In their many years of producing music, they have never simply crapped out an album without any thought or effort. Everything they've ever done just oozes with deliberation & vision. So for folks to write The Altogether, as well as Middle of Nowhere, off as just the Hartnolls cashing in... it really frustrates me. And it no doubt frustrated them too.

See... The Altogether may be may favorite Orbital album. Yes, I've heard In Sides, and Snivilisation for that matter. In fact, I own them. Whoa! Whassamatta with me, eh? I'll tell ya whassamatta: I think this is their least pretentious work. There. I said it. I think In Sides & Snivilisation are kinda pretentious. Snivilization is waayy to cluttered with aural bric-a-brac, and not in an innovative Autechre kinda way. In Sides is indisputably a watershed, but it's actually a bit tedious. The Altogether, to me, represents Orbital refining their compositional prowess to the point at which they can make their point in half the time. Also, The Altogether is essentially their poppiest release since their self-titled compilation. It simply walks in the room, makes its point, then leaves before it overstays its welcome. It's invigorating. It is saturated in this purely ecstatic sense of mirth. Yes folks, it's actually HAPPY, and happy to be happy. There are no vexing quandaries to furrow brows at. It sounds like all is finally well with the universe for a moment. And maybe that's why it gets written off as just banal rave tripe. No, it is not breaking any ground, which seemed imperative in 2001, with the envelope-shoving releases of Autechre's unprecedented Confield & Aphex Twin's definitive Druqks & Squarepusher's labyrinthine Go Plastic. How does an album like The Altogether even begin to grapple with such formidable competition? Simply, it doesn't even bother. And it may be the superior effort for it. Orbital are maestros. There is no way that they were utterly oblivious to the progress in electronic music at that point in time. Every one heard the Richard D. James Album & the Come To Daddy EP, Music Is Rotted One Note, EP7 & LP5 & Chiastic Slide, as well as Tri Repetae. Orbital knew what they were up against. Yet they didn't even care to acknowledge their peers. While everyone was obsessed with glitch-sputtering & jungle-gymnastics, Orbital were nochalantly laying down their trademark layers atop a four-on-the-floor groove. Did that make them obsolete? Did ambient acid house lose all relevance in the post IDM-implosion musical landscape? Apparently, many people would reply with a resounding YES. But I say nay!!!! (cracks up laughing, because that was cheesy. but whatever.)

OK, seriously... I think Orbital should be commended for refusing to sell out. That's right. REFUSING. There is no disputing their talent! They pioneered so many things before them Warp whippersnappers! If they had really wanted to, they coulda purchased a copy of Max/Msp, circuit-bent some of their gear, and just ridden the crest of the IDM wave like they'd invented the blasted genre. Instead, they flipped the whole movement off by having nothing to do with it. And for that, I will always respect them.

Because of their stalwart resolve, we are blessed with 3 of the last worthwhile straight-forward techno releases that may see the light of day until the ripples DSP-wankery boom abate. I must remind everyone that I am, despite all my haranguing here, a staunch proponent of the most arcane ventures of electronica. But I must admit that I still adore a solid ambient dancepop number. And in that arena, Orbital is peerless.

So snag a copy of this album, and ditch your preconceptions. Sure, some songs are a bit cheesy, especially if you listen to them after hearing Confield or Come To Daddy. And yes, "Illuminate" is usually grating. But come on! Let's see one of YOU embark on a career with a fraction of the impact of Orbital's, all without making a single misstep.

So cut 'em some slack, and show 'em some love. Lord knows they deserve it."