Orbital's first soundtrack is for a horror road movie & features 14 tracks. EMI. 2003.
CD Reviews
Octane, A SCORE not an Album
Sean Smith | 10/16/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Everyone is knocking octane on here it seems... but thats because there going in thinking its an album by orbital. Thats what you have to understand, it isn't! It is a score by Orbital, a score written for a movie, thus it is background music. Some people are saying its a very mediocre soundtrack. Thats because it's not a soundtrack either, its a score! Soundtracks are a grouping of songs (and sometimes score music) onto a cd that tend to somewhat fit the movie, this music is played during the credits of the movie, and rarely during the movie. A score is normally written and produced for the movie to be played within the movie. Soundtracks and scores are vastly different, this is a score.
This musical score is well written and good enough to stand alone, but that is for those who enjoy scores. It has a good repetition of themes, but not the extent where it gets annoying. At the climax of the album, orbital wrote some more upbeat stuff which is closer to what they're known for.
I enjoy this album, and you probably will too if you go in expecting the right thing... and that is a movie score with a dark theme. Has a sort of house and trance feel to it, to some extent. The score reminds me a bit of scores to the Resident Evil and Silent Hill games, but a bit more musical, and not as industrial."
It's really nice
filterite | Dublin, Ireland | 01/24/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Yeah this is kinda un-Orbital but it's not such a bad thing. The score that they make is creepy and it wouldn't be something you would listen to everyday ( unless you're seriously unstable ) but as a soundtrack it sounds thoroughly listenable and cohesive and not just something random thrown together. They make a good go at it and is worth the effort. It's also got this creepy ambience to it which is almost beautiful. Occasionally it gets into really noisy industrial territory so perhaps you'd have to be a big fan of that particular genre to enjoy this music. However this wouldn't be the best place to start if people are looking to get into Orbital. Look elsewhere if you are a beginner, this is only for the hardened Orbital fan ( and even then people are divided on this )."
Do NOT Import for $35
filterite | 11/25/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This one is pretty much the epitome of mediocrity as far as sound tracks are concerned as it is just that, a soundtrack and little more. It definitely has a movie feel, and only a movie feel. I wish I could say I have seen the movie that this goes with, but that seemes even harder to obtain than this CD. There are maybe two tracks I would consider listenable if you aren't in the mood for pure movie ambience. Those being Moment of Crisis and Initiation. Even if you are a die hard Orbital fan such as myself I would not pay the premimium price to get my hands on this. I'd try Ebay first. It might turn out to be much cheaper that way....If you are looking for good Orbital for listening, look elsewhere."
Octane review
Martin Wagdin | england | 10/28/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"i'ts hard to judge this soundtrack cos it's not what youd like to hear from orbital. think of it as orbital does classical! buy in-sides instead,the best electronic album ever made."