The Best of Several Worlds
James T. Heeney | Montclair, NJ United States | 04/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Perhaps because he has not recorded soundtracks for the right films, or perhaps because he doesn't have the right kind of relationship with Eno, commercial success as a musician and composer eluded William Orbit until Ray of Light was released, which he produced, and from the sounds of it, wrote for Madonna. But ten years ago, the relatively unknown Orbit was doing what he does today, pushing available technology to its natural limits in order to fuse aural textures and harmonies to create rich soundscapes for his listener. In an interview somewhere, Orbit commented that he approaches writing each piece with the hope not that it will reach the top of the charts and then sink into oblivion but will withstand the test of time and be listenable to future generations - a high call to order for an electronic artist. In this disk, Orbit skillfully incorporates latin rythm and instrumentation with "ambient" themes to create a seamless disc that at times relaxingly transports the listener to soothing tropical vistas and others energizes with almost funky island rythms and grooves. Electronic music lovers will marvel at the sheer musicality of the disk and its ability to sound fresh and new unlike so many quaint recordings by Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, Kitaro and the like, and others will find the music more accessible than the abstract music of Eno, but not lacking in complexity or sophistication."
What?
john | New York. | 12/04/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What on earth is Martin Aston yabbering on about up there? Strange Cargo2 was released in 1990 and anyone who knows their shamrocks from their doves will know acid house was dead and buried by the time D-mob's We Call it Acieed hit in 1988. This is a fantastic album, all William's solo albums are, and to say this album is 10 years old it sounds as current as anything out there today and has none of those dated DX7 sounds of a Miami vice track. When I first heard this in 1990 it was the production that blew me away, no one can create space around sounds like Mr. Orbit, if you want to know why Madge needs this man to stay upfront, give this album a listen."