News

The Orb Announce UK Tour

• 26th Oct 2010

The Orb, built around mainstay Alex Paterson, formed in London in 1989 during the birth of the rave movement. Initially founded on a mutual love of Brian Eno and German electronics, The Orb at present operates with a flexible line-up of collaborators that includes producer / multi-instrumentalist Youth, well-known for his work with Paul McCartney as The Fireman, as well as his production (Crowded House, Dido) and remixes (U2, Marilyn Manson).

There have always been two quite contrasting sides to The Orb’s centrifugal epicentre Dr Alex Paterson. One is the purveyor of hook-ridden songs laden with vocal toppings or memorable samples, as heard on last year’s delightful collaboration with Youth and Tim Bran, The Dream, which Alex describes as ‘pop’. The other is more serious, focusing primarily on the sound itself, noticeably rearing in the mid-90s almost as a reaction to The Orb’s initial success.

The Orb, the visionary UK ‘ambient/house’ collective, came to collaborate with David Gilmour after working together on a version of Graham Nash’s “Chicago” for a charity project. Youth (aka Martin Glover), a frequent Orb accomplice, was invited to create a remix, and he and Alex Paterson, as The Orb, were so energized by the task that they continued working until it was an album-length entity. Having asked Gilmour to bring his guitars to Youth’s studio in South London to prolong and enrich their new creation, the trio worked up a sonic mixture in a range of styles. Thus, the Metallic Spheres project was born. The Orb’s Alex Paterson says:

“It's a collision that's been waiting to happen with Pink Floyd / David Gilmour and The Orb orbiting many of the same planets”

Metallic Spheres is designed to be heard in two parts – ‘Metallic Side’ (24’48”), and ‘Spheres Side’ (25’09”). Each track, or side, consists of five movements. The album uniquely utilizes David Gilmour’s discernable electric guitar and lap steel guitar, Alex Paterson’s sound manipulation, keyboards and turntables, and Youth’s bass guitar and keyboards.

This new album hits the magic place they always strive for. To see The Orb live:

Saturday 11th December London Scala 0207 403 3331
Sunday 12th December Manchester Club Academy 0161 832 1111

Tickets are £15 (£16 London) and are onsale now
www.gigsandtours.com / 0844 811 0051

www.theorb.com
www.metallicspheres.com