The Orb | Alex Paterson | Interview
The Orb are a long-running UK electronic pioneers of the early 90s born “Ambient House” genre, with Alex Paterson being the only consistent member.
On 19th December, electronic overlords The Orb will perform their first livestreamed gig – titled ‘This Is Not Here’. This immersive, mind-altering spectacle will feature visuals by award-winning AV company Holotronica, who’ll project augmented reality images onto invisible gauze, creating vivid and fantastical floating animations, bringing the livestream experience to life in eye-popping style.
“The set will be 40 minutes ambient, 40 minutes weird reggae, and 40 minutes deep techno with weird transitions in between. We’ll be playing mainly the last 2 albums, and maybe a couple of old faves too. I’ve played thousands of gigs, but doing a live stream is back-to-school for me. We’ll be playing as live as possible. Expect happy accidents – definitely not mistakes!” Alex Paterson
‘This Is Not Here’ livestream gig 10pm on Saturday 19th December 2020 | Grab your ticket here!
In addition to the gig, on April 9th The Orb release a companion piece to recent studio album ‘Abolition of The Royal Familia’ with the gem-packed ‘Guillotine Mixes’ collection. The new compilation’s concept echoes back to 1991’s ‘Aubrey Mixes: The Ultraworld Excursions’, which is a collection of versions predominantly by people who featured on the original ‘Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld’ album.
‘Guillotine Mixes’, features reinterpretations of tracks from a host of familiar faces, most of whom also have credits on ‘Abolition’, including Youth, Moody Boys, David Harrow, Andy Falconer, Paul Metamono and Gaudi – collectively providing an expansive journey into dance music; from acid house and balearic beat to techno and beyond, emphasising The Orb’s club DNA.
Longstanding On-U Sound collaborator and producer Dave Harrow delivers two deep trance cuts with ‘Daze’ and ‘Narcotics’ while Tony Thorpe’s production outfit and former KLF in-house remixers Moody Boys serve up a bass-heavy remix of ‘Queen of Hearts’. The adventure continues with maverick musician Gaudi who takes ‘Ital Orb’ away from its rub-a-dub roots and throws pulsating esoteric beats into the mix.
The cerebral atmospherics of ‘Slave Til U Die’, reworked by early nineties Orb comrade Andy Falconer, brings the speed down to chill-out levels before The Lost Stoned Pandas – aka Sendelica’s spacerocker Pete Bingham and legendary writer/musician Kris Needs – drop a pumping take on ‘Hawk Kings’.
Elsewhere, Paul ‘Metamono’ Conboy, shifts direction with the balearic monster ‘Honey Moonies’, before we’re treated to another banger from Kris Needs (fresh from finishing a book on The Orb) and Pink Floyd/Orb side- project HFB cohort Dom Beken, who join forces on the sun-drenched ‘Weekend’.
Furthermore, violinist Violeta Vicci takes ‘Pervitin’ and ‘AAA’ in to deeper, ambient territories, followed by Orb stalwart and Killing Joke bassist Youth, who teases out the metronomic ‘Shape Shifting Pt. 1’.
The LP concludes with a brand new Orb track – the digital-only bonus ‘Off The Beaten Trax’ (Knee Splitter) – a prolific trip through deep and melodic techno.
Interview with Alex Paterson
“It’s all in the mind”
‘Abolition of The Royal Familia – Guillotine Mixes’ will be released 9th April 2021 via Cooking Vinyl. How did you decide to do a remix of this particular album?
Alex Paterson: Well, we couldn’t tour and it was about time the Orb did another remix of an Orb album, the last time was 30 years ago with ‘The Orb’s Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld’. Also, I was told that remixes were out, well that’s not in fact true …
How did you approach it?
With open ears and warm hearts. It was easy on my end. We pulled favours and did remixes for each other and here we are with another version excursion. Even now we go back into tier 3 this Wednesday … bugger.
What was the creating process of making the ‘Abolition of The Royal Familia’?
Blank canvas, cover it with paint and create a masterpiece from the wonderful sounds we found in the days of recording. Please see album credits for full details. I’m only going forget someone and upset them. So please look at the credits on the album. Unless you didn’t buy the album, haha!
For the technical geeks, would you please speak to your synthesizers and the effects you employ?
No sorry, can’t remember too stoned!
On 19th December you will perform your first live streamed gig – titled ‘This Is Not Here’. Are you excited about it? How do you feel about this new approach to “live music”?
Not really, it’s not really my cup of tea, but somehow I might enjoy it more if we haven’t gone into tier 3 (again). It’s bollox way to “live my arse” way. Might as well just carry on with the radio station. It gives as much pleasure. Faceless senseless no contact bollox . It’ll never really catch on, or I will eat my hat.
How are you coping with the current world situation?
Groundhog Day day & night! Groundhog night, groundhog day. Feeling grounded actually. Thank you for asking.
“Life takes you into places that blow your mind”
Do you find yourself to be a perfectionist, in control, or do your ideas lead you, taking on a life of their own?
Let’s say it’s all in the mind. Sometimes I never mind the sounds of problems in the wind, but hold open the ears to perfection. Life takes you into places that blow your mind … studios in the mountains by the ocean or even in the backyard inna south London. As long as the music sounds right, then you’re alright .
Do you think a concept plays a very important role in your music?
Always and wait on, for that answer … babble on and ting is coming.
Are you involved in any other projects or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?
Another long answer… Short version; I have a new label being formed at the moment called Orbscure. There are artists & albums; Sedibus – ‘The Heavens’, On Sum Shit – ‘Enter The Kettle’, Chocolate Hills – ‘Yyarns’, Orb Over Africa Project, DF Tram…
What are some future plans?
Sleep, rest and rid the world of the evil empire!
Let’s end this interview with some of your favorite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?
Common Featuring Erykah Badu – ‘In The Light remix’. ‘Autovia’ by Violeta Vicci on Painted Word Records. Donnavur remix and rest and be thankful on castles in space.
Thank you. Last word is yours.
Merry ho ho and here’s to a better year, fuck knows how, after the elite have raped this nation island of little England. Gawd help us all! Alex Paterson
Klemen Breznikar
The Orb Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube / Apple Music / Spotify
Cooking Vinyl Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube / Spotify
