― Vinnie, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― patrick, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
If Mike Ratford is thinking of the moment I think he's talking about, then he is *so* right (in my opinion Middle Of Nowhere is a much better take on "return to the clubs" than < i>The Altogether). Another point appears about two-thirds of the way through "Nothing Left 2", with one of the most heavenly build-ups of any I can think of.
Leftfield's first album is overrated elsewhere but underrated here. I most like the tracks that sort of sound out of character for them - "Inspection (Check One)", "Original", "Open Up", the quasi-jungle track (something 3000).
Orbital's jungle track ("Are We Here?") is better than Leftfield's or Underworld's ("Pearl's Girl") but that's because "Are We Here?" is one of the best things ever. Ever. As a whole Snivilisation i> is really underrated in that no-one talks about it compared to the albums on either side. But any album that has "Forever", "Sad But True", "Crash & Carry", "Are We Here?" and "Attached" is a work of godlike genius in my books. Another interesting thing about Orbital: one of the few artists whose tracks are almost always better the longer they are.
Second Toughest... isn't as bad as Dan paints it - yeah, it's much less interesting than the first or third albums, but the first two tracks at least are excellent, especially the second one (I like the way Underworld occasionally veer from motorik-as-hell techno to an almost blueslike shuffle quite easily).
― Tim, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Dr. C, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Clarke B., Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― chris, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
boring old farts. leftfield one half decent record with john lidon and guiness ad tune an the rest u never listen 2. b honist. orbital shit since insides. 40 yr old farts lisen to carington cogan on radio 2 not in tune with anything. boring boring.
the prodigy piss all over all that lot. an basement jax piss over prodigy unless latter get arse out of bed and record new shit.
chemical bros new record also shit. tel us somefin new.
― XStatic Peace, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
2nd toughest in the infants is an a-mazing record! and people *do* talk about how good 'snivilisation' is. underworld are still ace, orbital have gone MOR. can't wait for underworld to return with or without emmerson.
― piscesboy, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Snivilisation: Tied in with their great 94/95 festival performances this album confirmed that the vast majotiry involved in the exodus were never going back to the grey land of grunge and it's ilk.
Insides: Not at the cutting edge anymore but still probably one of the top 5 most beautiful home listening experiences of the last decade. "Out There Somewhere" is beyond compare and the intro to "The Girl With The Sun In Her Head" is incredibly poignant in an uplifting way.
Always hated Underworld's live shows - all those arms punching the air for that was essentially turgid 4 to the floor techno. For many they were just the token dance act. Hated the whole Loaded/Euro 96/Born Slippy allegiance. Enjoyed DubNoBass as it was a good sister piece to the Brown album.
Leftism is very overrated. Very rockist but quite dated now.
― David Gunnip, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Dan Perry, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Orbital are more fun, and more prolific, and now they're off into film score land, maybe they'll find new sounds to play with -- i'm glad they have the assurance and intuition to go with what they like. i'll still follow
Leftfield. Leftism is getting a lot of bashing here. which surprises me.
― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
- "Born Slippy (original)": Absolutely lovely. Nine minutes of breakbeats piling on top of each other with wonderful synth arpeggios rising through each tone of a harmonic minor scale, speeding up as they approached the high tonic, mixed in with wonderful screamy synths and an overall adrenaline haze.- "Born Slippy (NUXX)": Stream-of-consciousness ranting over a fairly pedestrian beat that segues into a potentially nice trance workout that ends before it really gets a chance to go anywhere."Born Slippy (Telematic)" - A hybridization of "original" and "NUXX"; a vocal-free trance workout that explores some basic variations on a simple pattern.
I quite like both. After "Insides" I'd listen to either Leftfield album, Beaucoup Fish or Everything Everything. I should probably buy the other Underworld albums, I have heard them but don't own them.
― Ronan, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
I think every Underworld album is strong, though they do seem to front-load their albums a bit, I think. The weaker stuff on Underworld albums always seems to be near the end.
― patrick, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Vinnie, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Counterexample: "Kittens" is near the end of _Beaucoup Fish_.
I have to say fuck Leftfield. They were only ever a convenient re-working of the dance scene with more familiar elements for dinner party and TV sports show theme consumption. They've never done anything that wasn't utterly generic to the time it was made, and as such never produced anything as transcendent as Orbital.
Underworld are just boring techno with ranting over the top. They're just the follow-on iteration to Finitribe. Gold Chains are the new Underworld.
― jacob, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― christopher, Friday, 22 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
a) even at their most hardcore (and I'd say that by their second album they were already very removed from where "'ardkore" was concurrently), Orbital were always primarily about the melody-harmony-texture thing rather than the rhythms. Yeah their rhythms were frequently great and/or slamming, but they rarely sound like the focus of the track. It's one thing to use well- programmed beats and breaks, but its quite another to make them the point of the exercise.
b) "Are We Here" is clearly intended as a token jungle track. Its sound, approach and desired effect are all at marked odds to the rest of Snivilisation and everything they had done prior. In contrast The Prodigy's junglistic tendencies sound unconscious, a purely coincidental accident of proximity.
The fact that the "Are We Here?" is brilliant suggests two things to me - firstly, that your "hardcore gone sensitive" theory is correct, and secondly that Orbital could have easily made rhythms their focus all along and had a very different but equally interesting career.
― Tim, Friday, 22 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Arturo, Saturday, 23 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― gareth, Saturday, 6 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Ronan, Saturday, 6 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Dan Perry, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
But like Gareth I also have a special fondness for the behometh that is "Nothing Left" - in some ways a pinnacle still for maximalist (danceable) techno.
― Tim, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Juan Atkins "The Fusion" is pretty killer too.
― itchy bits (itchy bits), Friday, 25 February 2005 03:22 (nineteen years ago) link
― NRQ (Enrique), Friday, 25 February 2005 15:30 (nineteen years ago) link
http://www.rockness.co.uk/
RockNess is extremely proud to announce that LEFTFIELD will return with a live performance at this summer's festival - a first for over 10 years and a stunning exclusive for the fast-rising Most Beautiful Festival in the World, staged on the shores of iconic Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands.
Acknowledged as one of the most influential exponents of electronica of all time - LEFTFIELD were one of the first truly great crossover acts, trailblazing into previously unexplored territory and carving a path for a raft of great artists including Underworld, The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy. The sheer brilliance of the band's debut album Leftism - a startling piece of work that even now remains peerless - firmly sealed a place in dance music history. Fusing epic soundscapes with intoxicating rhythms and guest vocalists including John Lydon, LEFTFIELD created a mind melting adventure deserving of the sweeping acclaim and lofty nominations bestowed upon LEFTFIELD.
An official statement from LEFTFIELD is expected soon.
― brotherlovesdub, Friday, 29 January 2010 23:52 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.mmalinker.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
― zoom, Saturday, 30 January 2010 00:50 (fourteen years ago) link
what i meant was http://www.mmalinker.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
― zoom, Saturday, 30 January 2010 00:51 (fourteen years ago) link
i'm confused by your rolleyes.gif. if i posted on every thread i thought was boring, i'd have a billion posts by now. anyway, Leftfield rule. i hope they do a full tour.
― brotherlovesdub, Saturday, 30 January 2010 01:12 (fourteen years ago) link
Quite enjoying the new Leftfield. Hardly groundbreaking, of course but very well put together. Their/his attention to sonic detail is always a pleasure.
― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, 14 September 2015 16:14 (nine years ago) link
I listened to it once and thought a lot of it sounded like an uncanny recreation of a DJ Hell album c. 2004. Of course a lot of the tracks may literally have been hanging around for that long. The Sleaford Mods one was dire.
― Matt DC, Monday, 14 September 2015 16:41 (nine years ago) link
I was extremely disappointed in the Leftfield album. They'd be better served collecting the remixes they did for other artists from 92-94.
― brotherlovesdub, Monday, 14 September 2015 16:53 (nine years ago) link
on the flip side I've been enjoying the new sorta-Orbital album from Paul (called 8:58), it rests a lot on his laurels but it's entertaining, particularly "Nearly There" which is full on Orbital madness. some other good tracks too.
― frogbs, Monday, 14 September 2015 18:00 (nine years ago) link
i like leftfield ok, never really cared for orbital. suppose i want to start with orbital, where would I start?
― the late great, Monday, 14 September 2015 19:14 (nine years ago) link
start with the green album, listen sequentially
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 14 September 2015 19:25 (nine years ago) link
if you want to just hit the green highlights: "Chime", "Satan", "Belfast", "Choice"
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 14 September 2015 19:26 (nine years ago) link
i like "halcyon" ... ultimately though orbital remind me of something like plaid ... pretty, but no strong rhythmic backbone. maybe I need to listen more
― the late great, Monday, 14 September 2015 19:29 (nine years ago) link
Of the first four In Sides is definitely the one.
― Noel Emits, Monday, 14 September 2015 19:39 (nine years ago) link
pretty, but no strong rhythmic backbone
uh waht
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 14 September 2015 19:40 (nine years ago) link
let's set aside Snivilization and In Sides for a second; have you never heard "Satan"?????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbs6GvLeEXQ
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 14 September 2015 19:43 (nine years ago) link
Love the beat on 'I Wish I Had Duck Feet'
― nashwan, Monday, 14 September 2015 19:43 (nine years ago) link
The passage of time has been very kind to Leftism.The Zomby remix is cool.
― the article don, Thursday, 18 May 2017 01:02 (seven years ago) link
What a weird thread. They're not even remotely the same thing.
― yesca, Thursday, 18 May 2017 03:55 (seven years ago) link
Leftfield v Orbital v Underworld
― recovering internet addict/shitposter (viborg), Friday, 2 July 2021 05:32 (three years ago) link
The only Leftfield thread that came up in search, really. Just thought I’d stir the pot a little bit. Underworld are probably more consistent, Orbital’s peak output reached the highest pinnacle, but Leftfield’s best stuff has aged pretty well. This is the one I called “‘ardcore” which was admittedly a bit generous but I could work in a mix. Too heavy on the drum rolls. The bassline is really havin’ it tho. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc1wxrP-85QI.C.P. - Free & Equal (Leftfield Remix)
― recovering internet addict/shitposter (viborg), Friday, 2 July 2021 05:35 (three years ago) link
*it could work in a mix. I could not.
― recovering internet addict/shitposter (viborg), Friday, 2 July 2021 05:36 (three years ago) link
orbital wins even against the orb!
― xzanfar, Friday, 2 July 2021 14:35 (three years ago) link
That's alright, not what I was expecting from the juggalo / dub house disco intersection.
― Noel Emits, Friday, 2 July 2021 14:45 (three years ago) link
Orb are more irreplaceable to me, they're in this weird unique space where seriousness and humor aren't different
― lukas, Friday, 2 July 2021 16:39 (three years ago) link
Orbital's best stuff is absolutely timeless but The Orb feel way more influential - so many artists I dig had a phase where they tried to imitate them - plus they've got way more music out and are cranking out quality records even today. By contrast Orbital have only done one good album in over 20 years (Wonky) and even that one leans heavily on nostalgia, whereas The Orb always push forward somehow
― frogbs, Friday, 2 July 2021 16:56 (three years ago) link
If this is a three way fight between orbital, the orb and leftfield, then, in the long run, the orb win out for me, I'm always surprised how much I enjoy 'the adventure beyond the underworld' stuff when it crops up on shuffle plays, truly timeless, a lush sample-delic palette that has some awesome grooves. Orbital and Leftfield were/are special for gigs and festival times but for pure 'home' listening fun, the orb can still conjour that a bit of that magic that isn't just nostalgia, unlike the other two
― Swanswans, Friday, 2 July 2021 18:15 (three years ago) link
Orbital almost always feel like they’ve had one idea for the track, managed it in time for lunch, and then finished up. There’s not enough depth/complexity there.
― Tsar Bombadil (James Morrison), Friday, 2 July 2021 23:25 (three years ago) link
that is.. just so wrongstarting with the assumption you can’t make a deep/complex track in time for lunch.
“out there somewhere” not deep/complex?
funny enough paul did say something about starting on chimes, then heading to a pub for a few, coming back and finishing the track
― scanner darkly, Saturday, 3 July 2021 01:54 (three years ago) link
maybe on the first album though. I've always thought of that as one where you could cut the length by a third without losing any of the tracks
― frogbs, Saturday, 3 July 2021 03:38 (three years ago) link
The first album is fine but they’d yet to really start going for it complexity-wise - you can hear them really stretch their wings on “Lush” on the second album and then the USA version of “Impact”, like they’re working out their defining aesthetic while you listen.
― Tim F, Saturday, 3 July 2021 04:00 (three years ago) link
there is such a level up in confidence between the green and the brown album
― scanner darkly, Saturday, 3 July 2021 04:01 (three years ago) link
yeah incredible that they were recorded a year apart. that is a hell of a leap
― frogbs, Saturday, 3 July 2021 04:05 (three years ago) link
last two posts otm
Apart from "Belfast", I don't like the first album much. Brown through Middle of Nowhere is pure brilliance
― Vinnie, Saturday, 3 July 2021 10:40 (three years ago) link
Orbital's '94 Glastonbury set is on iPlayer at the moment (along with a huge amount of other Glastonbury sets). Not much to look at but they dance goofily and cool version of 'Sad But True' with extended intro making the Selecter sample sound extra dirty, transitioning smoothly from the slowed down end of 'Forever' right into it, at the expense of '...Duck Feet', but then right into 'Impact' and 'Remind' after that. No 'Lush' though surprisingly.
― nashwan, Saturday, 3 July 2021 12:07 (three years ago) link
Leftism sounds less dated today than it did a decade ago.
― pomenitul, Saturday, 3 July 2021 13:23 (three years ago) link
they're both shite, textbook student house and techno. What you want is the real brain frying hard acid on labworks, dj.ungle fever/structure, and magnetic north, noisy and a low key criticism of the club that Orbital couldn't manage. Let the bad times roll.
The Power of love? You bet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EPkj2ROBUI
― RobbiePires, Saturday, 3 July 2021 21:58 (three years ago) link
Did you write this review on discogs too?
Dj.ungle Fever WAS Cologne. Then the the overwhelming miasma of endless pretend genres of masturbatory boredom tightly grasping the throat of the Techno community today intruded their unwanted, fake faces and never let go.
― recovering internet addict/shitposter (viborg), Sunday, 4 July 2021 01:44 (three years ago) link
nah, not me. Although I think what killed techno was endless splits, rather than detroit-inflected minimalism, which was initially refreshing amongst hardcore and acid gear, as a kind of heads down no nonsense back 2 basics jackin sound. See the Black Scorpian technotron ep and Ian Pooley Celtic Cross ep, as well as Robert Hood internal empire. All totally uncompromising.
― RobbiePires, Sunday, 4 July 2021 03:33 (three years ago) link
it was good when trance sounded like this, like a coldly cosmic take on EBM. But then Sasha Digweed and people like Leftfield, Underworld had to come in and invent prog trance which was like soppy indie goldsmiths graduates of the 90s crying on the dancefloor to Be as One. And orbital was their chillout music of choice. Yuck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bCVLHkh5p4
― RobbiePires, Sunday, 4 July 2021 03:42 (three years ago) link
.. anyway, i need to correct myself, paul wrote chimes _before_ going to the pub.
that and other interesting bits here: https://www.soundonsound.com/people/orbital-recording-chime-london-studioand here: https://www.soundonsound.com/people/classic-tracks-orbital-chime
this particular quote is interesting in the context of green album -> brown album -> snivilisation -> insides progression, it wasn't just growth in terms of confidence level but intent also. this is after the brown album:
"We're a lot more anxious about things now," admits Phil. "We've now got the responsibility of getting a track finished 'cos it's going to be on a record. You become more analytical of your stuff." Paul: "I still have to fight with that idea — the last month has been quite bizarre, with us trying to work out what the next record should sound like. For example, I've been trying to dodge using a constant 909 bass drum 'cos a lot of our records over the last four years have got that. But then I think, 'Hey, if we were at home making music then I wouldn't hesitate to use that if I wanted to.' You know what I mean? And I'm forever trying to draw the line somewhere and work out why, if we weren't making records would we have used it? Because we just felt like it! Now we think twice about it; you start to think 'Hey wait a minute, isn't that just getting pompous?" Phil: "Consequently you're in the studio, set to do your next recording, and you end up spending three weeks just talking about it!"
leftism feels like it's trying so hard to prove something while pretending it doesn't
― scanner darkly, Sunday, 4 July 2021 20:40 (three years ago) link
new leftfield
SAD!
― the late great, Saturday, 21 January 2023 02:06 (one year ago) link