There was a two page special in Friday’s Sun devoted to the return of the brothers Hartnoll to the British Music Scene. 



The duo better known as Orbital split just five years ago until they were approached by The Big Chill at the end of last year and asked if they wanted to headline this year’s festival.  Since then they have been booked to play two other festivals, Global Gathering and Rock Ness, as well as a mini tour of the UK.  They haven’t as yet been named for Glastonbury but given the ‘special relationship’ they have had with the place I’ll put my neck on the line and say they WILL definitely be there!  You heard it here first.  Oh and Mr Eavis, no clashes with Springsteen please!

What was curious is that Orbital barely got a name-check in Britain’s biggest newspaper when they were out the first time.  They definitely never got a double page spread, so it seems strange that they merit two pages now that they are making a comeback.

Now I’ve never met the bloke but I’m guessing it’s because yerman Simon Cousyns who wrote the piece was as taken with the band as I was.  If so, then more power to you brother!

My tickets are safely purchased from cyberspace so it’s ok to let the cat out of the bag.  Orbital are the finest live act I ever saw.  It was May 96 the first Orbital gig I attended at Glasgow Barrowlands.  Their new album ‘Insides’ was held back in production so the band were touring an album that wasn’t even out yet.  Thus everyone on the whole tour was hearing it for the first time. Not exactly textbook procedure.

I had seen pictures of them live but it didn't prepare me for just how different they would be to any other live act I had ever seen.  They came on without uttering a word, a feature to which they would adhere for the whole show, before striking up the intro of The Girl With The Sun In Her Head.

What sets Orbital apart is that they make you wait; they don’t go crashing through songs, or mash it up halfway through into another tune (…ahem Chemical Brothers), instead you are taken on a journey through their music and the visuals on the screen, the only sign of human presence being the two bobbing heads with torches attached to their heads.  For me it actually lost something when they started interacting with the crowd, I much preferred the minimalist approach.

Insides is their greatest album, add to that the Barrowlands is the greatest venue and all the stars were aligned to make this gig special.  I have seen them a number of times since and although always brilliant this gig will stand out for me as the best.

There is a fair chance you will not have seen them, if you haven't don’t pass up this opportunity.  It may not be your favourite gig, but go see and then come back and tell me they ain't pretty special.

Now Paul, Phil, about the new material…





Links - www.loopz.co.uk 



Pic courtesy of www.loopz.co.uk - many thanks guys.



Tickets for the band shows can also be bought from this site.

Sun article: -

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/sftw/article2232332.ece





Who is the best live act you have seen?  Write and tell us.

Posted In Comment, Feb 14 2009. Words - Thomas