The Orb
The Orb featuring David Gilmour Metallic Spheres (Columbia)
Synths swish around the ears. Drums pound like John Bonham reincarnated one moment and a dubbed-out reggaethon the next. Over the top of it all is David Gilmour's inimitable guitar sound, reaching skyward before gently blending with the dense, textured soundscapes.
In other words, the Metallic Spheres album that pairs the electronic equivalent of Pink Floyd with that band's former guitarist is the perfect match. At one point, duo The Orb (with producer Youth rejoining the helm) were considered the electronica-era successor to the famed 1970s progressive rock band, especially with 1990 album Adventures Beyond the Wheel, featuring the dreamy single Little Fluffy Clouds.
Metallic Spheres is made up of two tracks, each clocking in at more than 20 minutes, but skip through them and you'll miss many of the subtle, but precise tempo changes. Vocals are kept to a minimum and sheer 'melodies' non-existent.
As the immersive tracks progress through a dizzying range of styles (country, reggae and even classical), it's clear the group know what they're doing.
Meanwhile Gilmour ups the ante, having no intention of being topped at the genre he helped pioneer.
