June 2003 - Orb - mailman.xmission.com

bicycles and tricycles review - part 3
by Smiley 11 Jun '03

11 Jun '03

Track 8: Abstractions (6.58) Another "spooky"-sounding track, starting with a wailing vocal sample, and sparse instrumentation, until the bassline kicks in after a minute or so and the tempo picks up a bit. Again very "Orb-sounding" (it reminded me a little of "Orblivion", but I'm not sure why...maybe "Asylum"?), with some trademark "watery noises" towards the end. Nice track. Track 9: L.U.C.A. (5:15) More thumping bass, with a repeated vocal sample at the start that I can't make out. It doesn't start too promisingly, but soon picks up when the track goes a bit "ravey" a little way in, with what sounds like a Flavor Flav sample ("hurgh!") repeated a few times, plus a voice saying "keep on moving!"... ...hey, "thumping bass" + "keep on moving"? What did happen to Soul2Soul? ;-o Track 10: Compania (1:54) Back to the "spookiness" - chimes / glockenspiels (I think) in the area, with a sad sounding refrain. No bass. Very short. Not bad. Track 11: Tower 23 (7.49) Well, if the name isn't a big enough clue, it only takes 10 seconds to realise that this track is gonna be a little on the dubby side! Classic echo-chamber harmonica starts the track, before a cracking dub bassline kicks in, soon supported by mellow keyboards (might even be a Hammond organ?), before more dub-like keyboard stabs take over... ...and then the track goes off into dub-land for 5-6 minutes, to give the longest track on the album. Good stuff. Track 12: Dilmun (4:02) Most of you will already know how this sounds (exactly the same as the version on the Kompassion EP, as far as I can tell) - some old-school ambientness to close off the album. mmmmm, feeling veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy. Overall, a pretty good album, and much better than I expected it to be if I'm perfectly honest - especially after some mainly disappointing tracks recently ("Cool Harbour" excepted), and the new versions of "older" tracks are both marked improvements on the originals. In a sentence? "I like it a lot." Apart from "From A Distance", the album is very mellow, plus a little "dark" / "spooky" (or "ethereal" if I'm trying to sound clever) in parts. It's a definite grower, but it does need a few listens before you can get a "proper" feel for it.

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OT?: Justablip!
by kim 10 Jun '03

10 Jun '03

Maybe I'm just sleeping under a big rock and this is common knowledge, but has anyone checked out www.justablip.co.uk lately? The new album, 'WTF?: The Madonna Remix Project' is online, in completion. There is some really good music there.. make sure to check out 'Rage Against the DeCSS', 'Suck or Fuck', 'Material Bitch' and 'Hugga Wugga'. Some of the tracks are hilarious too (I mean that in a good way). And all this time I thought Kris was full of shit saying he was doing Madonna remixes and was going to use the name 'Zippy Bunghole and the Rainbows of Light'.

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baksheesh!
by learn&Evolve 10 Jun '03

10 Jun '03

baksheesh, baksheesh -not only do you share the same nickname, it sounds like paterson wrote your review -we want an unbiased reviewer -?whatever happened to that sorry excuse for a girlband anyway (did I forget to sign her back on?) -I will upload bicycles to little krissy thrash-ette -he can review it for us on list without all the bull - kw what's your personal ftp add? -everyone back to work --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.

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RE: [Orb] bicycles and tricycles review - part 1
by Rob_King 10 Jun '03

10 Jun '03

Well Smiley, I think I can safely say on behalf of the list, thank you very much for your review of the upcoming album. True, others might wish they have a copy for their own listening pleasure, but I think most will respect your wishes (and Orb Management's wishes as well). I think the adage of "the only safe secret is one you keep to yourself" applies here. BTW, over the many years I've seen your posts, I think you've been very good to us in keeping us all informed, so a big "thank you" is way overdue. I appreciate your updates very much, as do many others... Thanks, and I hope you continue to do the great updates as you always have... -----Original Message----- From: Smiley [mailto:smileyweb@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 4:37 PM To: 'What were the skies like when you were young?' Subject: RE: [Orb] bicycles and tricycles review - part 1 > I know everyone is waiting with pregnant expectancy for bikes > n'trikes, but is there any more information on release dates > for: "live in Belgium" DVD, "Madorb", or "Custerd"? nothing at the moment, unfortunately... ...as soon as i hear anything, i'll post it. cheers, --- Smiley _______________________________________________ Orb mailing list Orb(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/orb

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bicycles and tricycles review - part 1
by Smiley 10 Jun '03

10 Jun '03

(i'm having to split this into 3 parts, as my original post is stuck in "moderator hell" and it might be days before lazlo checks his emails). ***** 'ello folks. yes, i do have a copy of the album. i've had it for about a week, but haven't said anything yet as: 1. i was asked not to shout about it by the orb's management company (it was a pre-requisite of getting a copy in the first place) until just before the japanese release date (next wednesday) and 2. i also wanted to be able to listen to it a few times, so that when i did post some thoughts (IMHO, of course) they would be not just be first impressions...which can be misleading. **i was only allowed a copy of the album on the strict condition that i did NOT share it with anyone. no agreement = no album.** some of you may think that it's selfish of me to not share the album, and you may be right. but, if i did / do, then i would never get anything out of the management again, which would also mean that some of you would suffer from the regular information supply drying up... ...and what would you do in the same situation? exactly. (plus it will probably be all over the p2p network as soon as it comes out in japan.) anyway, for those of you that have managed to read this far, my thoughts on the album (and some news on the first single and video) are below... cheers, --- Smiley The Orb - Bicycles & Tricycles It's difficult to do much more than just describe the tracks, and I'm not egotistical enough to think that anything I say would / should have any influence on anybody else (yes, yes, quiet at the back, thankyou) - but here goes anyway. First things first, this is an album that really needs "listening to". I know that might sound stupid, but the times that I've listened to it while doing other things, it can pass you by if you're not paying attention to it. Maybe it's just me. It does need a few listens too, as it's a "grower"... Track 1: From A Distance (5:31) I can understand the mixed reaction to this track, but I'm firmly in the "I like it" camp. Those of you that don't like it will be overjoyed to know that the rest of the album is *nothing* like it, and really mellows out after this track. The track had to go on album, as it's the lead single, and that's why it's at the start. It's hooky, it's commercial, and it'll get the album noticed (hopefully). Our Japanese correspondent ("pinky") alerted me to the fact that the video for the single contains the "DORAEMON" cartoon character, and sent me these two links: http://www.mit.edu/people/rei/MANGA/Doraemon.html http://www.nephco.com/doraemon/ ...and I've since had it confirmed that the video should have been finished this weekend, and there may well be an "LX" character in it too. Watch this space... (part 2 to follow...)

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OFF TOPIC...........OUTLOOK EXPRESS
by mark weston 09 Jun '03

09 Jun '03

Hi All Can someone please tell me how to reconfigure my outlook express properly. When i post a message to the list my original message always used to come up in the Inbox........ It dos'nt now....... Sorry to be a pain Regards Mark.

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Test
by mark weston 09 Jun '03

09 Jun '03

Just Testing Outlook Express.......

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Re: [Orb] bicycles and tricycles review - part 1
by Bbbrooo＠aol.com 09 Jun '03

09 Jun '03

Smiley, Appeciate your situation and also the reviews. I know everyone is waiting with pregnant expectancy for bikes n'trikes, but is there any more information on release dates for: "live in Belgium" DVD, "Madorb", or "Custerd"? cheers, bbroo

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advanced copies and my beautiful chest
by Alan 09 Jun '03

09 Jun '03

Smiley say: >'ello folks. >yes, i do have a copy of the album. i've had it for about a week, but >haven't said anything yet as: I used to get advanced copies of certain albums but never before the Japanese releases. That was before I owned a computer so it's kind of moot but it's a really cool feeling, especially if it's a band you like. The fact that you share info with us at all indicates that you, Smiley, are good people. There are many who take only and give little or nothing in return... But you could always invite me to ftp a copy from you on the condition I not share it... I'm just kidding, of course, but don't let that stop you. learn&Evolve say: >I wouldn't expect a copy, mr "my chest should impress them" evil >-his master always keeps him on a tight leash I am naked in my music. And my music is beautiful. So is my chest. And no, you may NOT touch the monkey. --Anyway, that picture is meant to show off my distinguished, chiseled profile more than my exquisite physique. www.psychicreform.com Money does not equal speech. Corporations are not people. Watch your overcoat. "Dissent is what rescues democracy from a slow death behind closed doors." -Lewis H. Lapham

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Blue Room
by mark weston 09 Jun '03

09 Jun '03

Hi.Please can someone tell me the title of the reggae track which has been used to get the female vocal swample in Blue Room Regards Mark

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