Having wowed us recently with a brace of superb quality classical and jazz releases, we’re delighted to see Linn Records try something a little different with their latest LP announcement.
William Orbit is a legend amongst modern pop producers, and is something of a “Jekyll & Hyde” character, having two markedly different careers running in tandem as a producer and solo artist.
His production career started back in the 80s with a little known (and remembered!!) group called Torch Song, although his first noticeable success was with a band called Bassomatic, who had a hit called “Fascinating Rhythm” in the early 90s. He’s been in demand ever since as a dance pop producer, who’s uptempo dance remixes are as popular as his studio work with such as Seal, One Dove, All Saints, Sugarbabes, Britney
Spears and Blur.
It’s probably his work with the likes of U2 (for whom he played keyboards on the track “Electrical Storm”), Robbie Williams (he produced two tracks on Rudebox) and Madonna (who’s classic hit “Ray Of Light” would never have had the credible dance edge without William’s involvement) that has gained Orbit his international reputation, despite being a highly rated solo artist since his self titled debut in 1987.
His second solo release “Strange Cargo” was a landmark in electronic music, and is critically acclaimed to this day as a pioneering moment in the ambient electro pop, fusing the worlds of techno, and Brian Eno’s minimal ambient soundscapes into a brand new genre. So successful was this concept that Orbit stretched it out across three volumes, each capturing or even pushing the envelope of the dance music of the day, whilst always staying understated and strangely relaxed. The third album featured a then unknown Beth Orton on vocals, for whom William returned the favour by helping to produce some of her early releases. The two
worked together on a cover of John Martyn’s “Don’t Wanna Know ‘Bout Evil”, which kick started the whole “folk-tronica” fusion movement as a modern approach to acoustic folk and downtempo electronica, paving the
way for Jose Gonzalez (techno DJ turned songwriter), Tunng, Animal Collective, and let’s not forget the Zero 7 remix of Lambchop’s “Up With People” which opened up fans of both bands to each other’s music! My Oracle Lives Uptown is William Orbit’s eighth album, and his signature sound – sleek and lush, but leaving a cool slipstream in its wake – is immediately recognisable. Most of tracks on the album feature vocals, even if they are only textures in the mix – and their placement within the track is planned with a remixer’s ear for shifts of perspective. My Oracle follows his last solo album, 2006’s Hello Waveforms. “This is
more of a party record than the previous ones,” says William Orbit of his new album. It’s not a serious, po-faced record, it’s not ambient – although it has its ambient moments. One of the things about being eclectic is that people don’t know what they are going to get. But I would say that it’s upbeat with a bit of glitter on it.”
Although My Oracle Lives Uptown is probably William Orbit’s most immediate album, it’s so subtly layered that it only reveals itself fully after a number of plays. And like his other solo albums, it will surely be resistant to the ageing process. His vision is idiosyncratic and original enough to not to have to try to play catch-up with anyone else, which gives his music a curiously timeless feel.
The double 180g vinyl was mastered at Abbey Road by Geoff Pesche, and pressed at Pallas in Germany. The vinyl features new, original artwork, a beautifully designed 8-page booklet and is presented in a gatefold
sleeve.