The Orb

Another triumph of compelling compiling in the Back to Mine downbeat mix series, this edition focuses on the Orb's Dr. Alex Paterson, a man whose affiliation with the ambient movement goes back nearly two decades. (During the 1980s, he worked in the A&R department at EG Records, home to most of the genre's respected artists: Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Harold Budd, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and Jon Hassell, among others.) This volume looks back only as far as the early '90s, when ambient techno was at its height and the chillout room briefly took over from the main floor as the star of the show (leaving plenty of chillout fans at close quarters with the very type of yobbo they had come to avoid). It's clear that Paterson is fond of the era, and he includes a few bygone classics -- "Polynomial-C" and "Blue Calx" from Aphex Twin, "Interim" by B12, and "Hempire" by FFWD (one of his own projects) -- interspersed with non-electronic selections that work perfectly in context (Julee Cruise's "Falling" and the Chi-Lites' sweet classic "Have You Seen Her?"). While most other ambient-techno producers had gradually faded away during the '90s though, Paterson remained very contemporary, releasing an Orb record in 2003 on Kompakt, the hottest experimental label around, and forming his own Badorb boutique to put out records he enjoys. As such, Back to Mine hosts a lot of relatively recent productions too, from newcomers Schneider TM and Joachim Spieth as well as veterans Charles Webster and Juno Reactor. Of course Paterson can't resist lightening the mood periodically with a distinctly Orb-like sense of humor, courtesy of a wistful, folkie cover of the hi-NRG hit "Barbie Girls" by Electric Chairs (a Badorb release), the novelty "I Wanna Be a Fishy" by close friend Thomas Fehlmann, and the auctioneer-sampling "Ow Much!" by Creature, the project of his recently deceased brother Martin. Chilly and atmospheric where most of the Back to Mine volumes have been inviting and warm, this volume benefits greatly from Paterson's excellent ear and his ability to structure a mix for near-perfect relaxation. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide