U.F.Off: The Best of The Orb

Last updated

U.F.Off: The Best of the Orb
U.F.Off - The Best of The Orb (The Orb album - cover art).jpg
Greatest hits album / Remix album/ Studio / Compilationby
Released1998 (1998)
Genre Electronic, trip hop, ambient house, dub, IDM
Length72:06
Label Island
Producer The Orb
The Orb chronology
Orblivion
(1997)
U.F.Off: The Best of the Orb
(1998)
Cydonia
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [2]
Pitchfork Media 7.7/10 [3]

U.F.Off: The Best of the Orb is a greatest hits album by the Orb released in 1998 by Island Records. There is both a double disc and single disc version, the latter being the first disc of the former. The second disc contains alternate mixes of many of the tracks on the first. Unlike many "greatest hits" releases that include the tracks as individual, stand-alone pieces, the tracks included here are seamlessly continuously-mixed like other DJ mixes.

Contents

Track listing

CD one

  1. "A Huge Evergrowing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld (Orbital Dance Mix)" – 8:10
  2. "Little Fluffy Clouds (Dance Mix 2)" (mixed by Youth) – 4:10
  3. "Perpetual Dawn (Solar Youth Mix)" (mixed by Youth) – 3:35
  4. "Blue Room (7" Mix)" – 4:01
  5. "Assassin (7" Mix)" – 3:41
  6. "Pomme Fritz (Meat 'N Veg)" – 7:12
  7. "Toxygene (7" Edit)" – 3:31
  8. "Outlands (LP Version)" – 6:10
  9. "DJ Asylum (7" Edit)" – 3:56
  10. "Mickey Mars (7" Edit)", previously unreleased – 3:51
  11. "Towers Of Dub (Original Mix)" – 10:23
  12. "Pi (Part 1) (LP Version)" – 13:26

CD two

  1. "Little Fluffy Clouds (Live From Washington DC '97)" – 7:43
  2. "Perpetual Dawn (Ultrabass II)" – 6:14
  3. "Pomme Fritz (Orb Remix)" – 6:25
  4. "Toxygene (Ganja Kru Remix)" – 6:27
  5. "DJ Asylum (The Soulcatchers Mix)" – 7:12
  6. "Assassin (Chocolate Hills Of Bohol Mix)" – 1:15
  7. "O.O.B.E. (Pool Mix)" – 6:02
  8. "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld (Radio Version)" – 0:58
  9. "Blue Room (Ambient Mix)" – 10:00
  10. "Mickey Mars (Red X Mix)" – 9:16
  11. "Pi (Part 2) (Orb Remix)" – 0:27
  12. "Montagne D'Or (Der Gute Berg) (Vestax Mix)" – 6:26

Related Research Articles

Ambient house is a downtempo subgenre of house music that first emerged in the late 1980s, combining elements of acid house and ambient music. The genre developed in chill-out rooms and specialist clubs as part of the UK's dance music scene. It was most prominently pioneered by the Orb and the KLF, along with artists such as Global Communication, Irresistible Force, Youth, and 808 State. The term was used vaguely, and eventually fell out of favor as more specific subgenres were recognized.

<i>Space</i> (Jimmy Cauty album) 1990 studio album by Jimmy Cauty as Space

Space is a 1990 ambient house concept album by Jimmy Cauty under the alias Space. Originally intended to be The Orb's debut album, Space was refactored for release as a solo album following Cauty's departure from that group. Space was independently released on KLF Communications, the record label formed to distribute the work of Cauty's other project, The KLF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Zabiela</span> Musical artist

James Zabiela is a DJ and producer from Southampton, England. In his early years his signature style was a fusion of Breakbeat and Progressive House music; more recently, however, he is regarded as a Progressive House, Techno and Acid House DJ although his use of Breakbeat music is still key to some parts of his sets. He is known for his turntable skills, extensive use of loops and effects, and the use of Pioneer CDJ-2000s, EFX1000, RMX1000 as well as using Ableton Live with various controllers and sometimes an iPad.

Kristian "Kris" Weston is a British electronic musician, record producer and remixer best known for his work as a member of the Orb. Around the beginning of his career, he worked with Andrew Weatherall on remixes of Meat Beat Manifesto, remixed for Primal Scream, Saint Etienne, U2 and others. He was still a teen when working on the first few albums by the Orb.

<i>The Orbs Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld</i> 1991 studio album by The Orb

The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld is the debut studio album by English electronic music group the Orb, released as a double album on 2 April 1991 by Big Life. It is a segued, progressive and psychedelic trip which draws from various genres and incorporates a huge number of samples and sound effects. Much of the album was recorded after founding member Jimmy Cauty left the group, leaving Alex Paterson as the central member, with additional contributions by Kris Weston, Andy Falconer and several others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Fluffy Clouds</span> 1990 single by the Orb

"Little Fluffy Clouds" is a single released by the British ambient house group the Orb. It was originally released in November 1990 on the record label Big Life and peaked at number 87 on the UK Singles Chart. The Orb also included it on their 1991 double album The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld. "Little Fluffy Clouds" was re-released several times with different B-sides, with its 1993 re-release reaching number 10 in the UK.

<i>Global Underground 015: Uruguay</i> 2000 mixtape by Darren Emerson

Global Underground 015: Darren Emerson, Uruguay is a DJ mix album in the Global Underground series, compiled and mixed by Darren Emerson. The mix is a retrospective look at a set at the La Morocha club in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

The Bonkers series was one of the leading happy hardcore compilation series in the UK. The first release was in 1996 on the record label React. It was available on 2xCD and 2xTC formats. DJs Sharkey and Hixxy were signed by React, and they released "Bonkers", the first in a series of albums that has become the best-selling hardcore compilation series of all time. As of 11 May 2009, the series had reached its nineteenth release, titled Bonkers: The Original Hardcore.

<i>Orbus Terrarum</i> 1995 studio album by The Orb

Orbus Terrarum is a studio album by English electronic music group the Orb that was released on 20 March 1995 by Island Records. Member Kris Weston had begun work on the album before leaving the group. After he left, German producer Thomas Fehlmann joined as a full-time studio member, and the group, now consisting of Alex Paterson, Andy Hughes, and Fehlmann, completed the album. Unlike their previous efforts, Orbus Terrarum features more "earthbound", "organic" sounds in contrast to the psychedelic, science fiction-themed music they had previously written.

<i>Pomme Fritz</i> 1994 EP by The Orb

Pomme Fritz is a mini-album by English electronic music group The Orb, released on 13 June 1994 by Island Records. Produced to sustain the group during a period of mismanagement, it was their first album with German producer Thomas Fehlmann, as well as their last with input from Kris Weston, who appears in a much diminished role as engineer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxygene</span> 1997 single by the Orb

"Toxygene" is a single by electronic music artist the Orb. It was released in 1997 as the first single from the album Orblivion. The song was originally commissioned as a remix of Jean-Michel Jarre's "Oxygène 8" from Oxygène 7–13. However, the Orb "obliterated it" and reassembled only a few fragments for their remix, much to the chagrin of Jarre, who reportedly "threw a fit and refused to release it". The Orb released the track themselves under the name "Toxygene", which further irritated Jarre, to whom Paterson retorted "The French are always five years behind us, anyway." In statements made after the release of "Toxygene", Jarre denied the reports: "It's not that I didn't like it, but I wanted the first wave of remixes to be linked to Oxygene's theme and textures." The release was accompanied by a music video directed by Ben Stokes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld</span> 1989 single by The Orb

"A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld" is the debut single by the ambient house group the Orb. It was originally released in October 1989 and made the UK Singles Chart in 1990, peaking at #78. The 'Peel Session' version was also voted into #10 place in John Peel's 1990 Festive Fifty. In April 1991, it was released on the debut album The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld. The title is taken from a sound effects track from Blake's 7 on BBC Sound Effects No. 26 - Sci-Fi Sound Effects titled "The Core, A Huge Evergrowing Pulsating Brain which Rules from the Centre of Ultraworld".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovin' You</span> 1975 single by Minnie Riperton

"Lovin' You" is a song recorded by American singer Minnie Riperton from her second studio album, Perfect Angel (1974). It was written by Riperton and her husband, Richard Rudolph, produced by Rudolph and Stevie Wonder, and released as the album's fourth single on January 18, 1975. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on April 5, 1975. Additionally, it reached number two on the UK Singles chart, and number three on the Billboard R&B chart. In the US, it ranked number 13 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Orb</span> European electronic music group

The Orb are an English electronic music group founded in 1988 by Alex Paterson and Jimmy Cauty. Known for their psychedelic sound, the Orb developed a cult following among clubbers "coming down" from drug-induced highs. Their influential 1991 debut album The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld pioneered the UK's nascent ambient house movement, while its UK chart-topping follow-up U.F.Orb represented the group's commercial peak.

Chillout Sessions is a series of compilations released by Ministry of Sound that focus on songs from the chillout genre. Songs on Chillout Sessions compilations vary in style from lounge to electronica and are released by many different artists.

<i>The Orbs Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld: Patterns and Textures</i> 1992 video by The Orb

The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld: Patterns and Textures is a 1992 video by the UK electronic music collective The Orb. It was filmed and recorded at a live performance at Brixton Fridge, London, 12 May 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Orb discography</span>

The discography of European electronic music group the Orb includes seventeen studio albums, one live album, six compilation albums, four remix albums, four mix albums, two video albums, ten extended plays, fifteen singles and twenty-two music videos. Founded by Alex Paterson and Jimmy Cauty in 1988, the group's first release was the extended play Kiss EP, issued in May 1989. The single "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld", which marked the group's first foray into the ambient house genre, was released in October 1989 on Adam Morris and Martin Glover's record label WAU! Mr. Modo Recordings. It was later re-issued by Big Life and peaked at number 78 in the United Kingdom despite sample clearance issues. Following Cauty's departure from the group, the Orb signed a long-term recording contract with Big Life and released their debut studio album The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld in April 1991. It peaked at number 29 in the United Kingdom and has since been recognized as a seminal album of the ambient house genre. "Little Fluffy Clouds" and "Perpetual Dawn" were released as singles from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Club Bizarre</span>

"Club Bizarre" is the single performed by the German musical project U96, created by record producer Alex Christensen. The song was released in February 1995 and is the second track from the album of the same name.

The discography of VNV Nation, an Irish electronic music project, consists of ten studio albums, two compilation album, three extended plays, and twelve singles.

<i>The Singles 1971–2006</i> 2011 box set by The Rolling Stones

The Singles 1971–2006 is a box set compilation of singles by The Rolling Stones spanning the years 1971 to 2006. It covers their output with both Rolling Stones Records and Virgin Records labels.

References

  1. Farley, Keith. U.F.Off: The Best of The Orb at AllMusic link]
  2. "U.F.Off: The Best of the Orb Review - Music Reviews and News - EW.com". EW.com. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. "Orb: U.F. Off: The Best Of...: Pitchfork Record Review". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2014.