The Orb - Moonbuilding 2703 AD

Moonbuilding 2703 AD is the thirteenth studio album from English ambient house duo The Orb, released in June 2015 via Kompakt Records.

The Orb currently consists of co-founding member Alex Paterson and long time producer Thomas Fehlmann.  Alex Paterson began his music career in the early 1980s as a roadie for the post-punk rock band Killing Joke. After leaving the band in 1986, Paterson met future KLF member Jimmy Cauty and the duo began DJ-ing and producing music together under the name The Orb. Paterson and Cauty's first release was a 1988 acid house anthem track, Tripping on Sunshine and throughout 1989 the duo, along with Martin Glover, developed a music production style that incorporated ambient music with a diverse array of samples and recordings.  Only then did the press label their music 'ambient house' after abstaining from comment during their foundation years.  The line up continued to change over the next 20 years, and develop with Andy Falconer, Kris "Thrash" Weston, Steve Hillage,  Andy Hughes, Simon Phillips and Nick Burton joining for varying periods.

Produced between 2010 and 2014 the album sounds best is when it strikes a balance between the spaciness of Dr. Alex's golden years and the restraint that typifies Fehlmann's 21st century solo releases.  Each of the four tracks on the album travels the listener through sections that tug and drift with a calm but steady flow.  The final and title track Moonbuilding 2703 AD acknowledges a genius producer, J Dilla, most obviously through the bit of Donald Byrd composition Think Twice, once covered by Dilla, that pokes through. Containing that explicit tribute, the final track is more techno than The Orb's original sample filled hip hop collages of the 90s.

Moonbuilding 2703 AD has received positive reviews from music critics, with some saying it is the band's best album in over 20 years. The highest highs come on Moon Scapes 2703 BC, sampling satellite beeps softened ever so slightly by Patterson's echo and delay. By turns softer or harder, the track moves effortlessly between peaks and valleys.

Here are a couple of tracks off the album.  God's Mirrorball, Moon Scapes- 2703BC and Lunar Caves.

This is a double album 2LP record set on 180 gram vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve with embossed lettering and a CD album copy, pressed in Germany.