The Orb

German 2025 press.
Being pioneers with a new album created in no more than 6 months, The Orb are bound to be exposed to fan expectations running high, while quizzical questions about little fluffy clouds and the good old times take over. It's especially jarring as the duo of accomplished soundsmiths Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann has become known for its genre-bending curiosity and surprising sonic detours, exploring experimental soundscapes as well as club-friendly beats. The funny thing is, though, that whatever the context, you know a track from The Orb when you hear it. Case in point: Cow / Chill Out, World!, their latest full-length offering - a masterful ambient album that branches out in many directions, but unmistakably sounds like The Orb in either ear (and probably to your third ear, too). The Orb's trademark playfulness is on full display on Cow / Chill Out, World!, and it doesn't limit itself to the multi-layered sampling and psychedelic sound composites that the duo has become known for - you'll find it in the album title as well.