Album Review: The Orb ‘No Sounds Are Out Of Bounds’

Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, The Orb have always served ravers well by providing the perfect comedown soundtracks.

Founder Alex Patterson and longtime member Thomas Fehlmann’s previous two LPs were streamlined techno efforts, released on German label Kompakt, but this time around theyÕve gone for a looser, lusher, more ‘English’ sound - with a little help from their friends.

Patterson has always worn his dub influences on his sleeve and bassist Jah Wobble comes along for the ride here, bringing the funk on ‘Pillow Fights @ Shag Mountain’, while tracks like ‘Wish I Had a Pretty Dog’ and ‘Wolfsbane’ descend into pure skankable jams.

There’s even a couple of songs that border on straightforward pop, despite their construction - in a really sweet counterpoint, Emma Gillespie’s vocals float ethereally over a menacing bass wobble on ‘The End Of The End’. ‘Rush Hill Road’ scampers along too, Hollie Cook providing the hook: “So tell me what’s the rush? Start over”.

The Orb’s ambient sensibilities come into play on the back half of the album - on ‘Ununited States’ and ‘Soul Plant’, Roger Eno’s delicate piano motifs create soundscapes reminiscent of Kate Bush’s 50 Words For Snow in parts.

Loosening your scope and broadening your horizons can stoke the fires for any creative project, but self-indulgence is always a danger. In places No Sounds Are Out Of Bounds is a sonic joy - but at 70 minutes, it could do with a tighter edit.

Out Now / Stephen Keegan / Rating: 6/10