There’s usually some significance in Orbital launching a new album. Whoever does not believe so, just read this: The Rolling Stones have a new album. Or: De La Soul release their sixth Studio Album. This is about size and relevance and a long history. Founded in 1987 by brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, Orbital found themselves among the biggest Rave-Popstars in the Nineties. With albums like »Orbital 2«, »Snivilisation« and »In Sides« they made electronic history between political statement, Techno, Dance and Experiment and regularly rose up to the UK Top 10. And then, 2004, it all stopped. Now, after all that time, »Wonky« is, above all, a demonstration of power. Orbital want to proof that they´re still the biggest Techno-Act in the UK and that they can easily keep up with the musical achievements of their hiatus. On nine tracks, they work on Dubstep, Grime, Techno, Stadium-Rave and David Guetta. Orbital do this with ease, with an expectedly elaborate dramaturgy and in full melodic bloom. Nevertheless, »Wonky« is not much more than average. The hymn-like character of some of the tracks is almost embarrassingly kitschy and exchangeable. It will work where Orbital has always been at their best: Live on stage. My stereo is too small for that, though.
Wonky
