Hey everyone, remember the News section? Yeah, yeah; I know it’s the end of the year and you just finished stuffing your face with some turkey and grandma’s pecan stuffing, and all you want to do is hibernate and argue/pontificate about those year-end lists — nay, DECADE-end lists! But when February hits and you’re trapped at home whilst the next polar vortex rages outside, you’ll come crawling back to the News — you’ll see! You’ll see!!
So it’s in that feelgood spirit that I bring you a dose of the feelgood kinda news: The Orb (a.k.a. Alex Paterson and his “rotating roster of collaborative cohorts”) are returning with their 17th album, bearing a decidedly un-Orb-ish title: Abolition of the Royal Familia. So…the Orb goes political? Or perhaps it’s just an obscure science fiction reference?
Either way: if the single is any indication, the record — which features freaking everyone: Michael Rendall, Roger Eno, Youth, Steve Hillage, Miquette Giraudy, Nick Burton, Violeta Vicci, Gaudi, David Harrow, Roney FM, Sherman, Paul Conboy, Ollie Cripps, Andy Cain, cousin Leyton, and Ruby the dog — will still be chock-full of classic Orb flourishes.
Abolition drops March 27 on Cooking Vinyl, ahead of a European tour in May — a perfect time of the year for some little fluffy clouds. Pre-order it here and forget about the News section all over again while you listen to “Pervitin” below:
Abolition of the Royal Familia tracklisting:
01. Daze - Missing & Messed Up Mix
02. House of Narcotics - Opium Wars Mix
03. Hawk Kings - Oseberg Buddhas Buttonhole
04. Honey Moonies - Brain Washed at Area 49 Mix
05. Pervitin - Empire Culling & The Hemlock Stone Version
06. Afros, Afghans and Angels - Helgö Treasure Chest
07. Shape Shifters (in two parts) - Coffee & Ghost Train Mix
08. Say Cheese - Siberian Tiger Cookie Mix
09. Ital Orb - Too Blessed To Be Stressed Mix
10. The Queen of Hearts - Princess Of Clubs Mix
11. The Weekend it Rained Forever - Oseberg Buddha Mix (The Ravens Have Left The Tower)
12. Slave Till U Die No Matter What U Buy - L’anse Aux Meadows Mix
Orbs over Europe:
05.22.20 - Leeds, UK - Leeds Beckett student union
05.23.20 - Newcastle, UK - Northumbria Institute
05.24.20 - Glasgow, UK - Barrowland Ballroom
05.27.20 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Institute
05.28.20 - Manchester, UK - O2 Ritz
05.29.20 - London, UK - All Points East
05.30.20 - Bristol, UK - SWX
More about: The Orb
