It’s not each day {that a} legendary digital duo ropes in one in every of cinema’s most enigmatic figures for a observe, however Orbital have by no means performed by the rulebook.
The Hartnoll brothers—lengthy hailed because the Godfathers of Rave—have dropped “Deepest,” a glistening reinterpretation of their 1989 observe “Deeper,” with none aside from Tilda Swinton lending her voice in a mesmeric spoken-word efficiency. Launched April 4 as a part of their Radiccio EP, the one arrives on a wave of anticipation that’s been constructing since Swinton’s now-iconic stay cameo with Orbital on Glastonbury’s Park Stage final yr—a second that went viral and left the pageant crowd in collective awe.
Swinton doesn’t sing. She doesn’t must. Her voice, cool and commanding, weaves itself by means of “Deepest” like a hypnotic incantation, reworking the unique into one thing altogether stranger, richer, extra cinematic. It’s a transfer solely Orbital might pull off with out it feeling like a stunt. As a substitute, it reads as the following logical step within the duo’s ever-evolving soundscape—a seamless fusion of rave historical past, cinematic drama, and avant-garde experimentation.
And this isn’t a one-off. “Deepest” is the opening salvo in what’s shaping as much as be a full-scale celebration of Orbital 2—universally often called the Brown Album—because the pioneering 1993 LP will get a deluxe reissue remedy on Might 23 by way of London Data. It’s been over a decade because the album was final pressed on vinyl, and this reissue doesn’t skimp on substance: a 4LP boxset, 4CD boxset, a kaleidoscope of vinyl variants, cassette editions, and a wealthy choice of unreleased and uncommon cuts (23 bonus tracks to be precise). Add in mixes from titans like Underworld, CJ Bolland, and Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia, and this reissue feels much less like a rehash and extra like an excavation of a time capsule.
The Brown Album wasn’t simply one other rave document. It was the second Orbital stopped merely soundtracking events and began reimagining what digital music might imply. From the apocalyptic crunch of “Influence (The Earth Is Burning)” to the dreamlike glide of “Halcyon + On + On”—an ethereal observe that later discovered a second life in movie soundtracks and late-night DJ units—the album carved out an area for emotion, mind, and chaos to co-exist. Composed at Shoreditch’s Strongroom Studios, it stitched collectively all the things from Reichian minimalism (pioneered by composer Steve Reich) to squat-punk grit and didgeridoo samples, embodying the spirit of the early ‘90s with a visionary’s eye.
This reissue, reduce at half velocity for top constancy, goes past nostalgia. It invitations a brand new era to discover Orbital’s unclassifiable legacy whereas giving longtime followers a treasure trove of expanded content material. A hardback ebook included within the vinyl field set digs deep into the album’s lore—full with interviews, essays by music author Andrew Harrison, and track-by-track commentary from Phil and Paul Hartnoll themselves.
The reissue additionally lands amid a stretch of sold-out tour dates throughout the UK and Europe, proving that Orbital usually are not merely revisiting the previous—they’re nonetheless very a lot in movement. After nicely acquired headline performances in New York, Chicago, and Coachella final yr, the Brown & Inexperienced Album Tour has already stormed by means of Paris, Amsterdam, and Glasgow, with a extremely anticipated Brixton Academy cease on April 5. For a full checklist of stay reveals and to buy tickets, click on right here!
For an act that’s all the time pushed in opposition to the restrictions of style and format, the return of The Brown Album feels well timed. Not simply as a nod to rave’s golden age, however as a reminder that nice digital music doesn’t date—it evolves. And with Tilda Swinton now orbiting their universe, the Hartnoll brothers appear extra expansive, and extra fearless, than ever.
Hearken to “Deepest” by Orbital (that includes Tilda Swinton):
Acquired ideas on the Brown Album or that hypnotic Tilda Swinton collaboration? Hit us up on X @celebmix and join with Orbital on Instagram, or pre-order/save the reissue.
