For their 15th studio album, The Orb have decided to sidestep the more techno-influenced sounds of their two previous albums Moonbuilding 2703AD and COW / Chill Out World! and reacquaint themselves with the vibe of their genre-creating debut album, The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld. By bringing back into the fold the likes of Youth, Roger Eno and the mighty Jah Wobble, Alex Patterson and Thomas Fehlmann have crafted a blissed-out groove that doesn’t stall once. Dubby bass, sparse piano, half-heard spoken word samples and found sounds are all wrapped up for some chilled-out and smiley grooves that are just the ticket for that end-of-the-evening vibe when relaxation is what the doctor ordered.
From the pop-house of “The End of the End” through to the 15-minute “Soul Planet”, which feels like an update of “A Huge Ever-Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld” with its chilled and atmospheric vibe and disembodied vocals fading in and out of the mix, No Sounds Are Out of Bounds is a journey back to the time when The Orb were the kings of the chill-out room. Powered by Wobble’s bass and Roger Eno’s sparse piano “Pillow Fight @ Shag Mountain” and “Easy on the Onions” are laidback and trippy but never drift into the doldrums. “Wolfbane” has a funky groove, jazzy keys and Youth’s double bass pushing it along. While “Ununited States” features a mournful and mellow trumpet floating above the dystopian atmospherics.
For those who have yet to acquaint themselves with The Orb’s magnificent debut album, No Sounds Are Out of Bounds is surely an open invitation to dive in. For those who remember the heady days of the early 90s, it will be more than a nostalgic reminder that when Dr Alex is on top of his game, he’s a sonic magician.