The Orb

The Orb have been central to electronic music’s evolution since the late ‘80s, yet their commitment to expanding consciousness puts them in the lineage of the psychedelic pioneers of even earlier generations. The group’s mastermind and sole constant member, Alex Paterson, was born in London in 1959 and found his calling as the rave scene blossomed around him. In chillout rooms, he would mix NASA recordings and sound effects with Krautrock and the trippier end of acid house; his productions followed suit—cosmically inclined, unexpected in their influences and occasionally audacious in their ambitions. The Orb’s 1989 debut single, “A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld”, sprawled to 19 minutes; three years later, they’d hit the UK Top 10 with the 39-minute “Blue Room”, which proceeded more like a DJ mix than a song. Over the years, Paterson has fleshed out the lineup with a rotating cast of contributors—The KLF’s Jimmy Cauty, prog guitarist Steve Hillage, German techno veteran Thomas Fehlmann—along with high-profile guests like dub legend Lee “Scratch” Perry and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. While ambient trends have waxed and waned over the decade, The Orb have remained true to their belief in the transporting power of atmospheric sound.