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Album Reviews
Album Review: The Orb – Baghdad Batteries (Malicious Damage)
By Marc Samuels | Published on Friday 4 September 2009
Last year’s ‘The Dream’ saw The Orb revisit their poppier side, and it was arguably their best and most accessible album since their 90s heyday. ‘Baghdad Batteries’ sees them (this time ‘them’ being Dr Alex Paterson and the returning Thomas Fehlmann) swiftly returning to their more experimental side, though the subtle melodies and deftly deployed beats remain present and correct, on another electronica odyssey that feels at times more inner space than outer space. ‘BB’ essentially comprises minimal, spacey ambience, with a purity and single-mindedness about the sound that may surprise. In keeping with the sparse sound, samples and vocals (and, actually, beats too) are notable by their absence. As such, there’s little of the quirky humour (‘Woodlarking’ aside) often to be found on The Orb’s excursions, but it remains an engaging album from start to end. At times it’s arguably too minimal for its own good, but at its best, such as ‘Raven’s Surprise’ (with its backwards guitars bookending a psychedelic sunrise) or the shimmering krautrock pulse of ‘Dolly’s Unit’ (think futuristic autobahns decked in glitterballs), ‘Baghdad Batteries’ is a sublime listen. MS
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