Energy 52's "Café Del Mar" is one of the most iconic tracks in dance music. Over the years, "Café Del Mar" has achieved legendary status, regularly featuring in lists of the greatest dance tracks of all time; a cultural phenomenon, encapsulating the spirit of an era and influencing generations of artists and fans alike.

Now this iconic track is being remixed by two of the most revered acts in electronic music, Orbital and Michael Mayer. Orbital, the pioneering British electronic dance duo consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, have continued to shape the electronic music scene since their emergence in 1989. Their remix is an ode to the golden age of rave, with clattering breakbeats and an ethereal synth line pulsing through its early stages before the iconic lead warps into view. A key figure in Cologne's electronic scene, Michael Mayer co-founded the influential Kompakt label, contributing significantly to its direction and success. For his interpretation, Mayer leans into head spinning, hypnotic rhythms, with tribal drums and the patiently evolving lead line building towards a climax that is more subtle but no less effective.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Spine tingles and crotch flutters guaranteed when this one starts climaxing. "Café Del Mar" many argue, is the pinnacle of the trance genre, but Orbital still mange to squeeze some new life out of this well-hammered bona fide classic.

TRACK LISTING

A. Café Del Mar (Orbital Remix)
B. Café Del Mar (Michael Mayer Remix)

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

Originally released on September 30, 1991, Orbital’s eponymous debut album became known as ‘The Green Album’ to distinguish it from their second album (known as ‘The Brown Album’). 

‘The Green Album’ includes the seminal ‘Belfast’ and a live version of ‘Chime’, the landmark dance track that launched their career in 1990.

TRACK LISTING

Disc 1
A1 The Moebius
A2 Speed Freak
A3 Macrohead
B1 Oolaa
B2 Desert Storm
Disc 2
C1 Fahrenheit 303
C2 Steel Cube Idolatry
C3 High Rise
D1 Chime (Live)
D2 Midnight (Live)
D3 Belfast

Originally released on September 30, 1991, ‘The Green Album’ contains landmark Orbital tracks including their breakthrough 1990 single ‘Chime’, and the evergreen comedown classic ‘Belfast’. 

Following the success of ‘Chime’, Pete Tong signed Orbital to London/ffrr Records, and Tong allowed the Hartnolls the freedom to record the album they wanted to make. Where their contemporaries on the rave circuit would knock out ten formulaic 4/4 piano bangers with guest vocalists and call it an album, for their debut Orbital wanted to explore wider textures, different rhythms, stranger mind spaces. “Our heroes were always Kraftwerk, Cabaret Voltaire, the Severed Heads – people who made proper, satisfying, full albums,” explains Paul, “and we were like, yeah, that’s what we want to do.”

It was this ambition that led to Orbital becoming giants of electronic music. The Hartnoll brothers would go on to redefine what dance music could do and the place it took within popular culture itself. Their music has influenced and inspired artists from Björk to Bicep and they have collaborated with minds as diverse as Madonna, Kraftwerk and Professor Brian Cox.

Following The Green Album their second self-titled album – aka The Brown Album – cemented Orbital’s position as musical visionaries. A career of creative leaps quite unlike those usually seen in the fast turnover world of dance music followed, including creating soundtracks for Hollywood films including 1997’s Event Horizon, and most recently for Mike Myers Netflix series The Pentaverate.

Alongside their boundary-pushing work in the recording studio, Orbital earned a reputation as one of the best live acts on the planet. This year marks the 30th anniversary of their legendary 1994 Glastonbury performance, often cited as converting the festival to dance music. 

TRACK LISTING

Double Vinyl Tracklisting:
Disc 1
A1. The Moebius
A2. Speed Freak
A3. Macrohead
B1. Oolaa
B2. Desert Storm
Disc 2
C1. Fahrenheit 303
C2. Steel Cube Idolatry
C3. High Rise
D1. Chime (Live)
D2. Midnight (Live)
D3. Belfast

4LP Vinyl Boxset Tracklisting:
Disc 1
A1. The Moebius
A2. Speed Freak
A3. Macrohead
B1. Oolaa
B2. Desert Storm
Disc 2
C1. Fahrenheit 303
C2. Steel Cube Idolatry
C3. High Rise
D1. Chime (Live)
D2. Midnight (Live)
D3. Belfast
Disc 3
E1. Torpedo Town (PKA Untitled)
E2. Satan
F1. L.C.1
F2. Belfast / Wasted (Wasted Vocal Mix)
F3. Crime
Disc 4
G1. Fahrenheit 3D3
G2. Open Mind Jam
G3. The Other One
H1. Satan (Rhyme And Reason Vocal Mix)
H2. Midnight (Sasha Remix)

2CD Tracklisting:
CD 1
1. The Moebius
2. Speed Freak
3. Oolaa
4. Desert Storm
5. Fahrenheit 303
6. Steel Cube Idolatry
7. High Rise
8. Chime (Live)
9. Midnight (Live)
10. Belfast
11. I Think Its Disgusting
CD 2
1. Torpedo Town (PKA Untitled)
2. Macrohead
3. Satan
4. L.C.1
5. Belfast / Wasted (Wasted Vocal Mix)
6. Crime
7. Fahrenheit 3D3
8. Open Mind Jam
9. The Other One
10. Satan (Rhyme And Reason Vocal Mix)
11. Midnight (Sasha Remix)

4CD Boxset Tracklisting:
CD 1
1. The Moebius
2. Speed Freak
3. Oolaa
4. Desert Storm
5. Fahrenheit 303
6. Steel Cube Idolatry
7. High Rise
8. Chime (Live)
9. Midnight (Live)
10. Belfast
11. I Think Its Disgusting
CD 2
1. Torpedo Town (PKA Untitled)
2. Macrohead
3. Satan
4. L.C.1
5. Belfast / Wasted (Wasted Vocal Mix)
6. Crime
7. Fahrenheit 3D3
8. Open Mind Jam
9. The Other One
10. Satan (Rhyme And Reason Vocal Mix)
11. Midnight (Sasha Remix)
CD 3
1. Chime 12”
2. Deeper 12”
3. Omen - The Fool
4. Omen - The Tower
5. 2 Deep
6. Open Mind
7. Midnight
8. Choice
9. Analogue Test Feb '90
10. Choice (I And Eye Mix)
CD 4
1. Synergy (Live):
1.1. Satan
1.2. LC1
1.3. Chime
1.4. Son Of Chime
2. Mystery Gig 1991 (Live):
2.1. Choice
2.2. Fahrenheit 303
2.3. Chime / Crime
2.4. BIT
2.5. Oolaa
2.6. Speed Freak

Legendary electronic music duo Orbital return in Spring 2023 with new album Optical Delusion, the Hartnoll brothers first studio album since 2018’s Monster’s Exist. Recorded in Orbital’s Brighton studio, Optical Delusion includes contributions from Sleaford Mods, Penelope Isles, Anna B Savage, The Little Pest, Dina Ipavic, Coppe, and perhaps most surprisingly, The Medieval Baebes.

For the first single Orbital have joined forces with Sleaford Mods on their fabulous, furious new single “Dirty Rat” Featuring a searing vocal from Jason Williamson over kinetic, driving beats, “Dirty Rat” is Orbital at their most vital, still utterly relevant and pushing forward over 30 years since they broke through with their landmark single “Chime”. Think KLF or Underworld 'Born Slippy’ - ‘Dirty Rat’ is a primal scream which crosses genres and generations.

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: Having been a driving force of Electronic music since the 90's, it's always exciting to hear a new LP from rave auteurs Orbital. 'Optical Delusion' sees the duo joined by a host of collaborators (inc. Jason Williams of Sleaford Mods) and ends up being a development of their established sound, but renewed with a fierce political vigour and hearty resolve.

TRACK LISTING

Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song) (feat. The Mediaeval Baebes)
Day One (feat. Dina Ipavic)
Are You Alive? (feat. Penelope Isles)
You Are The Frequency (feat. The Little Pest)
The New Abnormal
Home (feat. Anna B Savage)
Dirty Rat – With Sleaford Mods
Requiem For The Pre Apocalypse
What A Surprise (feat. The Little Pest)
Moon Princess (feat. Coppe)

After a barnstorming live reunion which saw them play to ecstatic audiences across Europe throughout 2017, Britain’s giants of electronic music Orbital are back for good - with new music and an upgrade of the legendary live show that transformed festivals across the world.

Throughout 2018 they played a string of high-profile festival dates and headline shows, featuring new material alongside classics like "Chime", "Belfast" and "Impact". This surge of creativity shows how reunited brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll have rebuilt one of electronic music’s best-loved partnerships after Orbital’s surprisingly bitter break-up in 2012. They’ve been onstage with Stephen Hawking at the Paralympics, in front of the whole world. They’ve remixed Madonna. They’ve played Glastonbury many times and travelled the world - yet were driven apart by music’s strange and infamous brother-vs-brother dynamic (that I'm sure the brothers Gallagher know absolutely nothing about... - ed). But now the brothers have a pact: whatever happens, Orbital does not stop. They’ve learned to talk and accept each other. As Paul says, 'If we were both the same, then it wouldn’t be Orbital.'

Anyway, forget all that, the most important thing to note here is that mother fu**iiiing Brian Cox is all up in the area! Today's spokesperson for all things Science, the ex-D-Ream keyboardist graces "There Will Come A Time" with the kind of gentle, enthusiastic and wonder-struck delivery that only he is really capable of. Ellie Wyatt and Philipa Alexander provide a good chunk of voice on tracks "Monsters Exist", The Raid" and "The End Is Nigh" also.

But will it cut the mustard with old school and cult fans? The simple answer is - yes! More than proficient at writing hits that transcend the dancefloor into general consciousness, the trancelike and sprawling arrangements of the nineties have been tightened up somewhat for current audiences; and with a sharper, more direct sound palette to boot. The kicks in particularly hit hard, and there's a full-frequency aesthetic to most of the tracks - making them as suitable for main stage stadium play as much as they'll be soundtracking midnight drives down motorways, freeways and autobahns across the world. Orbital are back and we love it! 

TRACK LISTING

CD:
Monsters Exist
Hoo Hoo Ha Ha
The Raid
P.H.U.K.
Tiny Foldable Cities
Buried Deep Within
Vision OnE
The End Is Nigh
There Will Come A Time Feat. Prof Brian Cox

CD 2 (Deluxe Version Only):
Kaiju
A Long Way From Home
Analogue Test
Oct 16
Fun With The System
Dressing Up In Other People’s Clothes
To Dream Again
There Will Come A Time (Instrumental)
Tiny Foldable Cities (Kareful Remix)

LP 1:
Monsters Exist
Hoo Hoo Ha Ha
The Raid
P.H.U.K.
Tiny Foldable Cities

LP 2:
Buried Deep Within
Vision OnE
The End Is Nigh
There Will Come A Time Feat. Prof. Brian Cox