The Orb, the visionary UK ‘ambient/house’ collective, came to collaborate with David Gilmour after working together on a version of Graham Nash’s “Chicago” for a charity project. Youth (aka Martin Glover), a frequent Orb accomplice, was invited to create a remix, and he and Alex Paterson, as The Orb, were so energized by the task that they continued working until it was an album-length entity. Having asked Gilmour to bring his guitars to Youth’s studio in South London to prolong and enrich their new creation, the trio worked up a sonic mixture in a range of styles. Thus, the Metallic Spheres project was born.
Metallic Spheres is designed to be heard in two parts – ‘Metallic Side’ (24’48”), and ‘Spheres Side’ (25’09”). Each track, or side, consists of five movements. The album uniquely utilizes David Gilmour’s discernable electric guitar and lap steel guitar, Alex Paterson’s sound manipulation, keyboards and turntables, and Youth’s bass guitar and keyboards. Metallic Spheres will be available in 3 formats: standard and 2-disc deluxe versions on CD, digital download and 180-gram vinyl. The deluxe 2-CD version includes an extra disc, featuring the new ‘3D60™’ process, which allows a 360-degree sound experience on stereo tracks without any special equipment. Please see below for more details. Moreover, the album is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com.
Longtime Orb collaborator Simon Ghahary has created artwork, continuing and expanding on The Orb’s spatial art style.
Additionally, special laser light shows created specifically for the release of Metallic Spheres will be shown to the public in early October in New York and Los Angeles. More details to follow.
The Orb’s Alex Paterson says, "It’s a collision that’s been waiting to happen with Pink Floyd / David Gilmour and The Orb orbiting many of the same planets."
The Orb, built around mainstay Alex Paterson, formed in London in 1989 during the birth of the rave movement. Initially founded on a mutual love of Brian Eno and German electronics, The Orb at present operates with a flexible line-up of collaborators that includes producer / multi-instrumentalist Youth, well-known for his work with Paul McCartney as The Fireman, as well as his production (Crowded House, Dido) and remixes (U2, Marilyn Manson).
