Orbital

The electronic music duo Orbital, comprising brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, originated from Dunton Green, Kent, England. Their name is derived from the M25 orbital motorway, which played a significant role in the early rave scene during the acid house movement. The band gained early recognition with their 1989 track “Chime,” recorded by Paul Hartnoll on a 4-track tape deck. This track was initially released on DJ Jazzy M’s Oh Zone Records and later re-released on FFRR Records, achieving number 17 in the UK charts and leading to an appearance on ‘Top of the Pops’. Their impactful live debut occurred at a club night by Que Pasa in Sevenoaks, followed by a performance at the Town and Country 2 in Islington, where they first performed under the name Orbital. They released their first self-titled album in late 1991, a compilation of various recordings.

Orbital’s popularity expanded significantly with subsequent releases. Their 1992 *Radiccio* EP featured “Halcyon,” which became one of their most popular songs, sampling Kirsty Hawkshaw’s “It’s a Fine Day.” The track was dedicated to their mother, who was affected by the tranquilizer Halcion. Their second self-titled album in 1993, often referred to as “The Brown Album,” showcased intricate arrangements and textures, reaching No. 28 on the UK albums chart. A pivotal moment in their career was their headline performance at the Glastonbury Festival on June 25, 1994. This performance, televised by Channel 4, garnered widespread attention and solidified their reputation for improvisational electronic music. Over the years, they continued to integrate political and environmental commentary into their music, such as the use of samples from speeches against militarization and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and contributions to environmental projects like powering a studio with Greenpeace’s mobile solar power generator in 1996.

Throughout their career, Orbital released ten studio albums, including *Snivilisation* (1994), *In Sides* (1996), *The Middle of Nowhere* (1999), and *Optical Delusion* (2023). They contributed to various film soundtracks, including *The Saint* (1997), *Event Horizon* (1997), *Mortal Kombat* (1995), *The Beach* (2000), and *XXX* (2002), in which they also made an on-screen appearance. The duo has won awards such as the NME Award for Best Dance Act in 1994 and a Brit Award nomination in 1997. After two hiatuses, the Hartnoll brothers reunited in 2017 and have continued to produce new music, perform live, and incorporate contemporary political and environmental themes, notably featuring Greta Thunberg’s speech in their track “Impact (The Earth Is Burning)”. Their 2024 Glastonbury performance included collaborations with Tilda Swinton and Mel C.