Customer Reviews

Diversions

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This US-only compilation gives us some of the best of the Hartnolls' best post-'Brown Album' work. Diversions is essentially two UK singles (The Peel Sessions EP and the Lush 3 single) minus the songs already released stateside (Attached from the Peel Session disk and Lush 3-1 and 3-2). Don't be deceived by the fact that there are only six songs; this is an album-length release, with four 10+ minute tracks.

Impact USA updates the Orbital 2 track for stand-alone listening; added bass and synth lines make it more complex than the original, more dancey, and ultimately more enjoyable.

Lush 3/Walk About is a live track from John Peel's legendary UK show. Orbital's live performances have always surpassed their studio work and this is no exception. Almost 15 minutes of pure electronic bliss, with enough new elements added to distinguish it from the album versions.

Semi-detached started out as another Lush 3 remix, but somehow mutated into a different entity. It is quieter that the other tracks, verging into ambient territory, but the burbling synths keep interest throughout.

Lush 3-5 and Lush 3-4 are a lull in the disk. It's not to say that they aren't good, but they both use too much of the original tracks as a backbone. There are different drum tracks and new synth squiggles, but nothing really interesting. Luckily, these are also the two shortest songs.

Lush 3-3 makes up for it's predecessors' failings; representing a meeting of two of the greatest trance groups, it is no less than incredible. Underworld take Lush 3 and remake it in their own image. Sequences that are paridoxically hypnotic and urgent envelop the entire song, propelling it onward with freight-train force. And just for good measure, a dash of wah-wah guitar is layered on top to stunning effect.

Diversions makes a wonderful companion piece to Orbital 2 for those who cannot get their hands on the original import singles and is well worth seeking out.

Imagine you knew the world was going to end in 15 minutes and you wanted the Anthem to accompany the impending disater. Slide this disk in and punch up track two and you will hear what I think is the greatest techno track of all time. DO NOT listen to this music while driving as you are liable to attract vehicles with flashing lights. Euro tunnel disaster is an appropriate name for the track.

The rest of the disk is awesome. If you like solid pounding techno, and felt like "Insides" was a little soft, or that Orbital II was really good but want something a little more vicious then try this one out.

... that's what the sticker said when I found this CD. If you are an Orbital worshiper (like me), than you will find this album essential for your collection. Reworkings of "Impact" and "Attached" are all here, along with several mixes of "Lush", including the Euro-Tunnel Disaster Mix mixed with "Walk About" live on Peel Sessions. Basically selected tracks from "2" remixed. I particularly enjoyed "Lush (Underworld)", a 13-minute remix by Underworld, featuring electric guitar and flute. And even though it's an "EP", its just as long as a full length album. Add yet another Orbital CD to your collection that you can praise fully.

Chemical Bros., Underworld, Juno Reactor, etc.... these artists are all excelent, but I would have to say that Orbital tops them all. This album will complete my collection and these guys never fail! If it's their first CD or their last CD,it doesn't matter! Orbital is great and just keeps putting out the best electronica I've ever heard. Their number one in my book!

This is a remix album, or as Orbital says Diversions. If you really like Orbital 2 or If you don't have it STOP reading this and get it NOW! Orbital 2 fans will love this remix disc of the songs. Lush 3(Euro Tunnel Disaster '94) is the best track hands down. Its 10 min of just fast and rhythmic techno. Another great track is Lush 3-3(Underworld). These two songs alone make Diversions another great Orbital CD all should have. This disk will satisfy anyone's need for GOOD techno music.

If you have yet to buy an Orbital CD, this may not be the BEST one to start with, although there would certainly be nothing wrong with making this your first Orbital purchase. It includes three "new" tracks by Orbital: Impact USA (The Earth Is Burning), a nice reworking of the Brown Album's Impact (""). The second part of this version is more intense than the first, and puts it as an equal to the original. There is also a reworking of the "Lush" series called Lush 3(Euro Tunnel Disaster 94/Walk About) which has some good moments. The third track, Semi-Detached, represents one of Orbital's more ambient and experimental tracks up to this point, and is a highlight of the album.The remaining three tracks are remixes of "Lush": The best of these by far is the Underworld remix "Lush 3-5." if you like Underworld, you will appreciate this blending of their styles (they even throw in some electric guitar!). Overall, I gave Diversions 3 stars; this is rating it as an ORBITAL CD, not as ANY CD, because I find Orbital difficult to compare to most other music. Because to me it sums up their pre-Snivilisation sound, I consider it a must-have.

This is one of those albums that always seems to be in the top three orbital albums. No matter what angle you come from in the orbital fan base.. earlier stuff, snivilization work?, Or even like myself A huge fan of in-sides .. you will find this album is wonderful. I think its much better than the Brown album that it comes from. I somehow ended up with this as my first orbital purchase as well after hearing halycon+on on the Mortal Kombat soundtrack. My best friend ran out and got the brown album and snivilzation right away and I got lucky and picked up In-sides the week it was released by accident. So basically I heard all three of those other albums at the same time .. with this about 3 days before. .. This album and In-sides are still my favorite two.

Orbital's Diversions was released shortly after the Brown Album, and it is far superior. There's another version of Impact USA here, and the added synths and smart beats are gloriously programmed. The track runs over 11 minutes and I'm thankful for that. Underworld, Psychick Warriors of Gaia, and CJ Bolland are found in the mix, and Underworld's 'Lush 3-3' is a travel-techno genius of a track which builds slowly and fades equally effectively over it's 13 minute span. The quiet minimal percussion found on 'Semi-Detached' complements the slow progressing synthesizers well. It's a very chilled track that never becomes boring. There's only 6 tracks on Diversions, though all but one are in the range of 10 minutes long or more. There are very few releases that can have lengthy tracks like this, be heard in your armchair or on the dancefloor, and hold up so amazing well as Diversions does.

This US-only EP turns away from the form of their earlier remix EP Mutations and finds help from their accomplished peers. The track "Lush 3" off of the brown album is here fleshed out into three wonderful reworkings by Underworld, CJ Bolland, and the Psychik Warriors Ov Gaia. Orbital also flexes their own muscles on the Impact USA mix, and give the US a taste of one-half of their hard-to-find Peel Sessions EP with the head-spinning "Lush 3/Walk-About" medley and "Semi-Detached" which scraped at the edges of your consciousness with murmured, flowing melodies.

I can't say enough about Diversions. Thanks to the Saint theme song I decided to buy an Orbital CD and through pure serendipity chose Diversions. It was one of the best decisions I've made. Diversions, I think is Orbital's best work. Each track takes you through a little mini-journey, orchestrating it perfectly. It takes you up, takes you down. All smoothly, all with a perfect blending of electronic sounds. I don't make any claims about knowing all about the electronic scene (living in the Midwest makes that difficult), but I've been listening to all sorts of trance, techno, and electronica and Orbital is definitely one of the best, and Diversions is their best work.