Metallic Spheres [Import]

The Orb | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 12, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B003YWUTKM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,899 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Metallic Side; Metallic Spheres\ Hymns To The Sun\ Black Graham\ Hiding In Plain View\ Classified - The Orb

2. Spheres Side; Es Vedra\ Hymns To The Sun (Reprise)\ Olympic\ Chicago Dub\ Bold Knife Trophy - The Orb

Editorial Reviews

Metallic Spheres is a collaboration between David Gilmour, the voice and guitar of Pink Floyd, and The Orb, the renowned British ambient/house collective. Together, they created a two-part sonic mixture in a range of styles combining David s unique guitars and The Orb s crafted sound manipulations.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 113 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Gilmour/Orb Jam for a Dark room October 13, 2010

By Harrishawk

Format:Audio CD

Anyone expecting this to be David's next solo album is going to be let down, this is an Orb album. If you read how this album came to be, you will find it was born out of a relaxed jam session with Mr. Gilmour. Later on the Orb realized they had a bunch of David's guitar work on tape, and got his permission to make an album using it. Now we have Metallic Spheres, which should be a blessing to all who cant get enough of wonderful Floydian guitar. Listening to this album however, one feels like there was a missed opportunity. This album was born out of a jam session and for the most part sounds like it. Completely missing are the strong guitar melodies from Floyd and the excellent "On an Island." Instead we have much simpler guitar noodling in the background, which sounds great but makes you yearn for more. One cannot blame David Gilmour for this, he was jamming in someones backyard and someone decided to turn it into an album. A truly thought out and planned collaboration between these artists would have been epic.
For the Orbs part, they do an admirable job of creating a sound tapestry to hold up the guitar recordings. Using a nice mix of both electronic and acoustic sounds, most of the album cruises by on chilled beats that cover familiar territory, including trance, tribal, and dubstep. The overall sound is staunchly old school which could be good or bad depending on your tastes.
With controlled expectations I think many fans of the Orb and David Gilmour will enjoy owning this. Its a relaxing old school techno journey.. and even a little David Gilmour is better than none at all. We should be thankful for experiments like this. With any luck this partnership will grow into something truly special.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't expect too much...Use as directed. October 21, 2010

By zenarrrow

Format:Audio CD

I was way excited for this release. I had ordered the Deluxe edition from the UK, so it took a while to get here. Then I was a little apprehensive reading the reviews, how it did not live up to what people had "EXPECTED".

First off I am a huge Floyd fan, I mean huge. The Orb??? Electronic dance techno? Never heard of them before or listened to any (For an uneducated guess at a genre I know nothing about) techno music at all.

In other reviews it states uninspired ambient music with random samples of Gilmours guitar thrown in hap hazardously. So I was a little deflated before I ever listened to it.

Fast forward til today, received it in the mail. Explained to my wife that I bought electronic music, popped it in the trucks cd player. Didn't groove. Read the liner notes "please use headphones for optimal effect". OK, yeah. Optimal effect, to the fullest. I was gonna let go of any expectation I might have, light up a bowl and close my eyes, with Hi Fi Headphones. Give it an honest listen.

Now for my review, it doesn't seem random to me at all. Well mixed, well timed, mellow music. A nice changed for me. The guitar seems to be layered in perfectly with the music. I have respect for who ever put this together, to listen to samples and blend together so nicely. Seems like it could have taken a long time. No digs on any other reviewer, but open up, man. Maybe it helped that I have never listen to any Orb before.

That's it. Use as directed. Let go of what you might expect from either the Orb or Gilmour, and just enjoy the tunes alone by yourself.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!! October 14, 2010

By brjoro VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

There isn't too much to say about this. You have the Orb creating inspiring soundscapes, and Mr. David Gilmour's guitar scattered throughout on top. It's something many of us have been dreaming about forever, and it almost lives up to expectations. But you know what you are getting when you get these artists, one 28 minute track and one 21 minute track! It's brilliant, gorgeous, good beats, amazing guitar, just a fantastic album. If you are a fan, buy it! You can't go wrong...