U.F. Off: The Best of Orb [IMPORT]

The Orb

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 17, 1998)
• Original Release Date: November 17, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Island UK
• ASIN: B00000DLV2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #250,720 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This celebration of the British ambient-dance group's first 10 years is one for all electronic tastes. Whether you like your beats hard and fast or slow and gentle, U.F. Off has something for everyone, with each of the album's 12 compositions wrapped generously in the Orb's uniquely dubbed-out style. Orb aficionados will enjoy some new mixes of old favorites, such as "Little Fluffy Clouds" by LFC and "A Huge Ever Growing Brain..." by Orbital, while newcomers will be drawn by the timeless sunrise aura of "Blue Room" and "Pi (Part 1)." However, it is during the pulsating reggae throb of "Perpetual Dawn (Solar Youth Mix)" and the metronomic trance-floor classic "Assassin" that the Orb's richest identity shines. The first 15,000 copies from the label come with a 12-song bonus disc containing further riches, rarities, and previously unreleased recordings. --Steffan Chirazi

URB
This 10-year-career retrospective [is] not only a good educational tool and convenient buy for new listeners, but an essential volume for the collectors as well.... The main collection contains many songs that were originally released as singles, featuring seven-inch and other rare mixes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a ripoff. Buy the albums instead., March 21, 1999

By A Customer

If you like the Orb, you probably already own at least half the music on this CD. A word of advice - just go buy the rest. Don't waste your hard-earned money on this CD.There is NOTHING NEW on this disc and the tracks don't flow together nearly as well as they do on the original albums.If you really have your heart set on an Orb compilation, may I suggest the spectacular "Morphology" as a much better investment.When I got done listening to this CD, I felt like the victim of some greedy record company's slimy little stunt to rake in a few extra bucks on a popular artist. Luckily I had a friend who was intent on buying the album, so I was able to get rid of my copy and save her a few bucks at the same time.P.S. After that I tried the 2-CD version of U.F. Off (this review is being typed for the one-CD version). It is a little better with a few interesting remixes on the second disc, but hardly worth the 20 bucks you'll shell out (unless you're a total die-hard).-FrancisH in Redmond, WA

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Greatest hits doesnt quite capture their magic, May 29, 2000

By	Richard Diaz (Centerville, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Greatest hits albums are usually a safe bet. After all, why settle for filler when all the good songs can be found on a convenient compilation? The exception to this rule is The Orb, one of the seminal bands of the 90's and arguably electronica's biggest act from `91-93. For this group, their albums of ambient-house music emphasized the whole over the sum of its parts. Picking out key songs may conveniently recap their career but doesn't capture the mood of their long, hypnotic sets.

Now, this does have their obvious hits, but for many reasons this album is still aimed for the Orb fan already. For instance, nearly all the 12 tracks are remixed to a varying degree, and half the songs are the better titles culled from their later, less successful releases.

As for the songs, leading off is an excellent Orbital dance mix of "A Huge...," with it's chugging beat, array of sound samples (a trademark of all Orb songs) and "Loving You" sample. There is, but of course, "Little Fluffy Clouds," sounding as good today - even in VW Beetle ads- as it did back then. "Perpetual Dawn" showcases the band's other tendencies: occasional raga sounds and cheeky humor. "Blue Room" is a good synopsis of their work, with it's blippy beat, effects, and voices worming in and out. "Assassin" is a minimal track, with a keyboard melody very similar to Sasha's "Xpander." "Pomme Fritz" features warped sounds but little else compelling, "Toxygene" is even more comically absurd and upbeat than their normal work, and "Outlands," like many other songs, is pulled from their first two albums. Rounding out the disc are the electro-tinged "DJ Asylum," the chaotic and poor "Mickey Mars," the too long skit/song "Towers of Dub," and the simple "Pi."

Getting this is a good choice for fans who want an easy Orb fix of their catchiest songs. Those looking to try The Orb, however, should get the magnificent The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld, their as-good follow up U.F. Orb, or the comprehensive Orb Live '93 set. U.F. Off may earn four stars, but it's their fourth-best release.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Selection of Orb Hits, November 9, 1999

By	Fernando Reiter ([e-mail]) (Monterrey, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This is a good selection of the Orb, so if you don't know the Orb this might be a good CD to get started. If you are an Orb fan, then you might want to get all of the other CDs instead of this one. But If you are really crazy about the Orb, then yeah, go ahead and buy it... I don't think you will regret it.