The collection is set for release on October 25th through Cooking Vinyl.
Photo credit: Alex Paterson – Official
Alex Paterson, creator of The Orb, is set to release ‘Orboretum: The Orb Collection’—a career-spanning anthology—on October 25th, 2024 through Cooking Vinyl. This compilation showcases three decades of pioneering electronic music, highlighting the band’s boundary-pushing sound innovations.
The collection will be available in multiple formats. A limited-edition quadruple vinyl set in a striking octagonal package, a 2CD version, and digital formats. Curated by Dr. Alex Paterson himself, the anthology blends new and rare tracks, offering both longtime fans and newcomers a comprehensive journey through The Orb’s sonic universe.
The anthology features recent successes from albums like ‘Abolition Of The Royal Familia’ (2020) and ‘Prism’ (2023). Paterson describes it as “a sort of director’s cut, reframing our output, making new neural pathways, and new juxtapositions. Some of these tracks are 30 years apart, but there are clear through lines, a continuum.”
The vinyl ‘Orboretum’ presents four transparent, colored records symbolizing the seasons, accompanied by Kris Needs’ sleeve notes that explore the botanical theme. This anthology is neatly divided: discs A and B feature The Orb’s Universal work, while discs C and D spotlight collaborations with indie labels such as Cooking Vinyl, Kompakt, Malicious Damage, and Liquid Sound Design.
Alex Paterson’s impact on electronic music is profound. Evolving from punk roots to pioneering acid house and chill-out genres, he has been a constant innovator. The Orb’s journey from underground to mainstream success demonstrates their enduring influence and relevance.
Pre-order ‘Orboretum: The Orb Collection’ here.
