THE ORB

Ambient godfather, Alex Paterson, returns with a surprising new album. Alongside the chilled anthems, you’ll hear arms-aloft house and even a touch of drum&bass

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The Orb’s latest album, Abolition of the Royal Familia, was put together in two London studios. One of them is in Notting Hill Gate and was used for a lot of the live recording – strings, drums, some vocals. Initially, Orb-founder and creative linchpin, Alex Paterson, wanted to conduct the Computer Music interview there.

“It’s actually just an empty room with a few patch bays,” he explains, eyes twinkling with impish glee. “I thought it would be interesting to see what you made of a setup that had no gear at all. I suppose I could have claimed we did it all wirelessly.”

In the end, he decided to come clean and invited to the south London studio owned by multi-platinum producer, Martin Glover – aka Youth, bass player with goth/punk legends, Killing Joke.

“This is where we did most of the work. It also looks like a proper studio, which is probably going to work better in the pictures, isn’t it. And we’re allowed to smoke here! We had a couple of complaints at the other place. Sorry, but I have to smoke while working on an album.”

Just in case you’re wondering, Paterson is not talking about 20 Silk Cut purchased from the local Londis.

“There have been a few times where people have said, ‘I can’t come in the studio if you’re smoking’. Looks like we won’t be working together then, eh.” Again, Paterson flashes a cheeky grin.