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Listening to my entire collection


thanosp81

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As discussed in this topic I was long thinking of trying to listen to my entire collection. One album (or disc) every day with headphones on so I can truly dedicate myself to it. There are 2 main reasons to it. Firstly, to discover hidden gems. As you grow tastes changed and you start to listen to the same music in different ways. Secondly, it would help me achieve another goal. I want to concentrate on quality rather quantity of the new music I buy each month. 

Granted my collection is not that huge (I do not consider myself a collector), less than 1400 releases (or 1700 discs) according to my OrangeCD database. Still, it would take me some years to listen through it all, not counting the new music purchased each month. I expect to fail miserably, but so did I when i first quit smoking but it's been over 3 years now that I'm nicotine (and thousands of other substances) free B). No hurt in trying.

The way I plan to do it is by choosing a label, artist or series and listen to them in order of being released to have an idea of how the sound changed/evolved throughout the years. The issue is that 2/3 of my collection are back in Greece so I cannot start with what I would really like, that being the releases from the legendary greek magazine Lemon but I'll manage :).

https://www.discogs.com/label/50787-Lemon-Magazine

Each listen will be accompanied by a photo of the physical  media and a short blurp. 

Stay tuned.

 

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Shall we start then? First group to make an appearance:

The Orb.

I first heard The Orb by purchasing the single Toxygene. For a 15 year old already to Rave, Trance and Goa (mostly) didn't sound like anything groundbreaking. It was nice and all but that was it. And that's the case with most of their discography which was purchased much later on. I do not know what the impact was when they first started and how people reacted to the new Ambient House (?) at the time. I can only judge by today's standards (which I now is not fair).

https://www.discogs.com/The-Orb-The-Orbs-Adventures-Beyond-The-Ultraworld/release/730292

For a new group to start with a double album, and a weird one that is, it is a big thing. So kudos to that. For sure their music is trippy, distinct and probably fresh at the time. It established The Orb sound that would follow them for many years (not for ever though). Mostly important for historical reasons if nothing else.

Hint: If you are planning to purchase it now go for the Deluxe edition. Very well done and it's worth it.

 

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1 hour ago, technosomy said:

nice one

never really got into these guys, but have heard this album

they were def pushing some barriers at that time

 

Yes, they were. And you can tell they didn't give a F*** about the norm at the time. However, I don't think it has aged very well.

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https://www.discogs.com/The-Orb-UFOrb/release/13274

A year later here comes their second album. The Orb sound they established with their first album but a little more experimental and more effects used. I actually likes it better, it gave me the impression that it was a little more playful than their previous releases. A trend that unfortunately wont continue :( 

 

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9 hours ago, U.F.Orb said:

UFOrb is the best Orb album IMO ;)

Had many many hours of soul searching with this one.

A Real diamond !

 

Well, your username gives it away :P But yeah, I agree. I think it was their best album, at least before they went a bit more commercial.

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https://www.discogs.com/Orb-Live-93/release/380589

I was never really into releases of live recordings. Most of the time they fail to capture the magic of a live and if they do, they just make you sad that you weren't there to experience it. Except if you were, then it is an excellent piece of memory :P 

However, with The Orb, this is where they shine. It makes you understand that The Orb is not about clean recordings in a studio, but about the dirt of a live and self improvisation in front of a crowd. Tracks distorted beyond recognition and heavy use of samples they (we) love to use. And effects, lots and lots and lots of effects. Not recommended for headphone listening. My head hurts. 

Still great though :) 

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13 hours ago, thanosp81 said:

Well, your username gives it away :P But yeah, I agree. I think it was their best album, at least before they went a bit more commercial.

agree, they changed rather dramatically but had some great tracks spread out amongst next albums, but their collaborations were great!

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Listening to my entire Collection: Entry #4

https://www.discogs.com/Orb-Orbus-Terrarum/release/93060

There is a point where you are using effects just for the shake of using them. Too much distortion, too much noise. Pass.

Edit: That's my daughters hand. She refused to take it away :P 

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Listening to my entire Collection: Entry #5

https://www.discogs.com/Orb-Auntie-Aubreys-Excursions-Beyond-The-Call-Of-Duty-The-Orb-Remix-Project/release/13937

There is a fine line on categorising a remixed release as either an album or a compilation. You are never quite sure which is it. Well with The Orb that line vanishes, because this is where they shine (ehmm, and their lives). They take well known (and not so known) tracks and they own them, they distort and change them so much that in the end you cannot but give full credit to them. The original artist just provided some samples and loops by now (sorry :wub:). 

Combine that with an excellent quality packaging and a thick booklet full of details, 2 discs full of tracks.....recorded....in....mono... and from vinyl (audible)? WTF???

My advice, by the original release for the packaging, throw away the discs and substitute them with the remastered version. I hope the sound engineer was fired.

 

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Listening to my entire Collection: Entry #6

https://www.discogs.com/Orb-Orblivion/release/434489

We reached the year 1997 and for me this is a turning point in the sound of The Orb. You could say that this album is divided into two halves. The first part is more melodic with less, in your face, effects and more structured. The second half is your typical at the time sound of The Orb.
A lot of people were fascinated by the first tracks, but an equal number were complaining they were going commercial. 
I admit I liked the first part more as well. However, the whole album is what I have in mind as the sound of The Orb. In the end, is about diversity :)

NOTE: This entry should be about their EP Toxygene but since is located with my main collection back in Greece it will have to be on a future day.

https://www.discogs.com/Orb-Toxygene/release/13935

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Entry #7

https://www.discogs.com/Orb-Cydonia/release/2732

???? Who messed up my cds? I was listening the discography of The Orb. How did that get in here? Oh, I picked the right case, it's only the disc that's swapped. I swear it was my daughter....Hmmm, the disc is the right one. What the hell is going on? How can that be The Orb?

It is not, and I fucking love it. Fans infuriated by them going commercial (considering). I mean, vocals? And not samples, actual singing voices with Trip Hop rhythms. It strikes the perfect balance between easy to follow downtempo music combined with the playfulness and experimentation of The Orb.

GEM :excl::excl::excl:

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Entry #8

https://www.discogs.com/Orb-Auntie-Aubreys-Excursions-Beyond-The-Call-Of-Duty-Part-2-The-Orb-Remix-Project/release/224532

Second entry of Auntie Aubrey's Excursions Beyond The Call Of Duty. A 2 cd compilation of tracks remixed by The Orb. As I said before, this is where they shine. Actually it sounds more "Orb" than their albums around that time. Just get it, it's worth it.

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Entry #9

https://www.discogs.com/The-Orb-The-Dream/release/1510465

Well that's pleasantly surprising. The Orb of 2008 sounds more like classic Orb than their previous albums. Maybe being released in Liquid Sound Design had something to do with it. Or the people that joined The Orb bandwagon for this album, or is it a collection of older tracks  <_< skillfully compiled into an album? 

Doesn't matter, it sounds cool, it sounds Orb.

P.S. At this point I should be listening to 
https://www.discogs.com/The-Orb-The-Orb-Versus-Freeze/release/1458582
but again, it is with my main collection in Greece.

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Entry #13

So after The Orb I decided to increase the bmps a bit :) Of to Cronomi Records and some fresh Psychedelic Trance. One of the few labels that joined the NeoGoa movement and has something interesting to say without its artists blindly copying the Etnica/Pleiadians sound.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Freshly-Cut-Tomato/release/1390986

With a quirky title that at first you think there is no connection with the music included. But re-listening to the compilation I think I get it. It's a fresh sound and exactly like tomatoes nobody loves them but nobody hates them either. It is a very solid first comp with all tracks being more than average (but not great either). My only complain is that in a lot of tracks you can easily hear the software synths used for their creation. 

Good start

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1 hour ago, Ormion said:

I know you had, check the very first post :) 

1 hour ago, Ormion said:

Still going strong. I've managed to listen to 205, only 1166 to go! :lol:

That's good, only  years to go, presuming you don't buy any new music, :lol:

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14 hours ago, Richpa said:

Thank you for keeping this topic alive and posting your entries. It's fun to read your comments about the music and full respect for supporting the scene.

Posting about them helps me keep on track. Gives purpose. As long as people post a comment here and there :rolleyes:

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