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The Orb (feat. Lee Scratch Perry): The Observer in the Star House

The End/Cooking Vinyl

Respected for its unmatchable ambient house and electronic music, The Orb—Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann—delve into stripped-down dub plates for experimental producer and dub pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry’s future predictions, righteous proclamations and banal ramblings. While dub, in the wrong hands, easily becomes boring and repetitious, The Orb’s experience keeps the energy flowing, pulling from electronic and live sound sources (including Perry rhythmically slapping pieces of wood together)—from the jungle grooves on “Congo” to the electronic beat stacking of Junior Murvin’s classic “Police & Thieves” and the echo-y deep-space vibe of “Man in the Moon” to vintage riddims of “Hold Me Upsetter.” Orb fans will marvel at “Golden Clouds,” Perry’s stream-of-consciousness rant remix of the group’s popular “Little Fluffy Clouds.”