New releases last four weeks: Techno (All)

Review: Although their debut single 'Chime' hit the UK top 20, it's the duo's iconic second album in 1993 that marks the moment when the Hartnoll brothers transcended the UK rave underground and became bona fide electronic superstars. This faithful reissue brings back a record that didn't just capture the spirit of the time i it helped shape it. The Brown Album takes Orbital's sound to a new level of sophistication and emotional depth. Tracks like 'Halcyon + On + On' are serene, dreamlike soundscapes that remain some of the most beautiful in electronic music history. Meanwhile, 'Lush 3-1' builds and blossoms with hypnotic layers, a masterclass in dynamic progression, a perfect balance between transcendence and tension. 'Remind' and 'Impact (The Earth Is Burning)' are pulsing techno beasts that dip and drive, blending rave intensity with atmospheric richness. Each track flows into the next with seamless ease, crafting a journey that feels both epic and intimate. The Brown Album isn't just a milestone in Orbital's career i it's a timeless work that continues to influence electronic music today. Essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the genre's evolution.

Review: Originally released in 1993, seminal UK duo Orbital's Brown Album marked a bold leap forward in emotional depth and sonic ambition for electronic music. Tracks like 'Halcyon + On + On,' 'Impact (The Earth Is Burning)' and 'Lush 3-1/3-2' showcase the duo's masterful blend of driving rhythms and lush melodic textures. It was hailed as an instant classic at the time and made Mixmag's Best Dance Albums of All Time list. It has endured well over the last 30 years and is now reissued on vinyl for the first time in a decade, with a half-speed remaster and new liner notes by Andrew Harrison.

Review: Last year, the Hartnoll brothers gave their debut album, 1991's 'Green Album' (officially simply titled Orbital) the deluxe reissue treatment, offering an expanded quadruple CD edition backed with a detail-packed hardback book. They've now moved on to its similarly superb sequel (the 'Brown Album') from 1993. It gets a similar treatment, with a freshly remastered version of the original album (CD1) being joined by two discs of single versions, B-sides, remixes and 'Peel Session' cuts (including legendary Underworld and Psychik Warriors Ov Gaia takes on 'Lush 3', and the duo's own originally US-only extension of 'Impact'), and a fourth CD containing a previously unreleased live recording from the Limelight in New York in 1992. Oh, and a fine hardback book telling the story of the album. An early Christmas present for Orbital fans!

Review: The iconic UK duo's equally recognisable second self-titled album i better known as the Brown Album i remains a towering achievement of early 90s electronic music. Originally released in 1993, it blurred techno, ambient and rave into a sprawling, richly detailed soundscape. This deluxe reissue, spread across four records, is the most rewarding edition into one of the genre's most enduring masterpieces. The remastered original tracks i from the shimmering melancholia of 'Halcyon + On + On' to the urgent pulse of 'Impact (The Earth Is Burning)' i still sound breathtakingly vital. 'Lush 3-1' and 'Lush 3-2' in particular benefit from the new half-speed vinyl cut, giving extra weight to their cascading synths and intricate rhythms. The real treasure for longtime fans lies in the bonus material including live recordings like the propulsive 'The Naked and the Dead' and the hypnotic 'Sunday'. Meanwhile, the lavish packaging i complete with a hardcover book, vintage flyers, and even a slipmat i reinforces how pivotal this album was in shaping Orbital's legacy. Sprawling yet intimate, futuristic yet deeply human, the Brown Album still feels like a world unto itself i and now, it's more expansive than ever.

Review: There's a strong argument to be made that 1993's Orbital II, popularly known as 'The Brown Album', is the Hartnoll brothers' finest single album - a sublime fusion of bustling breakbeats, heady vocal samples (many provided by then unknown vocalist Alison Goldfrapp), twisted acid lines, memorable melodic motifs, and rush-inducing breakdowns. Here reissued in remastered and expanded form, the set - which includes fan favourites 'Lush 3', 'Halcyon' and the superb 'Impact (The Earth is Burning)' the album sounds as fresh and forthright as ever. This time round, it includes a second CD featuring key cuts from the two-part 'Raddicio' EP (including two takes on the Scott Walker-sampling 'The Naked & The Dead') and superb revisions of Lush 3 by Underworld and Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia.