The Orb: Bicycles And Tricycles : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

As pioneering dance producers, the Orb symbolize a sound that preceded, as well as overrode, most electronic music. On Bicycles and Tricycles, central figure Alex Patterson pulls together the biggest number of Orb collaborators ever, some from the past (Jimmy Cauty, Thomas Fehlmann), some new (the Corpral, Soom-T). The latter are MCs who bring a fresh dimension to the dubbed-out soundscape on "Aftermath" and "Prime Evil." Although previously un-traversed territory for the group, these voices blend into the foundation of low-down bass waves and hollow beats. Bicycles and Tricycles clings to the familiar Orb-esque sound of hallucinogenic, pulsating rhythms, but other new areas are also explored such as on "Gee Strings," where things get quite upbeat and house-y. But the gist of the Orb -- that is, spacious, dub-sprung, deep collages, like "Hell's Kitchen" -- are still the main attraction on Bicycles and Tricycles.