SPILL NEWS: TILDA SWINTON FEATURES ON NEW ORBITAL SINGLE “DEEPEST” AFTER HER PERFORMANCE ON STAGE WITH THE DUO AT GLASTONBURY LAST YEAR

TILDA SWINTON FEATURES ON NEW ORBITAL SINGLE “DEEPEST” AFTER HER PERFORMANCE ON STAGE WITH THE DUO AT GLASTONBURY LAST YEAR

ORBITAL’S GROUNDBREAKING BROWN ALBUM SET FOR REISSUE ON MAY 23 ON LONDON RECORDS

Orbital’s seminal second album, commonly known as the Brown Album, will be re-released on May 23 via London Records on vinyl, cassette, CD and digital platforms. It is the first time the album has been pressed on vinyl for over a decade.

The Brown Album reissue celebrates the legacy of the groundbreaking 1993 album which pushed the boundaries of electronic music and solidified Orbital’s place as the Godfathers of Rave. Alongside the release, Orbital will be continuing their series of LEDs (Limited Edition Drops), with the 4th instalment in the form of Radiccio, their 4-track 1992 release, out now digitally and available to purchase on a 12” vinyl reissue.

To coincide with the announcement, new single “Deepest” featuring Tilda Swinton, is out now digitally via the Radiccio EP. The Academy Award-winning actor joins The Godfathers of Rave for this brand new interpretation of their 1989 track “Deeper” It has been released due to phenomenal demand after the iconic actor made a surprise appearance at Glastonbury 2024, joining Orbitalon the Park Stage. Her hypnotic recitation captivated the live audience and quickly went viral online and became a standout moment of the festival.

The Brown Album reissue will be released with 23 additional tracks – rarities and previously unreleased material from the Brown Album period. The album has been cut at half speed, to ensure maximum audio fidelity. It will be available in a host of special physical formats, with the vinyl box set featuring a special hardback book containing unseen photos, a slipmat, a track-by-track by Phil and Paul Hartnoll themselves, and interviews and essays on the making of the album by esteemed music journalist Andrew Harrison. Also included are rare mixes from Underworld, CJ Bolland and Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia.

PRE-ORDER/SAVE ORBITAL 2 (THE BROWN ALBUM EXPANDED)

Released in 1993, the Brown Album defied expectations and had a significant genre and cultural impact – showcasing the duo’s scope and ambition. It was also met with widespread critical acclaim upon release, with NME awarding it 9/10 in their review, and it was chosen as one of Mixmag’s best albums of all time. The album staked out a creative space far beyond the reductive world of by-numbers rave bangers, and featured experimental elements inspired by avant-garde composer Steve Reich and nods to their squat-punk roots. Tracks like “Satan” resonated with the “crusty rave” scene, finding a welcoming audience at Megadog nights. The album’s blend of diverse influences and its rejection of conventional norms helped to solidify Orbital’s reputation as innovative artists, expanding the horizons of electronic music beyond local DJ nights.

Another standout track, “Halcyon + On + On,” became an instant classic, known for its ethereal atmosphere and haunting vocal sample from Opus III’s “It’s a Fine Day.” The track’s dreamy progression and uplifting yet melancholic tone made it a staple in film soundtracks and DJ sets, embodying the emotional depth electronic music could achieve. The album also includes “Impact (The Earth Is Burning)” – another defining moment, and “Lush 3-1” and “Lush 3-2.”

With the Brown Album, brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll created a unique listening experience, developed from live performances, moving their sound on from their debut, Green Album released two years prior. It explores wider ranges of sounds than previously heard from the duo as they had evolved from the M25 to an international touring act – from ambient textures to hard-hitting techno, didgeridoo, and sampling an Australian pedestrian light. It was created at the Strongroom Studio in London’s Shoreditch – a Brill building of rave and a true hub of creativity influencing the album’s direction. The album encapsulates the energy of early 90s rave culture and draws inspiration from diverse sources such as Mutoid Waste parties and the emerging jungle scene of the time.

Following well received headline performances last year in the U.S., including SOLD OUT dates in New York City, Chicago and appearances at Ultra Festival in Miami and Coachella in Indio, CA, Orbital are currently in the midst of the UK and European leg of their Brown & Green Album Tour, recently playing shows in Amsterdam, Paris, Belfast, Glasgow and more.  They play London’s Brixton Academy on Saturday, April 5. For a full list of live shows and to purchase tickets, please visit www.orbitalofficial.com/live.

Orbital will release their reissue of the Brown Album on May 23 via London Records.

Pre-Order/Save the album HERE.

UK & EU Tour Dates

04/04 – O2 Academy – Leeds, UK
04/05 – O2 Academy Brixton – London, UK
06/28 – Paradise City – Belgium, Germany
07/11 – BBK Live 2025 – Bilbao, Spain**
07/24 – PopMesse – Brno, Czech Republic**
07/26 – Forest Fest Music & Arts Festival – Emo, Co. Laois, Ireland**
08/01 – Wilderness Festival – Oxfordshire, UK**
08/02 – Scarborough Open Air Theatre with Faithless – Scarborough, UK

**Festival Date

Artist Links

Main Photo Credit: Steve Price