The June Curated Issue 2025 - Orbital - ‘Orbital 2 (The Brown Album)’

When British duo Orbital—brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll—emerged from the UK’s early rave scene, they were seen by many as just another act in a sea of post-acid house hopefuls. But with their second full-length studio album, ‘Orbital 2’, commonly known as ‘The Brown Album’ (released in 1993), they completely redefined what electronic music could be.

This wasn’t a compilation of club bangers. It was a cinematic, genre-pushing experience. Following the underground success of their debut ‘Orbital 1 (Green Album)’, the Hartnolls set out to do something far more ambitious. Where their debut felt like a live set captured in the studio, ‘Orbital 2’ was crafted with the dynamics, structure, and cohesion of a rock or classical album, eschewing chart formula for emotional depth and sonic storytelling.

The album dropped during a critical point in UK music history. The rave scene was still thriving, but beginning to fragment under increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and media due to the Criminal Justice Bill and moral panic surrounding electronic dance events. ‘Orbital 2’ responded not with rebellion, but with introspection—taking the euphoric energy of the dancefloor and filtering it through a lens of artful control, progressive composition, and lush atmosphere.

The result is an electronic record that has remained relevant and influential for over three decades, often cited alongside Aphex Twin's ‘Selected Ambient Works’, Underworld’s ‘Dubnobasswithmyheadman’, and Leftfield’s ‘Leftism’ as one of the most important UK electronica albums of the 1990s.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of ambient techno or discovering Orbital for the first time, ‘The Brown Album’ is a must-hear landmark in electronic music history. Below, we offer a full track-by-track analysis of this era-defining album.

1. Time Becomes

Opener "Time Becomes" recycles a Star Trek sample used on the debut album, manipulated via phasing à la Steve Reich to mirror the theme "time becomes a loop". It’s a cerebral and ritualistic entry point—arresting yet subtle.

2. Planet of the Shapes

Featuring crackle and stylus-drop effects, this track disarms listeners only to drop them into a psychedelic breakbeat groove punctuated by a Withnail & I movie quote (“even a stopped clock…”). It sets a playful yet otherworldly tone.

3 & 4. Lush 3.1 / Lush 3.2

Part of a 22‑minute suite lauded for its grandeur, these tracks weave cinematic melodies, organic textures (flutes), and modular beats into a progressive crescendo. Dubbed the centrepiece of the album, it commands as much emotional resonance as any progressive epic.

5. Impact (The Earth Is Burning)

Powered by a prophetic breakbeat from Jack Dangers, this track channels environmental and social anxiety through an emotive vocal sample ("cry for survival"). It's harsh, colourful, and relentless—dreamscapes meet reality.

6. Remind

Picking up the tension, "Remind" washes in atmospheric synths and stale electronic sighs. Its moody tone provides a haunting bridge between frenetic energy and introspective calm.

7. Walk Now…

Anchored by a didgeridoo and samples from a Sydney pedestrian crossing, this track evolves organic elements into swirling acid textures full of cosmic ambiance yet rooted in earthy trance.

8. Monday

A mid‑tempo reflection, "Monday" unfolds from piano loops into full synth percussion. Critics liken its structure to fractal symmetry, balancing pulsing machine beats with emotive brightness.

9. Halcyon + On + On

Clean, lush, and emotional—this 9.5‑minute dreamworld became Orbital’s signature anthem. Over sparkling arpeggios and nostalgic vocals (“It’s a Fine Day”), this track serves as the album’s euphoric climax.

10. Input Out

A brief, sample‑loop outro that closes the album, mirroring “Time Becomes”. It leaves listeners in a sonic limbo, questioning whether time has looped again.

Decades after its release, ‘Orbital 2 (The Brown Album)’ remains an essential record not just for fans of electronic music, but for anyone interested in the evolution of the album format itself. It’s a striking example of how electronic artists could move beyond dancefloor functionality to create works of lasting emotional and artistic value.

Rather than rely on gimmicks or pop features, Orbital trusted their audience's intelligence. They built long-form narratives from intricate loops, shifting textures, and subtly evolving motifs. These tracks don’t just sound good—they tell stories. From the dystopian mood of "Impact (The Earth Is Burning)" to the tear-inducing warmth of "Halcyon + On + On," ‘The Brown Album’ captures an entire range of human experience without a single word sung (aside from manipulated samples).

Critics hailed it at the time for its ambition and scope, and today it remains a cornerstone of ambient techno and progressive electronic music. Reviews on platforms like AllMusic, Pitchfork, and user discussions across Discogs and Reddit consistently rank ‘Orbital 2’ as one of the greatest electronic albums of the 1990s. It’s a masterclass in balancing cerebral composition with gut-level feeling.

Rave on!

Runout Record Club