CityLife

Orbital spin back into action

BACK IN PLAY: Orbital

WE'VE got some news for all you Manchester ravers and it’s very, very good: Orbital are back. It’s official.

Five years after they hung up their weird little laser light headset things (where can we get our hands on a pair of those bad boys?) the twosome who defined the sound of the early '90s acid house scene have announced a string of UK dates including a trip up north to Manchester.

Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll is just as excited as we are.

“When we called it a day five years ago, I was relieved to be honest,” he says.

“The excitement had gone. I went on a really long holiday, then threw myself into solo projects. But gradually I came to miss being on the road.”

Whilst Orbital have been away, dance music has enjoyed something of a renaissance.

Stagnant

The scene that became stagnant with the rise of the superclub has been revitalised by a smattering of new acts returning to a DIY ethic – an ethic that Hartnoll holds dear.

“When we started out, I’d be recording tunes on a four-track whilst all my mates were hassling me to come down the pub.

"I literally finished ‘Chime’ in record time so I could go and get p*ssed. For me the creativity comes when I don’t overthink it.”

Orbital 2009 look set to bring a slice of classic good time dance music back to the UK scene.

“We’ve got a load of old synths that we’ve never taken out on the road before, so they’ll be coming out.

"But I don’t like music that takes itself too seriously, I’ve always been into the big tunes, so we’ll definitely be throwing in our Belinda Carlisle sample.

"I remember one time we left her out and the crowd were obviously gutted. We need Belinda!”

Hartnoll is, though, remaining coy on whether Orbital will go back into the studio to make another album.

“I’m keeping quiet on that!” he laughs.

“I said that we’d never play live again and now I’m having to eat my words.

"So if I don’t say anything then I won’t end up looking like a pillock.”

Orbital play Academy 1 on Friday and Saturday, September 18 and 19. Delphic support. £24.99. Call 0161 832 1111.