Orbital – Orbital (The Brown Album)

Released in May 1993, Orbital's second self-titled album—commonly referred to as The Brown Album—marked a bold leap forward for the Hartnoll brothers. Moving beyond the club-centric focus of their debut, this record embraced a broader sonic palette, blending techno, ambient, breakbeat, and acid with cinematic flair. Tracks like "Lush 3-1," "Remind," and the haunting "Halcyon + On + On" highlight Orbital's ability to craft emotionally resonant electronic music, setting a high bar for the genre.

The album’s layered structures, long track lengths, and carefully placed samples (such as the Star Trek dialogue in “Time Becomes”) earned it both critical acclaim and underground reverence. Its success cemented Orbital's status as one of the most innovative and important acts in 1990s electronic music, and it remains a defining release in the evolution of intelligent dance music (IDM).

Reviews

“Orbital 2 (also known as the Brown Album), constitutes an astounding accomplishment – a timeless masterpiece still virtually unmatched within the genre.” – Sputnikmusic (https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/36238/Orbital-Orbital-2/)

“The Brown Album solidified Orbital's reputation as pioneers of intelligent, emotive electronic music.” – Vinyl Violence (https://vinyl-violence.netlify.app/articles/orbital-orbital-2)

“Orbital are still leading the field.” – Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_(1993_album))

“Orbital's (out-of-)body-music is the true sound of Androgyny-in-the-UK.” – Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_(1993_album))

“The Brown Album is often cited as evidence for the band’s critical standing.” – Stylus Magazine (https://stylusmagazines.com/articles/on_second_thought/orbital-brown-album.html)