Orbital – Wonky

Orbital’s first LP since reforming in 2008  initially strikes out into familiar territory: the opening bars of One Big Moment revisit the combination of multilayered spoken-word samples and wistful, glassy chords perfected on 1994’s Snivilisation. Yet it’s soon apparent that the Hartnoll brothers haven’t returned for nostalgia's sake alone. Several tracks embrace dubstep rhythms: the most successful venture, Distractions, entwines hypnotic female vocal samples over intriguingly erratic synth melodies and stuttering beats.

At points, this modern update misfires ever-so-slightly, as on Beelzedub, which veers uncomfortably close to Americanised, Skrillex-style machismo. Such moments are offset by highlights like Stringy Acid, perhaps more of a starry-eyed acid house anthem than Orbital ever recorded in their early 90s halcyon day. This combination of reflective and contemporary elements continues throughout Wonky, which always retains the duo’s familiar, playfully cinematic tone; their ability to absorb new influences within their own distinct universe remains peerless.