The Orb was genesis for me. My interest in electronic and ambient music began with them. Their influence inspired me to listen to Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Orbital, System 7, Ultramarine, The KLF, and Jah Wobble. From there I found Acid House and Madchester, Industrial and Shoegaze. All it took was some little puffy clouds, and a Rickie Lee Jones sample. Simple.

Along the way to 2006 I lost my connection with the Orb. Their later albums, like Orblivion, Cydonia and Bicycles and Tricycles felt inessential and uninspiring. The Orb had created a spectacular sound world with their first three records, but this fascinating place seemed to stop expanding somewhere around 1995. There were still interesting moments, like "Toxygene" on Orblivion or the demented "The Land of Green Ginger" on Bicycles and Tricycles. But honestly I thought the Orb were done.

With the back story out of the way, let me now say that Okie Doke It's the Orb on Kompakt is their best album, in my opinion, since 1992's U.F.Orb. Or at least it's the most fulfilling Orb album from first bleep to the last squelch. Thomas Fehlmann and Dr. Alex have created an absorbing collection, part dub-inflected beats and part pastoral dream works.

For far better descriptions of this album, check out Philip Sherburne's Pitchfork review or Andy Kellman's write-up for All Music.