Revisiting their first two albums The Green Album and it’s follow up The Brown Album, which were first released more than thirty years ago, both untitled and so retrospectively named after their cover artwork colours by fans, Phil and Paul Hartnoll, AKA Orbital, entranced and enthused Glasgow’s dance crowd tonight with not only the music but also their backdrop visuals, spectacular light show, and playful tropes. Performing to a sold-out venue, Orbital indulged the warm audience with the entirety of both albums.
Nostalgia
Speaking to some of the ravers, this gig had nostalgic moments – the duo played this very venue in 1994. Immersed in those electronic synths for the evening, many of these ravers were blown away by this spellbinding gig.
‘The Green Album’ was up first, promptly on at 7:45pm, which many were unable to get into the venue on time. With queues tailing down the street, the 6:45pm doors were not quite early enough to get everyone in for the start. Nonetheless, it was mesmerising to re-hear the groundbreaking ‘Chime’, and the more sedately ethereal ‘Belfast.’ The Hartnolls have recently restored all the Atari ST sequences and remastered this album.
An otherworldly vibe
Captivating favourite ‘Halcyon and On and On’ of green’s follow-up the ‘brown’ album could’ve spanned an hour, with the audience craving more. The Barrowland was transformed from the dance hall we all know and love with intense laser lighting, alternating visual stimulation and, of course, the brothers were sporting their usual head-torch glasses, adding to this otherworldly vibe.
An early gig for these Orbital revellers that were in it for its entirety, which was a great deal if you consider most tours are normally to promote one new LP – two for the price of one isn’t bad value – it was done by 10:45pm with an after party for some of the more hardcore. It was pleasing to embrace Glasgow’s 90s sweaty dance aura for the evening, for this was one loved-up Scottish crowd.
Featured Picture Credit: Orbital
