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Orbital: Snivilisation

Stuart Maconie, Select, July 1994

CAN TECHNO ever really be about anything? Or, should we say, about anything more meaningful than fluffy clouds and getting substantially out of it. Than sheer sonic loveliness and the ruthless hedonism of the dancefloor. Well, you'd like to think so. wouldn't you? If anyone Ii going to convince sceptics, it will be the Hartnoll brothers, aka Orbital. Over two untitled albums and several compelling Eps, they've staked a powerful claim to be the best, perhaps in the world, at this particular thing. And what is that thing? Techno does it no justice certainly. It's modem electronic music using the studio as a compositional tool — how's that for a sexy movement title. New Wave Of New Wave! — and Snivilisation is as wonderful an example of it as you're likely to hear at the present.

Total word count of piece: 364

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