Orb Remastered 2 CD editions

Ok so questions for the truly orbsessed -

Island and Universal rereleased the first 5 Orb albums with a remastered sound and an additional disc of rarer mixes and b-sides.

All of them, save Ultraworld, seem impossible to acquire without handing over the odds on discogs -- I just checked today and no one is even selling the orblivion and pomme fritz editions.

Anyone have any clue how to try and find these elusive releases?

-or-

are they even worth it? I vaguely remember someone saying they edited a bunch of the slug story on slug dub, which is slightly offensive... could be my shoddy memory.

- thnx, d-lo

Really. They seem to have sat on the shelf at the record store for ages, and then eventually just dried up I guess. I got the Orbvs Terrarum and Orblivion ones for regular store prices.

I love the orb, and in particular the albums that were given the re-mastered 2xCD treatment (U.F., Terrarvm, Orblivion), but TBQH the expanded editions are a little underwhelming... a lot of the remixes are just "Ambient Mix" or "Andy's Ambient Dub" and aren't anything special.

I bought my remastered Orblivion a couple of years ago in an HMV in Ireland (lol), didn't know they were so hard to come by these days.

Yes, what you remember about "Slug Dub" is true. "Orbus Terrarum" is one of my all-time favorite albums, but when I listen to it, I prefer listening to my original copy, not the expanded/remastered one.

Listen to the radio.

  On 1/12/2014 at 8:25 PM, apriorion said:

Yes, what you remember about "Slug Dub" is true. "Orbus Terrarum" is one of my all-time favorite albums, but when I listen to it, I prefer listening to my original copy, not the expanded/remastered one.

Listen to the radio.

Actually there were effectively two different versions of the original 'Orbvs Terrarvm'. The UK one always had an edited version of Slug Dub on it that was slightly shorter than on the double LP. I think it was either the US or Canadian edition that had the full length version with the rest of the "story" samples on it. No idea why, since the track in unedited form clearly fitted onto the CD.

hmm -- thanks guys.

Did some more research and I already have *some* of the bonus cuts from the toxygene and oxbow lakes singles and whatnot, still doesn't completely satiate my orb-completist issues. Might have to let them sit in the ye old wantlist until the right moment arises, if ever. Bummer.

Good thing is that the original albums are so good they'll last me till the end.

IMO can't think of too many artists where their first five albums/artistic statements all hit an incredible level of quality but try something new each time. Maybe only ae...

huh, these really do seem off the map. I remember picking up the 2cd Orblivion to listen on my flight back to California from Italy.

  On 1/12/2014 at 10:36 PM, dr lopez said:

IMO can't think of too many artists where their first five albums/artistic statements all hit an incredible level of quality but try something new each time. Maybe only ae...

And then after that, sadly it's over, LOL.

I have the U.F.Orb and Orbus Terrarum 2xCD reissues and one thing I can say with certainty is that the remaster job on these is excellent and very tasteful (eg: no brickwalling or clipping, still some headroom on the mix, etc.) which is something that I am always trepidatious about when it comes to remasters.

Whenever I see these for sale they are usually too expensive (nearly $40 USD) and they don't seem to be coming down in price! I would definitely like to get them all.

You're right about these first 5 Orb albums Lopez... You can hear the attention to psychedelic detail in these tracks. UFOrb soundtracked a tumultuous period in my life and will forever have a great emotional weight for me.

Also, I did not know about the extended Slug Dub. Great track so I need to find it!

that's good to hear G-Sanch. I can't imagine needing a remaster on Orblivion, mix is lush as fuck on that one.... but Terrarum comes a bit flat and quiet to me. Have been craving the remastered edition since i was kicked of what.cd lol

A bit off topic but are any of you Orb fans aware of this https://krisweston.com/

Thanks for sharing that Weston link, Mindphaser. Whenever I revisit the Orb, I often wonder where Thrash is, and this looks pretty cool.

I have most of them and they all sound great. Not too bothered about most of the additional content.

Orbus Terrarum is one of my favorite albums of all time.

well update a year later and I now have ultraworld and pomme fritz -- pomme fritz sounds indistinguishable from the original. Ultraworld is a looooot louder. I guess thats a good thing? I'm just so used to the old one.

:L

I found some on the fnac.com website, here's the link to the Orbvs Terrarvm remaster (well, 2CD, including bonus tracks, out in 2008, that must be it !) for about 13€ if you're still interested

The Orb is the band I always WANTED to love, but beside Terrarvm I never got that deep into their music...Only gave Orblivion and Ultraworld 1 or 2 listens in years. Should spin them more !