Strange Cargo/William Orbit
Hinterland

Torch Song
Toward the Unknown Region
DISCOVERY/N-GRAM

Finally being licensed for US distribution by the small Warner-backed Discovery, two of the brightest releases from William Orbit's UK N-Gram label were made available this January. William Orbit is an industry veteran, but due to the quirky nature of record label politics, his work has remained slightly out of the American spotlight for the past few years. The history of Orbit's projects can be traced from the late 80's with his techno-funky Bassomatic and the first two Torch Song albums with UK singer Laurie Mayer, through the early 90's in his partnership in the creation of Guerilla Records, the springboard for notable progressive house artists such as Spooky and D.O.P., and the debut of the cinematic Strange Cargo series on IRS. In 1995, Orbit established his own creative forum, N-Gram, now a source of releases that all receive the touch of his trademark production: Caroline Lavelle's Spirit, the fourth Strange Cargo album Hinterland, and Torch Song'sToward the Unknown Region. In its first year, N-Gram has proved to be the homestead of an artist responsible for some of the most beautiful music ever created.

Beginning with elements of ambient and dub, Orbit adds an immense dimension of imagery and color where meticulous attention to the sound's emotional impact can be heard on every note. The StrangeCargo series is the vehicle with which this approach is explored.Hinterland is the fourth in a series following '94's stunning Strange Cargo3, so flowing with versatility and exotic imagery, a short film and CD ROM of the same title was produced in its wake. Strange Cargo3 was an aural feast--sensual, rich layers of sound, spanning a range from polished electronic dub to ambient paranoia. Not as excessive as its predecessor, Hinterland is a leanercompliment, a return to essential, dance-oriented dub rhythms with room to breathe, but still ornamented with Orbit's seductive use of affected guitar, piano and strings.Hinterland also retains its share of moods: the sad movement of the single "Million Town"; a story-like suspense to the upbeat, sweeping surges of "Montok Point"; a heartbreak charm to the Flamenco-meets-dub "ElNinjo"; and the foreboding beauty of the Harold Budd-like "Lost in Blue." A more minimal construction than the grandiose Strange Cargo3, Hinterlandis no less breathtaking.

Torch Song's Toward the Unknown Region, produced with the help of Rico Conning and long-time collaborator Laurie Mayer, is Orbit's formula deconstructed even further. Toward... is a collaboration born in the true concept of dub--throbbing sub-bass lines, improvisation, and waves of reverberation. The opening track "Raphael" forecasts the album's tone as low-frequency bass churns the slow rhythms forward under echoes of sparse electronics, lazy guitar notes, and lush vocals. Throughout the fluid dub panorama of Toward...Mayer's vocals hover over Orbit's rippling sound layers like a remote, guilty pleasure, often resonating with the delicate quality of a Julie Cruise ("Shine on Me," "Field of View"). Toward the Unknown Region is entitled as a reference to the mysterious passage from earthly existence we must all inevitably face. If the journey is anything like the passage through the mysteries of these two albums, there is nothing to fear. (Andrew Monko)