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Revolution

Recaptures the formula that once, a decade ago, made them great. [Apr 2001, p.111]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Cydonia, like much of Orb's output, shows a dual inclination toward ambient backgrounds and melodic, Massive Attack-style foregrounds--a tendency no doubt encouraged by its additional collaborators, who range from a host of engineers to old friend Robert Fripp. However, considering how few electronic acts have translated the indulgences of studio tomfoolery into consistently great records, it's reassuring that Orb has weathered its unplanned hiatus and released another winner.

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Sonicnet

With Cydonia, Paterson continues on the trippy trajectory he established in 1989 with his debut 22-minute single, "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From the Centre of the Ultraworld."

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Magnet

Cydonia is a welcome return to the sensual, dubby, progressive trance that marked its best early work... [#50, p.102]

Pitchfork

Though Cydonia is far from being a dull, sequencer-heavy Namlook ambient release, it regrettably sounds irrelevant in today's climate.

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Dot Music

If you didnt get 'U.F.Orb' or 'Orblivion', this ain't going to change your mind. If youve never heard The Orb before, though, this is as good an introduction as any.

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The Wire

It's an extremely listenable record, full of stray moments of delightful mischief, but it's as innovative as a favourite old armchair. [1/2001, p.63]

CDNow

Cydonia breaks little new ground.

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New Musical Express

Cydonia is a stillborn relic, flawed throughout by chronically stunted ambitions.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

bosnia t gave it a 9:
I think that the mormons are tied into the antichrist plan with mars and they hold religious beliefs like the cydonians did

[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
The best electronic album ever made!

Ian M. gave it a 10:
FANTASTIC!! The orb never cease to amaze me! You are taken beyound the realms of normality to the place that can only be Ultraworld. Yeh......

Nina Nine gave it a 10:
It sounded that it is an old concept in different package. But after several days of playing it, I found brand new Orb-esque world. Awesome.

Mike G. gave it an 8:
The Orb's most listenable "pop" since '93. At first listen, seems uninnovative - until you listen to 95% of the other music out there. This album gets better with every listen, a rare trait that gets Cydonia an extra bonus point or two. Adding vocals to a couple of tracks freshen up the Orb's formula and Promis stands out as an absolutely excellent and quintessential track. Like the rest of the Orb's best work, Promis sucks the listener into another world.

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Cydonia

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