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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Blue Album
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 16 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: HTI / ATO
Release Date: 10 August 2004
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Electronic
Summary
After 15 years and six albums, the brothers Hartnoll are calling it quits with this final release. Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance) guests on one track, with The Sparks collaborating on another.
Also By This Artist: The Altogether
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Under The Radar
An incredible electronic journey... A perfect ending for both Orbital and for fans. [#7]
Filter
The Blue Album is buxomly abundant with the Orbital's usual cinemascopic electronic psychedelia. [#12, p.100]
Rolling Stone
[Orbital is] leaving on a high note. [28 Oct 2004, p.100]
The Wire
Marks a return to the kind of intricately interleaved rhythms, seamless progressions and aching harmonies that characterise their earlier sound. [#245, p.69]
Pitchfork
In a way, the album simply highlights many of the reasons why Orbital have been so beloved for the past decade-and-a-half.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
While Blue Album doesn’t break any moulds, match their best records from the mid 90s or (quite) end their career on a triumphant high, it will almost certainly find favour with old fans because it’s an undeniably good record, certainly their best since The Middle Of Nowhere and possibly even since In Sides.
Read Full Review >Uncut
A sleek and satisfying sixth album--their best since 1994's Snivilisation. [Jul 2004, p.110]
PopMatters
The Blue Album is the quintessential Orbital album, because it manages to hit every expectation that the duo have created over the course of their 15-year career. But it meets these expectations, quite brilliantly in places, without ever truly exceeding them.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Returns to the epic beauty that characterised their early work. [Aug 2004, p.116]
The Guardian
The Blue Album is more subtly beats-based than its predecessors; it has lengthy, almost classical sequences, and dark textures that are hard work at first but gradually reveal a haunting depth and beauty.
Read Full Review >Almost Cool
While it might not be a full exclamation point ending to their career, it's far better than a fall on the face.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
This might be quality above innovation, but it’s also maturity above cliché, and above all, passion over cynicism.
Read Full Review >Urb
Orbital's swan song is a welcome addition to an epic, if uneven, catalog. [Oct 2004, p.104]
New Musical Express
Listening to 'Blue' is like meeting your first girlfriend ten years on, and realising that the things you fell in love [with] are long gone. [19 Jun 2004, p.56]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Winston M gave it a9:
A nice ending to the Orbital chapter, This album requires alittle bit of listening to in order to get the most from it (Durr!) but is a splendid piece of work.
Dmitri P gave it a 9:
It is a must have album for Orbital fans! Aproximate Japanese Album Release Content & Other: 01. Transient 02. Pants 03. Tunnel vision 04. Lost 05. You lot 06. Initiation 07. Acid pants 08. Technologicque park 09. One perfect sunrise 10. What happens next 11. Bath time 12. Easy serv 13. One perfect sunrise [Edit] 14. Initiation [Orbital Remix]
Mac M gave it a 9:
Oh yes, it is good. Just two bits of unoffensive filler ('Lost' & 'Easy'), superb orchestrally maudlin openner, halcyonic closer (which musically ranks as amongst their best but I am SO OVER the acid-daze ethereal vocals!!!). And in the middle, it all goes Chemical brothersly with the Spraks fuelled Acid Pants. Id say it's a happy cocktail of In Sides and the Brown album. All in all, a fine albo to head off into the sunset with. I rank the Orbital albo's thusly in order of preference. 1 - In Sides 2 - Middle Of Nowhere 3 - Brown album 4 - Blue album 5 - Green album 6 - Snivilisation 7 - Event Horizon OST 8 - The Altogether
Demetri G gave it an 8:
Beautiful, bittersweet, nostalgic trip of the musical careers of two talented brothers. As a retrospective, it conjures up the themes and highlights of their earliest albums, and makes their entire catalog more accessible. Maybe this is the album fans were waiting for after 'Insides.'
