Two-piece outfit Orbital have released their critically acclaimed new studio album Optical Delusion via London Records. The album includes lead single “Dirty Rat”, an incendiary collaboration with Sleaford Mods, “Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song)” featuring The Mediaeval Baebes, plus new single “Are You Alive?” featuring Penelope Isles.
The latest delivery from the historical musician pairing is a new foray into ethereal soundscapes, and a fine exemplification of the evolution of their sound.
With Optical Delusion, their 10th studio album, Orbital dig deeper into the unquiet psyche of our increasingly surreal and disordered world. Sketched out partly during lockdown but fully recorded in the uncertain After Times, the album summons up conflicting emotions and beguiling images from recent times, when the science fiction doomsdays that the Hartnoll brothers watched on TV as kids finally came true.
The new album is the latest in a burst of renewed post-pandemic creativity for two brothers who’ve stayed at the top of their game longer than anyone from the post-1988 Class of Acid House. Last year’s thirtieth anniversary package 30 Something – featuring reinterpretations of “Chime”, “Satan”, “Belfast” and more by fans ranging from Jon Hopkins to ANNA to David Holmes, plus studio versions of Orbital live favourites – reintroduced Paul and Phil Hartnoll to a worldwide fanbase.
Internationally renowned for their incredible live show, Orbital will embark on the Optical Delusion UK headline tour in the Spring. Stay connected to the socials below to not miss a beat from the iconic duo.
