After all those years, Alex Paterson is still the central figure, lets say the artistic constant, of the dub drenched electro & ambient concern called The Orb. In 1988 Jimmy Kauty from the KLF stood at Paterson’s side when they made furore in London with their DJ sets. Later line-ups contained the likes of bassist Youth (see also Killing Joke) and Tim Bran from Dreadzone. Live, The Orb is still a party, supported by the hallucinating visuals that remain their trademark, even when they exchanged their analogue tape-machines for laptops and other digital media in the 90's. In that period they also scored their greatest success with the album ‘U.F.Orb’, which ended up at number 1 in the British charts. They later made 5 albums for the delectable Island label that this years celebrates its 50th anniversary, and in 2005 Paterson’s partner in crime for many years, Swiss man Thomas Fehlmann, took the lead for an album on the Kompakt label (‘Okie Dokie It’s The Orb On Kompakt’). By the way, in the past 20 years, Paterson & Co have also made outstanding remixes for the likes of Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Meat Beat Manifesto, yes even Indochine. A piece of music history, live in AB.

In 2006 Ansatz Der Maschine lifted Belgian indie-tronica to a higher level with the brilliant album 'The Postman Is A Girl'. 3 Years later, the successor is now complete. 'Painting Bad Weather on her Body' is a fine illustration of how Ansatz Der Machine has grown. Even though it is Mathijs Bertel's second solo album, the sound of the live band is perfectly integrated. Subtle electronica spiced with violin, saxophone, drum, Rhodes piano, electric guitars and vocals. A completely unique result based upon good songs, production and virtuosity. Live on stage with four men and visuals.

The Orb - 'Assassin'

Ansatz der maschine - tour 2008 from ansatz der maschine on Vimeo.