The Orb – Orboretum: The Orb Collection (4 LP Set)

A career-spanning, 2CD & limited-edition quadruple vinyl octagonal set including new and rare mixes, compiled by Dr. Alex Paterson ‘Orboretum: The Orb Collection’ goes way back, but also focusses on recent highlights from albums such as ‘Abolition Of The Royal Familia’ (2020) and ‘Prism’ (2023) – which were cited by the media as some of their greatest work – up there with the bonafide gold of yesteryear.

The limited edition 4lp set is uniquely packaged in a beautiful octagon-shaped set, which folds out into a huge flower. Each disc will be pressed on a different colour, green, lilac, orange and blue, with sleeve notes by Kris Needs. Each side of vinyl is grouped by Alex to represent the 4 seasons, hence its botanical title.

The comp’s “roots and more recent shoots” traverses their work for Universal across discs A and B, whilst discs C and D explore their music for indie labels Cooking Vinyl, Kompakt, Malicious Damage, and Liquid Sound Design.

We have such a gigantic catalogue though, that sometimes even I need a reminder of what I’ve done, especially these days. This is a sort of director’s cut, reframing our output, making new neuro pathways, and new juxtapositions. Some of these tracks are 30 years apart, but there are clear through lines, a continuum.” Alex Paterson