Orbital are an English electronic music duo from Otford, Kent, England, consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. The band's name is taken from Greater London's orbital motorway, the M25, which was central to the early rave scene during the early days of acid house. Additionally, the cover art on three of their albums showcase stylised atomic orbitals. Orbital have been critically and commercially successful, known particularly for their live improvisation during shows.
Career
Early years and influences
Paul Hartnoll described the early incarnation of Orbital as a "low-cost bedroom New Order/Severed Heads". Other influences from the late 1970s and early 1980s included The Beat, Cabaret Voltaire, OMD and Kate Bush. The catalogues of Tamla Motown, ZTT and Trojan Records, and the classic rock of bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Genesis, were also influential. The Hartnolls have expressed a deep appreciation of Kraftwerk.
In 1989, Orbital recorded "Chime" on their father's 4 track tape deck, which they released on DJ Jazzy M's Oh...