The Orb

With Thomas Fehlmann departed from the project, The Dream is a return to form for Alex Paterson and the Orb since the last album on techno-oriented Kompakt in 2004, on which Fehlmann took the helm and guided the sound in a different direction than years previously. Though Okie Dokie was an interesting work, it lost some of the essence of the earlier albums. However, here the lavish textures and dubby bass lines return in full effect to give this record the dreaminess of the post-club culture ambient trip-hop soundtracks that contributed to the Orb’s rise to success in the ’90s. Noticeably more danceable than before, with tracks like "Veja Du” and "Dirty Disco Dub,” it’s contrasted by languid come-downs such as "Codes” and reggae dub tracks such as "Lost & Found.” Although many fans will be appreciative for the return to more listenable fare, it will certainly be viewed by some that The Dream is too regressive and lacking in some of the musical complexity that was hoped for after the last album.