After releasing their first three albums annually, ORB took a bit of a break. But now, the Australians are back with “Tailem Bend” (Fuzz Club / Flightless).
It’s like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen in a long time: you recognize them immediately but notice the changes as the conversation progresses. The same goes for ORB. Their atmospheric psych rock with fuzz and prog, which left us six years ago, is back. However, it has become more mature and a bit more laid-back.
A new sense of relaxation and airiness permeates their music. Tracks are extended and often drift into smooth jams, such as the seemingly endless instrumental piece “Golden Arch.”
ORB oscillates between grumbling rock and fluffy psych pop. Somehow, a Sixties vibe shines through on “Karma Comes,” evoking the feel of St. Tropez. On “Can’t Do That,” we instead fall into a rabbit hole.
The closing tracks are more gripping and rocking, with the powerful “Commandment” marking the end of the journey. We might just have to listen to the old ORB albums again to remind ourselves. It’s almost like pulling out old photos to check how that friend used to look.
ORB – Tailem Bend: Refreshingly trippy psych rock. – RIFL
