Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 15:47:15 -0500 (CDT)
From: Alistair White <al@nicar.org>
Subject: Re: Review: The Orb at the Granada in Lawrence, KS 4/27/97


until I saw the Orb, I didn't really know what I was searching for at
electronic music parties.  now I know what all the old-school ravers were
talking about when they discuss good vibes, killer beats, and
transcendental bass, elements I have always strived to experience, but
never quite achieved, I jumped on the electronic bandwagon a bit
later than most..
there's nothing like standing in a jam packed room of Orb fans of all
shapes and sizes, without any pretentious clear-plastic backpacks or
burned-out desolated sideliners staring into space.  all i could see from
my vantage point were smiles, laughter, and joy, mixed with amazement.
i remember thinking to myself, 'did i just go to heaven or what??"

the artists had their instruments laid out on the top of a huge pyramid
surrounded by the dance floor crammed with fans.  the flashing of the
strobe lights in sync to the dub lines was intensely hypnotic, especially
when you strained to hear the complexity and number of tracks playing at
once (i think my eardrums were vibrating so much I couldn't hear a lot of
the midranges).

every now and then the artists would duck under their boards and reappear
seconds later.  i couldn't figure out what they were doing :)


      -Alistair White
      -http://tiger.coe.missouri.edu/~alistair