Ambient composer, Grammy winner, producer extraordinaire – there was a time when William Orbit's name was ubiquitous, but in the five years since the release of his critically acclaimed Pieces In A Modern Style, he seems to have retreated into semi-retirement.
Hello Waveforms is his return to active duty. Opening with the lush, gothic noise of ‘Sea Green’, the record is, as you’d expect, an ethereal and atmospheric work. If you want confirmation, look no further than ‘You Know Too Much About Flying Saucers’. Smooth, sleek vocals from Sugababes star Kenna on ‘Spiral’ give the record a much needed lift, creating an electro-organic hybrid reminiscent of Zero 7. There's also a cameo from former Strange Cargo member Laurie Mayer, who adds piano and synthesizer on ‘Surfin’ and provides vocal services on ‘Bubble Universe’ and the Finlay Quaye-assisted ‘Who Owns the Octopus?’.
Indeed, much of the record evokes Orbit’s Strange Cargo years, with the synths sounding distinctly pastoral and analogue in nature. Overall, Hello Waveforms is less than riveting: decent in parts, ultimately it lacks the passion and power that distinguished its predecessor.