Are We Here?

The rumours prior to the release of 'Snivilisation' that Orbital had effected a quantum leap into the world of jungle filled me with horror, but thankfully they proved wildly misplaced. 'Snivilisation' found the brothers Hartnoll still describing their familiar orbit around the inside of the skull, acknowledging jungle's darker, paranoid forces in part but never surrendering their blessed flexibility and fascination to the tyranny of 'ardkore. Too often jungle (ragga-flavoured cuts are the main culprits) squashes all finesse and creativity under its one, monstrous fuck-off beat. Here, Orbital make typically sensitive foray into the genre with the "Do they here?" (sic) mix, but otherwise are content to scatter existential posers over a shiny, happy beat and drift from joy to fear to dread to love wit their usual random focus for 40 glorious minutes.

Orbital know to many colours to paint everything black, and "Are We Here?" is a luscious, spaced-out trip and the usual ace, wise and sexy meander across an alive and questioning psyche from a band at the top of their form. I've never heard a lamer, more ridiculous musical category than "intelligent techno" but I guess this most definitively qualifies. Magnificent.

• Melody Maker is published weekly and costs 75 pence.
• This was awarded "Single of the Week".

[ Also: Mike Brown review ]