Issue 97 PDF

We're starting 2023 with the magnificent Orbital on the cover of Electronic Sound.

The new Orbital album, 'Optical Delusion', comes out next month. Only their 10th album in 30 years, it's another great release from Phil and Paul Hartnoll, jam-packed with bangers, sparklers, cosmic dreamscapes and eccentric abstractions, alongside collaborations with everyone from Sleadford Mods to Mediæval Bæbes. As you'd expect, the Hartnoll brothers speak at length about the record in our centrepiece interview, reflecting on the chaotic and often surreal global events of recent times that inspired the tracks, but they also muse on the enduring influence of rave culture on their music and discuss the reasons behind their infamous spats. It's a hugely entertaining read.

We have a bumper supporting cast this month too, including Benge, Gigi Masin, d'Voxx, Alexander Robotnick, Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy, Decius, 2ManyDJs and Mogwai man Stuart Braithwaite. We should also mention our review of Ryuichi Sakamoto's wonderful '12' album and our report on Sakamoto's solo piano recital in Tokyo last month, which was livestreamed across the internet. Sadly, given he is battling late-stage cancer, the revered Yellow Magic Orchestra co-founder has said that this is likely to have been his last public appearance. Clearly determined, however, he turned in an exhilarating performance. He is truly an inspiration to us all.