In Session
In Session: Orbital (Movement Detroit special)
Orbital deliver two mixes to celebrate their first time at Movement Festival
Detroit is the home of techno, there isn't really any dispute over that. It's the Motor City that birthed one of the most popular genres in dance music and it's showing no signs of releasing its grasp around the world.
It's fitting then, that Movement Electronic Music Festival in Detroit is one of the best techno festivals on the planet and for decades its been a hotspot for worldwide ravers to flock to in their thousands to experience the best electronic music around.
Taking place between May 25-27 at Hart Plaza, this year's line-up includes mainstays like Carl Craig, DJ Bone and Richie Hawtin, alongside newer techno icons Amelie Lens, Charlotte de Witte and of course, man of the moment, Virgil Abloh.
As always, there are plenty of pioneers gracing the schedule but there's one prolific act making their debut this year and they need little introduction. Rave heroes Orbital will head to the festival for the first time but the live show specialists are no stranger to the main stage.
For nearly 30 years, brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll have been enchanting and captivating audiences and to pin-point exactly what sound they are would be pretty difficult considering the evolution we've seen them go through since the early 90's.
Seminal anthems like 'Chime', 'Halcyon On and On' and 'Belfast' have acted as the soundtrack for a generation and newer material like their 2018 album 'Monsters Exist' are intertwined in their live shows to create something truly unique, every time they play.
To put it simply, no stone has been left unturned during their illustrious career and an appearance at Movement typifies their everlasting relevance in dance music. To celebrate their performance, the duo have recorded not one, but two In Session mixes that showcase the different sounds and styles that they regularly experiment with. One mix is pretty rare from Orbital, two, well now we're just being spoiled.
We caught up with the pair to hear their thoughts behind the mixes.
"Recently we’ve found ourselves making mixes for various radio stations etc but also we’re getting into the swing for our "IDOL' Residency at Eden Ibiza this Summer Season. We are very excited to be part of the well respected Movement Detroit this year and thought it would be fun to put together a couple of one hour mixes preceding the festival.
We took a look at who was on the line up this year and decided, with such top producers/DJs/Bands, it would be a nice idea to pick tracks from some of those artists that will be playing this year.
We felt that two mixes were in order:
The first mix, around 123 BPM, has a relaxed vibe featuring some of our favourite producers like Chris Lake, Dubfire, Seth Troxler, Fisher, Soul Clap. It's good for getting ready and putting on your party clothes/make up. It's very much a 'Let’s Go' mix.
The second mix around 128 BPM and has the “we are out” and "getting down” vibe with more of a tech house flavour, again featuring some of our favourite producers. We couldn’t resist putting in our ole friend Josh Wink in there.
Orbital have played live in Detroit many times over the years but that has always been our own shows. It's going to be very different this year being part of Movement Detroit which we are really looking forward to performing at.
We are getting into Detroit a few days early and leaving after the festival has finished, so our plans are to actually spend time there and to enjoy all the great artists who are performing.
Our time spent in Detroit this time is going to be much better than the "tour bus-in and out gig” that we're used to.
Hello Detroit we heard you had something to do with techno :-)"
