20 for 2025 – The Orb: Buddhist Hipsters

This isn’t just one of the year’s best albums—it’s The Orb’s finest work since ‘Moonbuilding 2703 AD‘ over a decade ago. While I enjoyed ‘Prism,’ this new release stands apart as one of their most serious and focused efforts. From start to finish, I was completely engaged, and I truly believe every track here is exceptional.

The album also marks their most experimental phase in years, weaving ambient techno, progressive house, D&B, hip-hop, reggae, and dub into a surprisingly cohesive journey. Despite this genre-hopping, the record never feels disjointed; each sound and idea is treated with palpable seriousness and intent, setting it distinctly apart from their last two releases.

Honestly, I’m a little speechless. This is an outstanding effort, featuring at least three tracks I’d rank among their best material ever—’P-1,’ ‘Doll’s House,’ and ‘The Oort Cloud.’ I cannot recommend this album enough.


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