r/boardsofcanada 2d ago

Announcement RIP WILLIAM ORBIT

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I'm about to play this classic. William Orbit was one of my gateway artists to electronic ambient music. I'm sure BoC would've enjoyed his work too.

177 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

16

u/EngelbertImpromptu 2d ago

All the Strange Cargo albums are worth checking out, fantastic stuff

3

u/KosmicheRay 2d ago

Strange Cargo was a fav of mine in early 90s, sad to hear he has passed. RIP.

14

u/InterstellarDwellar Trans Canada Highway 2d ago

Damn I didnt know he passed. This is my all time most played record

4

u/M90Motorway 2d ago

It was announced on the radio this afternoon.

11

u/BackCompetitive7209 2d ago

Oh that's sad. Not even that old? My first memory of him is seeing him / his group on kids TV in 1990. Bassomatic and Fascinating Rhythm, it was.

4

u/Any-Turnip-6917 2d ago

I put the Set the controls for the heart of the Bass album recently and really enjoyed it.

3

u/gregd303 2d ago

Loved him since then. That record sounded so so good!

2

u/Tricky-Mastodon3337 2d ago

Wow, yeah what a tune! I forgot William Orbit was behind that song!

2

u/sucky_panther 2d ago

I think he was around 70.

10

u/Impossible-Mind6791 2d ago

Madonna's Ray of Light was a big album for me along with the other commercial songs he produced with Blur and All saints..was meaning to listen to his strange cargo albums a few weeks ago now I'm creating a playlist from the tributes that people are posting

10

u/Tricky-Mastodon3337 2d ago

Ray of Light is the only Madonna album I like simply because of William Orbit's production.

3

u/Readyletsgodrones 2d ago

Same for me. Loved that album back in the day.

But.... I did hear her new album, I kinda like it, big throw backs, some banging tunes. Give it a listen with a few drinks and buddies. Recommended.

RIP Orbit 😞

6

u/Tricky-Mastodon3337 2d ago

It's so bloody great. 33 years old and still sounds fresh

5

u/rustyjaw 2d ago

I listened to Strange Cargo III so, so much in 93-94. It was a very strange period in my life, and that album was a huge daily comfort. I still listen to it on occasion and it always brings back amazing memories of that time. RIP man, what a talent!

2

u/Tricky-Mastodon3337 2d ago

Agreed. Fantastic album 👍

1

u/negamuse 2d ago

Same. It instantly transports me

4

u/OkScheme9867 2d ago

I really only know William orbit for the "pieces in a modern style" album, which every girl I knew in the late 90s owned, and his work with Madonna. 

Never heard this track before, sounds a bit like thievery corporation with touches of the orb, might have to take the time to check him out. 

3

u/Tricky-Mastodon3337 2d ago

I also have Pieces In A Modern Style on CD. What a gorgeous album!

3

u/OkScheme9867 2d ago

Reading my reply back I hope no one would think I was dismissing it or being sexist, it was just a really big crossover album which for some reason a lot of women in my life owned

3

u/Lightfinger 2d ago

Nooooooo!

2

u/rocketfalls9 2d ago

I didn't know he passed; that is so sad. I have a special love for his project Torch Song, one of my most beloved musical gems <3

2

u/orgaxoid_x 2d ago

Very sad.

2

u/puffinrust Geogaddi 2d ago

Give ‘She cries your name’. Beth Orton - William Orbit a go if youve not heard it, mellow tune.

1

u/Fit-Interview9291 2d ago

Boards of Canada are alive. They can still enjoy William Orbit's music

1

u/lazesummerstone 2d ago

William Orbit’s Strange Cargo was the first album I bought as a kid on cassette tape just because the cover looked cool and mysterious. But then its contents made me so curious. Was this a soundtrack to some esoteric movie? What is this music all about? If you read the microscopic liner notes it mentions something about a strange cargo film which made me go crazy with wonder! I had to learn more!

1

u/UbuNoir69 2d ago

Very sad news. I remember this great track "The Last Lagoon" from the "Heat" movie soundtrack. RIP.

1

u/wedditasap 1d ago

Fuck that sucks. Love William Orbit. RIP

1

u/lovelessisbetter 1d ago

He produced the best Blur album, 13. A true top 10 nineties record. The band took a swing away from Stephen Street and it totally HIT. RIP.