What began as a one-off commission for the 2022 Moldejazz Festival has evolved into one of Norway’s most intriguing new projects.
Orbits, the brainchild of Lars Horntveth, producer Erlend Mokkelbost, and vocalist Natalie Sandtorv, finds its full stride on their debut album Blood Red Sky, a genre-blurring follow-up to last year’s more cryptic Bad Mantras EP.
Where the Bad Mantras leaned heavily into dark electronics and experimental textures, Blood Red Sky expands the palette. There are moments of sleek alt-pop (“Synthetic Sweetness”), D’Angelo-style minimal funk, cinematic string arrangements, and even loose, jammy psych-soul explorations. The production is rich but never overworked, thanks in part to Zach Tenorio, whose synth and organ work lends a soulful, analog sheen.
“Falling Apart” glides on a slick R&B groove, while the title track weaves velvet-smooth rhythms with smoky jazz textures. One of the most intriguing moments is “First Swim of the Year,” an eight-minute slow-burn that showcases the band’s willingness to stretch beyond pop conventions.
While much of the album is accessible and melody-forward, Orbits isn’t aiming for the streaming algorithm’s sweet spot. The final three tracks all clock in at eight minutes or more, including the closer “Bad Mantras,” originally featured on their debut EP. It’s the most Third Eye-friendly cut, a wild, exhilarating ride through glitchy electronics, cosmic psych, and fluid jazz improvisation.
Recorded live in an abandoned gym hall, Blood Red Sky pulses with warmth and vitality, a reminder that some of the most compelling music comes from unexpected spaces. There’s an electricity to these performances that no amount of studio polish could replicate.
If this is Orbits just finding their footing, they’re already walking a thrilling path. Blood Red Sky arrives August 29th via Jazzland Recordings.
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