Who Can Calculate The Orbit Of His Own Soul?

Celebrating William Orbit aka William Mark Wainwright, 15th December 1956 to 23rd July 2026.

The news of William's passing broke on Friday, unexpected and deeply, deeply sad.

I first encountered William Orbit's work in the late 1980s when he remixed Dreaming by O.M.D., Camouflage by Stan Ridgway and More by Doctor & The Medics. 

The latter two were on the I.R.S. Records label, where William had not only found work as an in-house producer, but a home for his band Torch Song, with Laurie Mayer and Grant Gilbert and his first Strange Cargo album. There was a previous solo album - Orbit - in 1987 but, to be honest, it's not that good.

The 1990s not only saw an exponential growth in his work as an in-demand producer and remixer, but the launch of Guerilla Records, who were a go-to for quality electronic and dance music, including William's own Water From A Vine Leaf, featuring Beth Orton and era-defining remixes from Underworld and Spooky. 

The decade drew to an end with one of his greatest collaborations, Madonna's incredible Ray Of Light album. William's CV expanded to such an extent that I think it might be a greater challenge for anyone to find that they don't have music in their collection that has William Orbit's involvement in some shape or form.

In recent years, I greatly enjoyed William's musings and memories on social media, sometimes completely leftfield or stream of consciousness, but always entertaining. The insight into such an incredibly questing and creative mind, responsible for so much music that I've listened to , bought and treasured through my life.

I've created a 46 minute selection on the fly, very little deliberation over the song choices, other than wanting to include some overlooked gems and deeper cuts, and spanning the 1980s through to the start of the 21st century.

The nine songs create some strange bedfellows: Creation hopefuls 18 Wheeler next to Seal and Kate Garner (post-Haysi Fantayzee) followed by Limp Bizkit. All Saints fans may be out for my blood for choosing the instrumental version Pure Shores, but I wanted the music to have space to breathe. 

Likewise, I've skipped the singles from Ray Of Light for an album cut which is a perfect example of why the team up with William was so inspiring.

Bassomatic's finest moment is represented here with an alternative mix from the 12" single, 

Malcolm McLaren turns up with The Bootzilla Orchestra (remixed with S'Express guru Mark Moore, whilst I've closed the selection with William's remix of The Shamen, a memory of happy times in clubland.

Today's post title is lifted from De Profundis, a letter written by Oscar Wilde in 1897 whilst imprisoned in Reading Gaol, to his beloved Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas. If you have time to spare, you can find De Profundis in it's entirety here. The quote in question is on page 22 (of 28) and seemed fitting for this tribute.

Rest easy, William.

1) Stay (Strange L’Escargot Mix By William Orbit & Mat Ducasse): 18 Wheeler (1997)

2) Crazy (William Orbit Mix): Seal (1990)

3) Pure Shores (Instrumental) (Remix By William Orbit & Mark 'Spike' Stent): All Saints (2000)

4) Fascinating Rhythm (Soul Odyssey Mix By William Orbit): Bassomatic (1990)

5) Call A Wave (Orbital Mix By Mark Moore & William Orbit): Malcolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra ft. Gina Cie & Jeff Beck (1989)

6) Love Me Like A Rocket (Psychomix By Paul Caplin & Torch Song aka William Orbit): Kate Garner (1983)

7) My Way (William Orbit Remix): Limp Bizkit (2001)

8) Shanti / Ashtangi (Album Version By Madonna & William Orbit): Madonna (1998)

9) Hyperreal (Orbit) (Remix By William Orbit): The Shamen ft. Plavka (1990)

1983: Love Me Like A Rocket EP: 6

1989: Call A Wave EP: 5

1990: Crazy EP: 2

1990: Fascinating Rhythm EP: 4

1990: Hyperreal EP: 9

1997: Stay EP: 1

1998: Ray Of Light: 8

2000: Pure Shores EP: 3

2001: My Way EP: 7

Who Can Calculate The Orbit Of His Own Soul (46:45) (GD) (M)

It was only in May this year that I wrote about William and Guerilla Records. I've reactivated the link the to the bespoke Dubhed selection that accompanied the post.

Sleep In Heavenly Peace

The sun shone less brightly when Sinéad O'Connor left us in July. Here she is, performing Silent Night in 1991. 

 

Less than two years on from her #1 success with the phenomenal cover of the Prince song Nothing Compares 2 U, this beautiful rendition of Silent Night entered the UK singles chart on 14th December at #60, spending four weeks in the Top 75 but not getting any higher.

Silent Night's modest chart achievement is perhaps less of a surprise when you scan the UK Top 10 for Christmas 1991. Not exactly festive, is it? Then again, in a year dominated by war, recession and Prime Minister John Major's vision of a "classless" Britain, you may understand the lack of cheer and need for escapism.

If you've not seen the video before, you may be wondering about Sinéad's atypical wardrobe choice and the rather odd narrative. And yes, that is John Altman aka Nasty Nick Cotton from EastEnders chasing the spectral Sinéad about town. 

 

Silent Night featured in Malcolm McLaren's love letter to The Big Smoke, The Ghosts Of Oxford Street, premiered on Channel 4 at 10.05pm on 25th December 1991. Here's the pre-broadcast promo clip.

I've only seen it a couple of times, and not in full for the last twenty-odd years and YouTube frustratingly only offers up Part Four, i.e. the last ten minutes. You therefore don't get to see Tom Jones, Alison Limerick, Rebel MC and yes, the Happy Mondays. You'll also miss Fairytale Of New York, featuring Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl, both gone far far too soon.

What the last segment does offer, aside from Malcolm of course, is a ballet sequence choreographed by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli (or Tunioli, as misspelt in the credits). Save that one for a future pub quiz...

I love this version of Silent Night. It's been done so many times, but as ever Sinéad takes a song and owns it. Peter Gabriel provides keyboards and light-of-touch production, remembering that it's all about the voice. And boy, does Sinéad shine brightly.

The single release of Silent Night is "dedicated to Louise Woolcock and her family - jah live". Louise was a 20 year old from Preston, diagnosed with a rare - and terminal - form of soft tissue cancer, who Sinéad reached out to and befriended when she read about her situation. Sinéad kept in touch and spent time with Louise, before her passing in August 1992. Louise's dad remembered that friendship with his daughter following Sinéad's passing this year. Those acts of love, that selflessness, sum up Sinéad as well as any obituary could.

Here's to Sinéad, Shane, Benjamin, Dean, Geordie, Tina, Andy, Linda, Mark, Ryuichi, Steve, Raquel, Burt, Sylvia, Alan and the (far too many) others that we lost this year.

Silent night, all, and rest in power. Your legacy endures.

Keep On Falling

After yesterday's high energy workout, time to chill out and calm down with an ambient-themed selection.

Thirty two years, thirteen songs and one hour with some stripped back versions of some popular pop songs, an unexpected cover version and a few that are hopefully new to you or at least not heard for a long time.

Sit back with your favourite brew, close your eyes and think lovely thoughts for the next sixty minutes.

1) Dominica (Kenneth Bager's Sunset Ambient Mix): RüF Dug (2016)

2) Golden Brown (Fila Brazillia Remix-Ambient) (Cover of The Stranglers): Better Daze (1997)

3) Brilliant Fault And Sky Was Blue (Ambient Version) (Remixed By LFO): Soft Ballet (1992)

4) So Swell (Ambient Version By James & Brian Eno): James (2001)

5) Love Comes Quickly (Blank & Jones Ambient Remix): Pet Shop Boys (2003)

6) Shot In The Back Of The Head (Ambient): Moby (2009)

7) Ruined In A Day (The Ambient Mix By Booga Bear aka Cameron McVey): New Order (1993)

8) Walking Down Madison (6 a.m. Ambient Mix By Howard Gray) (Single Edit): Kirsty MacColl ft. Johnny Marr (1991)

9) Call A Wave (Return To The Deep Ambient Mix By Mark Moore & William Orbit): Malcolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra (1989)

10) Ambient 2: Turin Brakes (2005)

11) Come Come The Rain (Ambient Version): Max Essa (2021)

12) Pulsing (Citadel Ambient Version): GLOK (2020)

13) Geek Love (Irresistible Ambient Mix By Mixmaster Morris): Bang Bang Machine (1993)

 

1989: Call A Wave EP: 9

1991: Walking Down Madison EP: 8

1992: Alter Ego: 3 

1993: Geek Love EP: 13

1993: Ruined In A Day EP: 7

1997: Remix Project: 2 

2001: Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) EP: 4

2003: PopArtMix: The Hits (limited edition 3x CD): 5

2005: JackInABox (hidden track): 10

2009: Wait For Me (Deluxe Edition): 6

2016: Island Remixes EP: 1

2020: The Citadel EP: 12

2021: Miró In The Bathroom: 11

 

Keep On Falling (1:00:42) (Box) (Mega)