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I picked up this CD over ten years ago when I was still in college and I still regularly listen to it today. Moody electronica with some really fine drum work and WO's unique synthesizer palette.
His follow-up "Strange Cargo 4: Hinterland" is also excellent. All this before he got snapped up by Madonna...
For WO fans, remember this line? "You have discovered many things, but the shortcut through the labyrinth is not among them."
I finally figured out what this sampled interlude was (I think it's at the beginning of "Best Friend, Paranoia"?); it's a line spoken by the old monk in the movie "The Name of the Rose".
After two previous "Strange Cargo" albums, William Orbit finally gets it right; while the previous two were haphazard and uneven, William Orbit seems to have found the right groove with this one. The songs on this CD never get above a dull roar - they are all rather quiet and mellow, and even the more uptempo tracks inspire more of a thoughtful groove than an all-out dance.
4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Soft Ambience in Jeane Micheal Jarre's Style, December 28, 2001
Reviewer: A music fan William Orbit's music is quite melodic in contrast with other popular electronic artists who mostly focus on beat and rhythm. This is a clear indication that melody is still and fashion and will probably always be in fashion. However, Orbit's music, especially in "Strange Cargo" is too soft and tender to be truly moving- the energy of beat is lacking, albeit, the pacifying and relaxing effect is present. True fans of electronic music must remember Jean Michael Jarre with his ground-braking synthesizer tracks and spectacular shows. William Orbit follows in his tracks and many of his sounds and overall ambient feel resemble some of the earlier Jean Michael Jarre tracks. If you are looking for more energetic, mood boosting music, you should also check out Van Dyk, Oakenfold, and maybe UltraMax Music. William Orbit have mastered the new age, and this is unquestionable. But the true dance music leads another way.
What James Brown is to soul and Bob Dylan is to folk, William Orbit is to the electronic genre. I have found no one to match his melodic, fluid style of new age, with the energy and beat of a dance mix. No two tracks sound the same, and Strange Cargo III is the best of all his albums. Maybe that's why Madonna insisted that he produce her most successful album ever. And what a difference it made.Orbit has taken the roots laid down by Tangerine Dream and has refined them to a point where he is both ethereal and melodic, hypnotic and awake, soothing and dance-inducing. What a talent.
I feel very much calmer after listening to this CD by Mr William Orbit. STRANGE CARGOS III is a collection of quiet electronic music with simple melodies and a persistent rhythms. The phrasing by Ms Beth Orton on "Water from a Vine Leaf" conveys aural serenity. If you are interested in music which is peaceful, this CD will interest you.
Compelling, November 24, 2000
Reviewer: A music fan When I started writing this review and had rated the album as 4 stars. By the time I reached the end I had convinced myself it was a 5, and I started again!I bought this CD for a single track - Water From a Vine Leaf, and while the rest does not quite live up to the genius of that track (my original reason for 4 stars), they are still very very good, and there is a reprise of Vine Leaf at the end which closes the album nicely.I generally avoid pigeon-holing albums into musical styles, but I guess as a reviewer I have a duty to give some sort of clue...Its a precursor to trance and 'Intelligent Techno' is probably the best label. I would use the same description for Orbital, but William Orbits work is more 'normal' in its structure - these are song done with electronics, rather than Orbitals rip-up-the-rulebook-and-start-from-scratch approach.All in all a great CD and one that is always near the top of my CD pile.One warning - you will find yourself playing this very loud, but the neighbors will probably enjoy it, so dont worry! :-)
Billy Bubbles at the top of his game, May 18, 2005
Third time's the charm..., February 11, 2003
Soft Ambience in Jeane Micheal Jarre's Style, December 28, 2001
