Orbital are brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Raised in Sevenoaks, Kent, they first worked together as bricklayers for their father’s business, but started recording music in 1987. Their first single, Chime, entered the Top 20 in 1990. With their crossover fusion of underground and stadium electronic music, Orbital went on to become one of the biggest British dance acts of the decade. The reissue of 1991’s The Green Album is out on 19 April. They tour the UK from 24 April.
Paul
I used to wear that sweater often. My mom had made it for my dad, but he didn’t like it and said, “I don’t want that.” So I decided to keep it for myself. I adored that sweater. It was a perfect fit during the rave era when big, loose clothing was in style. However, one day in 1992, while hungover, I accidentally left it on a train heading to London. I searched lost and found, but it was never recovered. I was devastated. However, we did have some great memories together. It even accompanied me to my first Glastonbury experience.
This photo was taken in the cupboard-under-the-stairs-turned-office at my parents’ old house. We had just been on Top of the Pops and Chime was in the Top 40, so the Sevenoaks Chronicle wanted to interview us. We’d never done press before, hence the incredulous expression on my face. The photographer would have been saying: “Can you pretend you’re doing something?” And I’d have been thinking: “Is this what you want? Really?”
Despite lacking media training, we lived out our fantasy of being plucked from obscurity in Dunton Green and becoming superstars. I, personally, was a nerdy and geeky individual, but I had an unwavering determination and a “get me out of here” attitude. One of my earliest memories of my brother perfectly encapsulates his character. I was only three years old when I heard a commotion and saw Phil running into the living room with our mother and grandmother chasing after him. They caught him and each gave him a smack on the butt. I saw him take it with a stoic expression, accepting the consequences of his actions. That’s just who Phil is: he acts impulsively, does what he wants, and deals with the aftermath later. It may lead to trouble, but it’s also incredibly exciting.
My sibling is four years my senior. He used to be my role model until I turned 12. As he entered adolescence, he began teasing and taunting me, causing us to grow apart. Prior to that, I blindly followed him due to his unwavering confidence, though he likely had insecurities like most of us. Phil was known as the toughest person in our school and even acted as a protector. On one occasion, he witnessed an older student bullying a younger one in the cafeteria line, so he retaliated by pushing the bully’s head into the ground. This incident solidified his reputation as intimidating, and anyone looking for a fight would back off upon learning that I was “Hartnoll’s brother.”
Back when we were working as bricklayers, I used to bring my tape recorder to our job site so we could listen to pirate radio and bother the other workers. During our lunch breaks, we would fantasize about what it would be like to be part of the Cocteau Twins. Eventually, my friend Phil purchased a drum machine and I played guitar, and we began experimenting with creating music similar to Cabaret Voltaire. In his eccentric manner, Phil decided to travel to America to explore hip-hop. I was a bit resentful and focused on composing music on my own instead. But once my music started gaining attention, Phil wanted to join in as well, so we decided to form a band together.
In terms of our creative partnership, he is the fast-moving hare while I am the slower-paced tortoise. I am the writer and do the majority of the work, while he offers feedback from behind the scenes, saying things like “That’s great!” or “That’s too complex!” It can be beneficial to have someone to bounce ideas off of, but as a parent of three, I began to question why I was putting in all this effort and only receiving half of the profits. There were moments when I struggled to come to terms with this. I was the one who made the decision to end all of Orbital’s collaborations.
After 10 years of therapy, our relationship has greatly improved. Instead of trying to change my partner, I am now focusing on how to handle strong personalities better. This shift has also led to a sense of calmness in my partner, Phil. Previously, I would wake up in the middle of the night, mentally arguing with him. But now, I simply get up to use the bathroom and go back to bed. Overall, we are in a much better state than ever before.
Phil
I used to wear my brother’s nurse scrubs, even though I’m not sure why. It felt like I was thrown into a difficult situation.
As a child, I had a wild side but also a caring nature. I didn’t have toy soldiers or an Action Man, but I did have a doll named Betty. I was happy when my brother was born. Since my dad was always working, I took on a caregiving role when we were young.
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I have been diagnosed with ADHD, while Paul has been diagnosed with autism. As children, he would often be found sitting in a corner, engrossed in his studies. I struggled with dyslexia, which was not well understood at the time, and this made school difficult for me. My mother faced challenges with her menstrual cycle and relied on a medication called Halcion, which she tried to hide. She often placed blame on me for everything, and Paul grew up in that toxic environment. During my teenage years, I became an emotional support for my mother, but I was not equipped to handle that role.
I have a large indentation on my arm, which is actually a significant scar. When I was 14, I created some homemade tattoos, including one for the Anti-Nazi League. At one point, my mother took me to our family doctor and allowed him to practice removing the tattoo on my arm by cutting it off and using a heated tool. Afterwards, my mom felt guilty and recommended that I get a tattoo to conceal the scar, which I ended up doing.
During this period, Paul believed we were not as close, but in reality, I was simply dealing with many difficult issues at home while also struggling with school. However, there were also plenty of joyful moments, such as when my mom’s cousins would have frequent parties with DJs playing Motown and Trojan Records songs.
I have shared many enjoyable moments with my brother. During our childhood, we would play a game called Shiftybum while taking baths, where we would hang off the side and jump in. In 1994, while performing at Glastonbury, I suggested we do the Shiftybum, which made him laugh. Another time, we were playing on top of a flume in Scandinavia during a heavy rainstorm while performing our version of The Box from Hammer House of Horror. I was concerned for my brother’s safety and urged him to get down before we were struck by lightning. However, Paul’s dedication to his art knows no bounds.
Paul has separated from the band approximately four or five times. During these breaks, we did not communicate with each other. It was difficult because I not only lost my band, but also my brother. Fortunately, our relationship has greatly improved since he started attending therapy. I used to be concerned because it seemed like he didn’t enjoy being in Orbital. He was always wondering what was next. Now, he is less stressed and there is a lot more harmony between us.
Source: theguardian.com
