Pioneering techno duo Orbital has been around long enough to establish the kind of immediately identifiable sound one associates with any long-standing band. Accordingly, the Hartnoll brothers play to their strenghts on THE ALTOGETHER. The pair's sixth album doesn't leap off in any bold new directions, but it certainly delivers the electro-dance goods in a manner to which Orbital fans have become accustomed. The opening track, dancefloor burner "Tension," mates a vocal sample from the immortal trash-rock clasic "Surfin' Bird" with a relentless techno beat, and atmospheric synth drones. Siren-like femal vocals illuminate the poppy "Funny Break," and David Gray even turns up on one track, but this is still the Hartnolls' show. Throughout the album, they deploy samples, loops, and synth riffs with a deftness that only comes with extensive experience. For the faithful, a second disc featuring rare tracks and remixes is included to sweeten the deal.