III (Orbital EP)


III is an EP released by the techno duo Orbital. The title has a double meaning, referring to it being their third single release, and having three tracks. Two of the group's best known tracks, "Satan" and "Belfast", made their first appearances on the EP. "Belfast" was first discovered by David Holmes and Alan Simms when they booked Orbital to play the Art College, Belfast on 12 May 1990. Orbital left a demo tape which included the track that was subsequently named "Belfast" in recognition of the positive experience they'd had in the city.

Samples

"Satan" features samples from "Sweat Loaf" by punk band Butthole Surfers.
"Belfast" uses a sample of soprano Emily Van Evera performing "O Euchari" from the Gothic Voices album A Feather on the Breath of God. The same sample had appeared on The Beloved's hit "The Sun Rising" a year earlier, but had not been credited.
"LC1" includes a sample of television presenter Fred Dinenage reading a report of an alleged alien abduction.

Other Versions

In 1997, Orbital re-recorded Satan with Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, for the Spawn movie soundtrack.
In 2015, Paul Hartnoll shared a 4 track demo version of Belfast from 1990 on his blog, along with "The Other One", an unfinished demo made with elements of Chime and Belfast.

Accolades

Q Magazine chose "Belfast" as one of its 1001 Best Songs ever.

Track listing

CD and 12" vinyl version

7" vinyl version

Remix version