Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Optical Delusion

Optical Delusion is the tenth studio album by English electronic music duo Orbital, released on 17 February 2023.

Last revised
Jul 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
661 w
Citations
25
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Optical Delusion
Studio album by
Orbital
Released17 February 2023
Length51:07
LabelOrbital
ProducerOrbital
Orbital chronology
30 Something
(2022) 		Optical Delusion
(2023)
Singles from Optical Delusion
  1. "Dirty Rat"
    Released: 20 October 20221
  2. "Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song)"
    Released: 7 December 20222
  3. "Are You Alive?"
    Released: 1 February 20233

Optical Delusion is the tenth studio album by English electronic music duo Orbital, released on 17 February 2023.1

Reception

Optical Delusion ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.1/105
Metacritic71/1004
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star6
The Arts DeskStarStarStarStar7
Clash8/108
The GuardianStarStarStar9
Louder Than WarStarStarStarStar10
MojoStarStarStarStar11
PopMatters7/1012
Record CollectorStarStarStarStar13
Slant MagazineStarStarStarHalf star14
Uncut7/1015

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Optical Delusion received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 from 10 critic scores.4

Year-end lists

Optical Delusion on year-end lists
Publication # Ref.
Louder Than War 80 16

Track listing

All tracks are written by Paul Hartnoll except where noted.

Optical Delusion track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song)" (featuring Mediæval Bæbes) 4:14
2."Day One" (featuring Dina Ipavic) 5:16
3."Are You Alive?" (featuring Penelope Isles)
  • Jack Wolter
  • Lily Wolter
  • Paul Hartnoll
7:49
4."You Are the Frequency" (featuring the Little Pest)
4:39
5."The New Abnormal" 5:05
6."Home" (featuring Anna B Savage)
  • Anna B Savage
  • Paul Hartnoll
5:18
7."Dirty Rat" (with Sleaford Mods) 5:16
8."Requiem for the Pre-Apocalypse" 5:20
9."What a Surprise" (featuring the Little Pest)
  • Jimmy Day
  • Phil Hartnoll
3:51
10."Moon Princess" (featuring Coppe)
  • Jimmy Day
  • Miller Y. Coppe
  • Phil Hartnoll
4:19
Total length:51:07

Personnel

  • Orbital – producer (1–8, 10)
  • Paul Hartnoll – producer (7)
  • Andrew Fearn – producer (7)
  • Mediæval Bæbes – vocals (1)
  • Dina Ipavic – vocals (2)
  • Penelope Isles – vocals (3)
  • The Little Pest – vocals (4, 9)
  • Anna B Savage – vocals (6)
  • Coppe – vocals (10)

Charts

Chart performance for Optical Delusion
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Physical Albums (ARIA)17 32
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)18 70
Irish Albums (IRMA)19 83
Scottish Albums (OCC)20 4
UK Albums (OCC)21 6
UK Dance Albums (OCC)22 1
UK Independent Albums (OCC)23 2
References

References

  1. Pearis, Bill (20 October 2022). "Orbital announce new LP, share fantastic Sleaford Mods collab "Dirty Rat"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. Eede, Christian (7 December 2022). "Orbital release new single, "Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song)"". DJ Mag. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  3. DeVille, Chris (1 February 2023). "Orbital – "Are You Alive?" (Feat. Penelope Isles)". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  4. "Optical Delusion by Orbital Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. "Optical Delusion by Orbital reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  6. Simpson, Paul (15 February 2023). "Orbital – Optical Delusion". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  7. Green, Thomas H (15 February 2023). "Album: Orbital – Optical Delusion". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  8. Crowe, Josh (16 February 2023). "Orbital – Optical Delusion". Clash. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. Empire, Kitty (19 February 2023). "Orbital: Optical Delusion review – plague songs and hyper-pop". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  10. Carey, Wayne (12 February 2023). "Orbital: Optical Delusion – review – Album of the Week!". Louder Than War. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. Worthy, Stephen (January 2023). "Orbital - Optical Delusion". Mojo. p. 85. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  12. Garratt, John (15 February 2023). "Orbital Entertain Our Collective Optical Delusion". PopMatters. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  13. Johnstone, Johnnie (27 January 2023). "Optical Delusion | Orbital". Record Collector. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  14. Erickson, Steve (13 February 2023). "Orbital Optical Delusion Review: A Grim, Pre-Apocalyptic Rave". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  15. Wray, Daniel Dylan (January 2023). "Orbital – Optical Delusion". Uncut. p. 32. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  16. "Louder Than War Albums of 2023". Louder Than War. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  17. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 27 February 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1721. Australian Recording Industry Association. 27 February 2023. p. 7.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Orbital – Optical Delusion" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  19. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Orbital". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  20. "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 24/2/2023 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  21. "Official Albums Chart on 24/2/2023 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  22. "Official Dance Albums Chart on 24/2/2023 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  23. "Official Independent Albums Chart on 24/2/2023 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.