There’s an undeniable synchronicity at play knowing that The Orb and David Gilmour’s Metallic Spheres In Colour, the remix of their 2010 album Metallic Spheres, can be traced back to the activities of Scottish systems administrator Gary McKinnon, who in 2002 was accused by the US government of “committing the biggest military hack of all time”. In his defence, McKinnon pleaded harmless motives by claiming he was looking for information on UFOs. With McKinnon facing extradition, decades in jail and a potential $2m fine, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour stepped up to the fundraising plate with the release of Chicago –Change The World, a cover of Graham Nash’s 1971 single Chicago, which in turn was later remixed by The Orb and producer Martin ‘Youth’
Glover with the full participation of David Gilmour, to become Metallic Spheres. Now it’s been given a whole new lease of life.
“It’s a remix of a remix of a cover!” Youth says with a laugh, as he ponders the long road from the Nash cover to Metallic Spheres In Colour.