Toxygene Explained

Toxygene
Cover:Toxygene.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Orb
Album:Orblivion
B-Side:Alternate mixes
Released:[1]
Genre:Ambient house
Length:5:19
Label:Island
Producer:Alex Paterson, Andy Hughes, Thomas Fehlmann
Prev Title:Oxbow Lakes
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Asylum
Next Year:1997

"Toxygene" is a single by electronic music artist the Orb. It was released in 1997 as the first single from the album Orblivion. The song was originally commissioned as a remix of Jean-Michel Jarre's "Oxygène 8" from Oxygène 7–13.[2] However, the Orb "obliterated it" and reassembled only a few fragments for their remix, much to the chagrin of Jarre, who reportedly "threw a fit and refused to release it".[2] The Orb released the track themselves under the name "Toxygene", which further irritated Jarre, to whom Paterson retorted "The French are always five years behind us, anyway."[2] In statements made after the release of "Toxygene", Jarre denied the reports: "It's not that I didn't like it, but I wanted the first wave of remixes to be linked to Oxygene's theme and textures."[3] The release was accompanied by a music video directed by Ben Stokes.

"Toxygene" became the highest-charting single by the Orb, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart on 8 February 1997. The band appeared on Top of the Pops to promote the song, but the pretence of a live performance was avoided; instead, the group danced around on playground rides. Outside the United Kingdom, "Toxygene" reached number 23 in Ireland and was an alternative hit in Canada, climbing to number four on the RPM Alternative 30 chart.

Music video

The video for the song is inspired by the CIA's experimental mind control program: MK-ULTRA.

Track listings

CD 1

  1. "Toxygene (Edit)" – 3:37
  2. "Toxygene (Way Out West Begbie Mix)" – 7:40

Remix - Way Out West

  1. "Delta MK II (Dal Vivo A Roma)" – 7:14

Written by Giraudy, Hillage, Fehlmann

  1. "Toxygene (Kris Needs Up For A Fortnight Mix)" – 7:17

Remix - Henry Cullen, Kris Needs

CD 2

  1. "Toxygene (Edit)" – 3:37
  2. "Toxygene (Fila Brazillia Mix)" – 6:10

Remix - Fila Brazillia

  1. "Rose Tinted (Dal Vivo A Roma)" – 7:14

Written by Lewis Keogh, Thomas Fehlmann

  1. "Toxygene (Toxic Genes Mix)" – 7:59

12" single

Remix - Henry Cullen, Kris Needs

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 33. 25 January 1997. 5 September 2021.
  2. News: . Music of the Spheres . Smith . Andrew . 16 February 1997 . 13.
  3. Web site: 27 January 1997 . Aston . Martin . Dotmusic Talent: Jean Michel Jarre . Dotmusic (retrieved from the Internet Archive) . 30 April 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/19980708105644/http://www.dotmusic.co.uk/MWtalentjjarre.html . 8 July 1998.
  4. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604144848/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201997.html. 4 June 2015. 2 July 2019.
  5. RPM's Top 50 Alternative Tracks of '98. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 16 March 2019.