B-side Alternate mixes Format CD, 12" Length 5:19 | Released 27 January 1997 Genre Ambient house Label Island | |
"Toxygene" is a single by electronic music artist The Orb. It was released in 1997 as the first single from the album Orblivion.
Contents
"Toxygene" was originally commissioned as a remix of Jean Michel Jarre's "Oxygène 8" from Oxygène 7–13. 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". 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." 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."
"Toxygene", was the highest charting single by The Orb, reaching #4 in the UK on 8 February 1997. The release was accompanied by a music video directed by Ben Stokes.
CD 1
- "Toxygene (Edit)" – 3:37
- "Toxygene (Way Out West Begbie Mix)" – 7:40
- "Delta MK II (Dal Vivo A Roma)" – 7:14
- "Toxygene (Kris Needs Up For A Fortnight Mix)" – 7:17
CD 2
- "Toxygene (Edit)" – 3:37
- "Toxygene (Fila Brazillia Mix)" – 6:10
- "Rose Tinted (Dal Vivo A Roma)" – 7:14
- "Toxygene (Toxic Genes Mix)" – 7:59
12" single
Music Video
The video for the song is inspired by the CIA's experimental mind control program: MK-ULTRA.
As the Orb's highest charting single, the band appeared on Top of the Pops to promote the song. The TOTP pretence of a live performance was avoided, instead the group danced around on playground rides.