[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
William Orbit — Water from a Vine Leaf (w/ Beth Orton)
Album: Strange Cargo III
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 5027









Released: 1993
Length: 6:49
Plays (last 30 days): 2
And you start swimming and swimming
And swimming and swimming
And you never stop swimming until you reach the ocean
And you're swimming into the sunset without me

And I find myself suddenly waking up
And there are four young girls
Giving me water from a vine leaf
Just dropping it onto my tongue

Nothing more
You surround me
Break on through
Release me

Nothing more
You surround me
Break on through
Release me

Nothing more
You surround me
Break on through
Release me

Break on through
Release me
Break on through
Release me
Break on through
Release me
Comments (458)add comment
A solid 10 for me!   This one never gets old!
5 years ago I bumped this kick ass groove to a 9. Bumping it to a 10 today!
(August 1st 2024)

Great stuff. 
 walk2k wrote:

square waves oscillate
envelopes the frontal lobe
shift my frequency



For the better, I trust. 
 flozer68 wrote:

With this song i discover William Orbit and few albums of he. Many thanks RP. Greatings from Transsylvania, Romania.



Nice.  My father was born in Transylvania.  Think of him whenever I see mention of your home. 
8 > 9 

What was I thinking? 
Knobs to 15!  Because 11 is not enough.
 jjbchansen159 wrote:

Hasn't aged well.  



Kind of like your comment then, which got old almost instantly.
Thought of the day...Empathy.
Came by to rate this a 10.  Already at 10.  Need an option for a 12 rating, William!
Its not the kind of music I would go out and buy (haven't "bought" any music since CDs anyway lol) but this is very groovy. 
Knobs to 11 !

One of my most fave RP discoveries!
A solid 10 for me.  Never gets tiring or dated
What a tune!
I've always loved the slinky sounds in the intro.  Nothing like that slinkity sound...
 flozer68 wrote:

With this song i discover William Orbit and few albums of he. Many thanks RP. Greatings from Transsylvania, Romania.




Ce mai faci? (how are you?)   Buna dimineata! (good morning!)   PS: I checked your profile, you have excellent taste in music!   
With this song i discover William Orbit and few albums of he. Many thanks RP. Greatings from Transsylvania, Romania.
First time I’ve heard this version. But listened to another many times on a Sasha & John Digweed compilation mixed album called “Northern Exposure”. A must listen to, if you like this. This track is beautiful, total journey music, Love it!
TIL that Beth Orton did the vocals for this classic bit of chill.
square waves oscillate
envelopes the frontal lobe
shift my frequency
am caulking ceiling battens, a rather tedious and unpleasant job. the music is all that is keeping me from throwing the gun out the front door. should hire these jobs out but am trying to avoid poverty ;-)
 silberschmucky wrote:

Ein Ohrenschmaus :-)



Bestimmt
Have listened to this in Thailand on a beach after having a milkshake which made me feel funny. 

Think it was food poisoning. 
The bass and drums in this track, as well as the phasing synths are fucking brilliant...  As an electronic musician and producer - this is fucking awesome.
 Jelani wrote:



Explain, please?

I second that
 jjbchansen159 wrote:

Hasn't aged well.  




Explain, please?
I love this SO much.
Ein Ohrenschmaus :-)
In case you were curious (like I was),  William Orbit seems to have no affiliation with either Orbital or the The Orb, apart from all 3 being English electronic music artists that were active in the early 90's.   I guess I wasn't paying enough attention to have been confused about that back then.
Hasn't aged well.  
 bluematrix wrote:

I was on a little island in the Sea of Thailand called Koh Tao about 5 years ago at a cool little dive (as in scuba) bar called Moov. It had the most slanted pool table I've ever seen, which seemed to slant even more after I got buzzed up in the big treehouse (which towered over this crazy looking igloo, go figure) in the back with half a dozen divers. About midnight or so, most of people in the bar head to the other side of the island in whatever scooter or pickup bed you could hitch a ride in, for a beach party that was going to start soon. Incredibly the DJ was... yea, Orbit. Swaying in the soft sand under a million stars on a tiny island filled with peaceful cool people from around the globe on a perfect night with a great buzz to this guy... well..  yea.. it is definitely on the highlight reel of my life. 



A story of paradise. Thank you for illustrating a dream with your words.
 xcranky_yankee wrote:
...in a good way? this is great background music early Sunday am


A bit hyperactive for a Sunday am at my age (and hers) but in our youth... 
 MrsTom wrote:

The way she pronounces 'tongue' makes me squirm. 

...in a good way? this is great background music early Sunday am


 spiritfla wrote:
I actually found this one on my own back in 1995 on a Sunday evening  FM radio Program called "Star Streams" with host "Forest" It was out of Sedona, AZ I think. Such great times, but this song! It has remained in my A rotation and something I always play for others...LOUDLY. I appreciate that it's here on RP and NOT surprised at all. 

A solid 11 for me!
 


I too was a Starstreams fan back in the day. When I discovered it on the cool Seattle station of the day, Forest was going by his actual name, Frank Forrest. He operated out of Mill Valley, CA. It was locally known as "Marin County hot tub music".  
 ; -)
 hempmandan wrote:

Beth Orton. Too good to be a popular artist, but damn well should be...


Like patty griffin 
Good tune!
Beth Orton. Too good to be a popular artist, but damn well should be...
 actusreus wrote:
Yawn. I appreciate the artistry, but it does nothing for me. it makes me feel like I am in my dentist's waiting room.

Is your dentist taking new patients?  Can I get her number?
 misterbearbaby wrote:

Turn this wicked joint all the way up to 11, babies! Years  .... hell... decades ago a swift talking salesman convinced me I "needed" to shell out an extra $200 bucks for the amplifier with the 2,200-watt toroidal power transformer versus the wimpy, standard 1700-watt jobber. There was the b est 200 bux I ever wasted! Every once in a while, I waken those extra amperes to do what they're there for. Thank you jesus, Nelson Pass, mister salesman, and R.P. 



I can't imagine the impact, at 75% with a Linn active setup and 200 watts per channel I get blown out of the room.
The way she pronounces 'tongue' makes me squirm. 
 dkwalika wrote:
I like this a lot.
 

go further De Kay Waleekaa..a....ahhhhhhhhhhh - this is hot poop - further.... this is life affirming . I listen to this and want to keep on living a little longer.
I like this a lot.
 bluematrix wrote:
I was on a little island in the Sea of Thailand called Koh Tao about 5 years ago at a cool little dive (as in diving) bar called Moov. It had the most slanted pool table I've ever seen, which seemed to slant even more after I got buzzed up in the big treehouse in the back. About midnight or so, most of bar heads to the other side of the island for a beach party. The DJ was... yea, Orbit. Swaying in the soft sand under a million stars on a tiny island filled with peaceful cool people from around the globe on a perfect night with a great buzz to this guy... well..  yea.. it is definitely on the highlight reel of my life. 
 
"Murder Island"
This never gets old - an "11"
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Turn this wicked joint all the way up to 11, babies! Years  .... hell... decades ago a swift talking salesman convinced me I "needed" to shell out an extra $200 bucks for the amplifier with the 2,200-watt toroidal power transformer versus the wimpy, standard 1700-watt jobber. There was the b est 200 bux I ever wasted! Every once in a while, I waken those extra amperes to do what they're there for. Thank you jesus, Nelson Pass, mister salesman, and R.P. 
 

Not sure you'd have noticed the difference. Do you live in a stadium :-) 
Love me some BO vocals...
 spiritfla wrote:
what a story!

 

 spiritfla wrote:
wow...great story.

 

 bluematrix wrote:
I was on a little island in the Sea of Thailand called Koh Tao about 5 years ago at a cool little dive (as in diving) bar called Moov. It had the most slanted pool table I've ever seen, which seemed to slant even more after I got buzzed up in the big treehouse in the back. About midnight or so, most of bar heads to the other side of the island for a beach party. The DJ was... yea, Orbit. Swaying in the soft sand under a million stars on a tiny island filled with peaceful cool people from around the globe on a perfect night with a great buzz to this guy... well..  yea.. it is definitely on the highlight reel of my life. 
 

 dkwalika wrote:
Real nice. I should be on a freeway out west, letting it roll!
 
Back when this came out, I'd just moved out west, and this Outstanding track is a part of that life era. Roll on!
Real nice. I should be on a freeway out west, letting it roll!
I actually found this one on my own back in 1995 on a Sunday evening  FM radio Program called "Star Streams" with host "Forest" It was out of Sedona, AZ I think. Such great times, but this song! It has remained in my A rotation and something I always play for others...LOUDLY. I appreciate that it's here on RP and NOT surprised at all. 

A solid 11 for me!
 
Oh, this sounds so good through dac/amp and some Hifiman planar magnetics!
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Turn this wicked joint all the way up to 11, babies! Years  .... hell... decades ago a swift talking salesman convinced me I "needed" to shell out an extra $200 bucks for the amplifier with the 2,200-watt toroidal power transformer versus the wimpy, standard 1700-watt jobber. There was the b est 200 bux I ever wasted! Every once in a while, I waken those extra amperes to do what they're there for. Thank you jesus, Nelson Pass, mister salesman, and R.P. 
 
Nelson does indeed know his stuff.
 Queue wrote:
Anyone know if that's a real bass?
 

I play bass. Sounds like an electronic loop but still pretty good.  
Nice bass groove. Would be a lot more interesting with a live bass player instead of a loop.

Still gets an 8.
I'm dancing in my chair while teleworking during COVID-19. The speakers were cranked all the way!
7 to 8 .. something about it .. rocking in my chair while working from home.  Stay safe everyone!
Anyone know if that's a real bass?
I just watched some nails work their way out of my ceiling.
Love it!
Nice! The isolated keyboard notes remind me of the soundtrack of some of Ken Loach's films.
As acclaimed as he/they are, this song, although sounds good, seems quite a bit shy of many words!! Be nice to have a meaningful song, to such a nice sound!! But, thanks
RP, nevertheless!!
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Hmm, seems a misuse of Beth Orton here. The tune coulda used anyone, and she certainly didn't need to do this. Maybe friends of hers, or a favor?
 
  It doesn't seem like a "misuse" to me.  She's done quite a bit of electronica and/or "folktronica"and spoken word stuff; she is also friends with William Orbit and has worked with him before - on at least two of her albums.  This song is on her compilation album "Pass In Time", so apparently she didn't consider doing this recording some sort of unnecessary obligation.
Alexa, volume up. Again.
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Hmm, seems a misuse of Beth Orton here. The tune coulda used anyone, and she certainly didn't need to do this. Maybe friends of hers, or a favor?
 
How did you determine that "she certainly didn't need to do this"?
Hmm, seems a misuse of Beth Orton here. The tune coulda used anyone, and she certainly didn't need to do this. Maybe friends of hers, or a favor?
Watch out for the bike :-)
Love this stuff!
 TomJB wrote:

What would I do w/o RP in the morning  ☕
 

afternoon, evening and nights too.... 
 TomJB wrote:

What would I do w/o RP in the morning  ☕
 
My little ceremony as well :) :) :)


I was introduced to Orbit through an IRS 'No Speak' compilation in the late 80s and grabbed each of the original 3 'Strange Cargo' albums as they came out through the 90s. Fabulous stuff. Have yet to fill in the gaps with later material, but always love it when he comes up in the RP playlists. 
A cool groove and boobies on the album cover, what more could one want?
Excellent headphone music so thank you for the experience!
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Turn this wicked joint all the way up to 11, babies! Years  .... hell... decades ago a swift talking salesman convinced me I "needed" to shell out an extra $200 bucks for the amplifier with the 2,200-watt toroidal power transformer versus the wimpy, standard 1700-watt jobber. There was the b est 200 bux I ever wasted! Every once in a while, I waken those extra amperes to do what they're there for. Thank you jesus, Nelson Pass, mister salesman, and R.P. 
 
Can I come over with my records and my stash :) 
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Turn this wicked joint all the way up to 11, babies! Years  .... hell... decades ago a swift talking salesman convinced me I "needed" to shell out an extra $200 bucks for the amplifier with the 2,200-watt toroidal power transformer versus the wimpy, standard 1700-watt jobber. There was the b est 200 bux I ever wasted! Every once in a while, I waken those extra amperes to do what they're there for. Thank you jesus, Nelson Pass, mister salesman, and R.P. 
 

Do your neighbours enjoy the amplifier too?
Classic greatness!{#Roflol}
Gotta bump it to a 9
I love William Orbit, this retro-future sound is so naive to my ears! PLUR to all my ravers
Turn this wicked joint all the way up to 11, babies! Years  .... hell... decades ago a swift talking salesman convinced me I "needed" to shell out an extra $200 bucks for the amplifier with the 2,200-watt toroidal power transformer versus the wimpy, standard 1700-watt jobber. There was the b est 200 bux I ever wasted! Every once in a while, I waken those extra amperes to do what they're there for. Thank you jesus, Nelson Pass, mister salesman, and R.P. 
 sdwright wrote:
Yes, music to my ears this morning!
{#Heartkiss}

 
What would I do w/o RP in the morning  ☕
https://youtu.be/Srf3RcgCTRU


Wow, Koh Tao... Nice!  I was there and beyond (Koh NangGan, the one with the Triangle of Beaches at low-tide seen from above in all those post cards), in '89... before the airport on Koh Samui changed everything... Some of the best snorkeling on Earth; right up there with Barrier Reef, Tioman, Tulamben, Okinawa, Maui, Big Island, Mauritius...
Absolutely love this song; would have loved to see him jam in a beach hut on Tao... Did you do the Full Moon Shroom Parties? In all my memories of my three times to Bali, I can never forget the Special Mushroom Omelettes at Midnight Oil Cafe in Legian Beach... 

bluematrix wrote:
I was on a little island in the Sea of Thailand called Koh Tao about 5 years ago at a cool little dive (as in diving) bar called Moov. It had the most slanted pool table I've ever seen, which seemed to slant even more after I got buzzed up in the big treehouse in the back. About midnight or so, most of bar heads to the other side of the island for a beach party. The DJ was... yea, Orbit. Swaying in the soft sand under a million stars on a tiny island filled with peaceful cool people from around the globe on a perfect night with a great buzz to this guy... well..  yea.. it is definitely on the highlight reel of my life.

I was on a little island in the Sea of Thailand called Koh Tao about 5 years ago at a cool little dive (as in scuba) bar called Moov. It had the most slanted pool table I've ever seen, which seemed to slant even more after I got buzzed up in the big treehouse (which towered over this crazy looking igloo, go figure) in the back with half a dozen divers. About midnight or so, most of people in the bar head to the other side of the island in whatever scooter or pickup bed you could hitch a ride in, for a beach party that was going to start soon. Incredibly the DJ was... yea, Orbit. Swaying in the soft sand under a million stars on a tiny island filled with peaceful cool people from around the globe on a perfect night with a great buzz to this guy... well..  yea.. it is definitely on the highlight reel of my life. 
 bam23 wrote:
Has anyone specified the Latin binomial of the species from which this vine's leaf is derived? One wonders...
 
It's probably Hedera helix - William Orbit is British after all..
LOLing at the times this was considered a futuristic sound
Bum shuffle in office chair.  Let them stare!
Has anyone specified the Latin binomial of the species from which this vine's leaf is derived? One wonders...
1 9 9 3

Way out ahead.
This goes great with Monday morning coffeee!  {#Sunny}
 fredriley wrote:

Beth Orton's from Naarch? I always thought, wrongly, that she was from across the Pond. Thanks for that bit of trivia. As for exports from that fine town, have you not forgotten Alan Partridge? ;-)

 
Fred,
Being gestated in Norwich, I feel entitled to take issue with your pronunciation, it's Norrige, like porrige, if you're coming from Lunnun, that is. From Nottnam, perhaps there is no soft r, glottal stop nor consonant after all. Oh WTF (O what the Fred) it's all good.
They opened a new brewpub here this afternoon and I was invited to sample their wares in a 'soft opening'. Hah, there's a phrase invented by a man.
Brilliant. This song sends chills down my spine. Replay factor is extremely high!
LOVE THIS —- the medicine to align my chacras...! {#Hearteyes}
getting no work done now with this back to back goodness...... late 80s and early 90's were good...
 coloradojohn wrote:
THIS SONG can make your thoughts seem unreal, your speakers sound surreal, and turn your whole day or night upside-down. YEAH

 
Well spoken indeed...YEAH :)


Hooked me right in. Can't believe this song is 21 years old and I've never heard it before. Obviously not listening to enough RP. But the song...the song is wonderful. Trippy and puts you in a trance in front of your speakers. Love it.
My day really needs this song in a loop. So great for those "Calgon take me away!" days in the cubes. 
THIS SONG can make your thoughts seem unreal, your speakers sound surreal, and turn your whole day or night upside-down. YEAH
One of the first "Must Get" songs I jotted down after finding this website. Thanks Bill.
lovely.
Very nice… {#Whistle}
I feel like floating in space when I hear this ☝️
 
Made this a 10. Again.  Does the new site have an 11 setting?  {#Cheesygrin}
You can't play this enough as far as I'm concerned...just picks me up every time 
It has a super natural way about it {#Meditate}
like this a lot
drums are just to generic
Firts few lines of this, playing in teh background, I thought it was 801 'Tomorrow Never Knows'... but not so... but still interesting
 fredriley wrote:

Beth Orton's from Naarch? I always thought, wrongly, that she was from across the Pond. Thanks for that bit of trivia. As for exports from that fine town, have you not forgotten Alan Partridge? ;-)

 
is his name pronounced "Alan Paaridch" your way fredriley?  ; )  cool tune donja tink

Sometimes it helps to be later at night for trippy grooves, but this is real good, anytime.

{#Music} 

 
 fredriley wrote:

Beth Orton's from Naarch? I always thought, wrongly, that she was from across the Pond. Thanks for that bit of trivia. As for exports from that fine town, have you not forgotten Alan Partridge? ;-)

 
Norwich?  How would we cope without Norwich?
 gazcon73 wrote:
Beth Orton , Norwich best export ( apart from Deliah Smith )
 
Beth Orton's from Naarch? I always thought, wrongly, that she was from across the Pond. Thanks for that bit of trivia. As for exports from that fine town, have you not forgotten Alan Partridge? ;-)
Beth Orton , Norwich best export ( apart from Deliah Smith )
 
Strange Cargo indeed!

Do we miss the 90's?

(Press 1 for yes and 2 for no.)
One of the best tracks to hear when it's 12:12am and The Buzz is on... Wildly inspired, and inspiring like no other... Rockin' it, yeah ~ 
 CaffeineSam wrote:
Je trouve que c'est dehors debout.

 
  Je suis d'accord avec vous mon ami.. {#Wink}
Love love love. Play more of this style.
Reminds me of Ri Ra, Dublin. BAck in the day...
Moby on piano?
 
Je trouve que c'est dehors debout.
Sounds like the intro to 801's "Tomorrow Never Knows."
Volume goes always up on this one. Just perfect.