Today’s video of the day is Orbital – "Halcyon" released in 1993.
“Halcyon” by Orbital is a haunting track with a deeply personal origin. Released in 1993, it appears on the Radiccio EP and later on Work 1989–2002 as a single edit. The song is dedicated to Phil and Paul Hartnoll’s mother, who struggled with Halcion addiction. This adds emotional weight to the music and the video. Orbital, the English electronic duo of the Hartnoll brothers, emerged in the late 1980s. Known for their layered, cinematic sound, they gained early acclaim with the track “Chime.” Their second self-titled album, commonly called Orbital 2, includes the better-known remix “Halcyon + on + on.” This version is more melodic and widely used in films like Mortal Kombat, Hackers, and Mean Girls.
The extended version of “Halcyon” stands out for its hypnotic depth. It uses a backmasked vocal sample by Kirsty Hawkshaw from Opus III’s “It’s a Fine Day.” It also includes vocal harmonies from Yes’s “Leave It.” The beats come from a Roland TR-909 drum machine. These elements blend into a surreal and melancholic atmosphere. The music video reinforces this dreamlike quality. Kirsty Hawkshaw plays a housewife affected by medication. She drifts into hallucinations while doing dishes. Objects disappear into water. Faces repeat. Her sons appear in strange places. She even wrestles a doppelgänger in the sink. The surreal scenes were filmed in the Hartnoll family home.
At the video’s end, a definition of “Halcyon” and “Halcyon Days” appears. This ties back to the song’s theme of lost peace. The video visually reflects the distortion of reality caused by addiction. “Halcyon” differs from the rest of Orbital’s catalog through its emotional core. While later albums like In Sides and The Middle of Nowhere explore broader themes, “Halcyon” feels intimate. It bridges their early rave sound with deeper storytelling. This song shows Orbital’s skill at turning personal pain into powerful electronic music. The extended version and its video remain among their most unforgettable works.
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