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OMD
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band formed in Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978. The group consists of founding duo and principal songwriters Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals), along with Martin Cooper (keyboards, saxophone) and Stuart Kershaw (drums). Regarded as pioneers of electronic music, OMD combined an experimental, miMcCluskey and Humphreys led precursor group the Id from 1977 to 1978, and re-recorded their track „Electricity“ as OMD’s debut single in 1979. Weathering an „uncool“ image and a degree of hostility from music critics, the band achieved popularity throughout Europe with the 1980 anti-war song „Enola Gay“, and gained further recognition via Architecture & Morality (1981) and its three hit singles. McCluskey and Humphreys attracted the moniker, „the Lennon–McCartney of synth-pop“. Although later reappraised, Dazzle Ships (1983) was seen as overly experimental, and eroded European support. The group embraced a more radio-friendly sound on Junk Culture (1984); this change in direction led to greater success in the US, and spawned hits including „If You Leave“ (from the 1986 film Pretty in Pink).
In 1989, creative differences saw Humphreys and other members form the spin-off band the Listening Pool, leaving McCluskey the only remaining member of OMD. The group returned with a new line-up and explored the dance-pop genre: Sugar Tax (1991) and its initial singles were hits in Europe. OMD then began to flounder amid the guitar-oriented grunge and Britpop movements, eventually disbanding in 1996. McCluskey later conceived girl group Atomic Kitten, for whom he served as a principal songwriter and producer, while Humphreys formed the duo Onetwo alongside lead vocalist Claudia Brücken of Propaganda.
In 2006, OMD reformed with McCluskey and Humphreys revisiting the more experimental territory of their early work. Although sometimes identified as a cult band, the group have achieved 14 top-20 entries on the UK Albums Chart, as well as global sales of 40 million records. Their 20th century output yielded 18 top-40 appearances on the UK Singles Chart, along with four top-40 entries on the US Billboard Hot 100. Described as one of the most influential synth-pop acts in history, OMD have inspired many artists across diverse genres and disciplines.nimalist ethos with pop sensibilities, becoming key figures in the emergence of synth-pop; McCluskey and Humphreys also established the „synth duo“ trend in Britain during the 1980s. In the United States, the band were an early presence in the MTV-driven Second British Invasion.
Background information
Also known as OMD
Origin: Meols, Merseyside, England
Genres: Electronic synth-pop, experimental, new wave
Years active: 1978–19962006–present
Labels 100%Virgin, Dindisc, Factory, Bright AntennaA&M, Epic
More Information and Copyright © on Wikipedia
OMD on Amazon.com 🇺🇸
The book: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Pretending To See The Future (Kindle Edition)
by Richard Houghton (Author)
Music
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark discography on Wikipedia.
Architektur & Morality
Track Listings
1. The New Stone Age
2. She’s Leaving
3. Souvenir
4. Sealand
5. Joan of Arc
6. Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)
7. Architecture and Morality
8. Georgia
9. The Beginning and the End
10. Extended Souvenir
11. Motion and Heart (Amazon Version)
12. Sacred Heart
13. The Romance of the Telescope
14. Navigation
15. Of All the Things We’ve Made
16. Gravity Never Failed
Editorial Reviews by Amazon
Vinyl LP pressing. Architecture & Morality is the third studio album by British electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. It was released on 8 November 1981 by Dindisc. Hailed as the band’s seminal work, the album received critical acclaim and has appeared on various lists of the best albums; The Morning News named it the finest record of 1981, and „the blueprint for synth-pop“. The album also became a commercial success, selling over four million copies by 2007. Architecture & Morality yielded three singles, all of which reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart: „Souvenir“ (#3), „Joan of Arc“ (#5), and „Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)“ (#4), a retitled „Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)“. The singles were also successful on international charts, with „Souvenir“ and „Maid of Orleans“ each charting at #1 in various European countries; the latter became Germany’s biggest-selling single of 1982.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Track Listings
1. Bunker Soldiers
2. Almost
3. Mystereality
4. Electricity
5. The Messerschmitt Twins
6. Messages
7. Julias Song
8. Red Frame/White Light
9. Dancing
10. Pretending to See the Future
11. Messages (Single Version) (Bonus Track)
12. I Betray My Friends (Bonus Track)
13. Taking Sides Again (Bonus Track)
14. Waiting for the Man (Bonus Track)
15. Electricity (Hannett/Cargo Studios Version) (Bonus Track)
16. Almost (Hannett/Cargo Studios Version) (Bonus Track)
Editorial Reviews by Amazon
2003 remastered reissue of 1980 debut album includes six bonus tracks, ‚Messages‘ (Single Version), ‚I Betray My Friends‘, ‚Taking Sides Again‘, ‚Waiting for the Man‘, ‚Electricity‘ (Hannett/Cargo Studios Version), & ‚Almost‘ (Hannett/Cargo Studios Version). Virgin.
Book recommendations
By Konstantin von Weberg (Author)
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