Also, what actually is the real difference between the various versions of "Electricity" (i.e. is it even vaguely worth trying to track down the Martin Hannett version?)
― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 6 February 2003 03:32 (twenty-one years ago) link
Destroy: The Pacific Age and Sugar Tax (and probably the stuff that came after Sugar Tax that I never heard).
― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 6 February 2003 03:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
― keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 6 February 2003 04:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 6 February 2003 04:18 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Patrick South (Patrick South), Thursday, 6 February 2003 05:03 (twenty-one years ago) link
Search - the whole of the first album. Messages/Julia's Song/Bunker Soldiers/etc - all classic.
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 6 February 2003 08:23 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jez (Jez), Thursday, 6 February 2003 11:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 6 February 2003 11:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
D - Only "Pacific age" and the crap bits of "Liberator" (about 80% of it) really. Avoid the Listening Pool too.
― Rob M (Rob M), Thursday, 6 February 2003 11:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
― dek1, Thursday, 6 February 2003 14:10 (twenty-one years ago) link
― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 6 April 2003 14:38 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 6 April 2003 14:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 6 April 2003 14:43 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 6 April 2003 15:04 (twenty-one years ago) link
So start with the first three, as they're remastered with bonus tracks. Would be good buys!
― Tijn, Sunday, 6 April 2003 16:31 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 04:32 (twenty years ago) link
― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 04:37 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 04:48 (twenty years ago) link
― geeta (geeta), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 05:47 (twenty years ago) link
Anyway, first and foremost, the first four albums should be searched. And also search "Dreaming", a great one-off single from 1988.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 08:20 (twenty years ago) link
In terms of the remasters themselves, I think Organisation has the best bonus material asit includes some very good live tracks from the Factory which are all instrumental.
I am going to get Dazzle Ships and the Peel Sessions discs next.
― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 15:21 (twenty years ago) link
http://www.omd.uk.com/html/news.html
i've finally ordered dazzle ships, but i'm getting by (and then some) on the B-sides collection - it's tremendous. i'm kicking myself for not getting it earlier.
― ja (_ja_), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 10:44 (eighteen years ago) link
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 10:52 (eighteen years ago) link
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 10:54 (eighteen years ago) link
― mzui (mzui), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 10:56 (eighteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 19:58 (eighteen years ago) link
"VCL XI" sounds like Junior Boys or Antonelli Electr! All those burbling sounds like machine babies cooing!
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 23:14 (eighteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 23:18 (eighteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 23:20 (eighteen years ago) link
xpost yeah exactly! Black Celebration is the other 80s synth-pop album which I reckon does this rilly rilly exceedingly well.
What is other stuff like these? Apart from early industrial?
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 23:22 (eighteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 23:28 (eighteen years ago) link
― That's not cocaine! It's Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 23:54 (eighteen years ago) link
Destroy: "Dazzle Ship". Never understood what was so fantastic about that one. And the fans at the time obviously agreed with me, as it flopped completely.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 09:55 (eighteen years ago) link
but i think DS has long been critically reacclaimed as the classic it is, don't you?
it is a dense, beautiful, experimental, dark, intelligent and heartbreaking album. and if we are going to reduce everything to melody: beat "the romance of the telescope".
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 10:02 (eighteen years ago) link
and if someone said, right, play me an album that will give me the best idea of where your tastes lie and what you like, dazzle ships would be it.
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 10:05 (eighteen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 10:13 (eighteen years ago) link
― mzui (mzui), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 10:19 (eighteen years ago) link
and time zones ... time zones! melody without melody! rhythm without rhythm! oh, exquisite genius.
god, i love that album so much.
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 10:31 (eighteen years ago) link
e.g 'She waited for so Lo-o-ong" (She's Leaving)'Her dream's to give her heart away...etc' (JoA, Maid Of Orleans)'Now she's on her wa-ay to another la-and' (JoA, the other one)
That all of these examples are from A&M, make it my fave OMD LP. I unreservedly love the goofy Liverpool catholic thing,choirs of angels synths on the pop stuff and all the clanking about on the 'industrial northern landscapes' ones (Sealand etc). Fantastic band.
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 15:15 (eighteen years ago) link
and yes, "goofy liverpool catholic thing" sums it up wonderfully; although i do still prefer the solving-all-the-world's-problems approach of dazzle ships (key andy quote from the time: "countries are a very inefficient way of organising things.")
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 15:19 (eighteen years ago) link
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 15:23 (eighteen years ago) link
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 17:42 (eighteen years ago) link
crush, as i remembered, is a bit meh.
but jesus christ, woah, the pacific age! it's fucking amazing! what was i playing at, selling my CD copy ten years ago? it's a lost overblown eighties classic. recorded in paris with stephen hague, so you can imagine it already ... big, lush, horribly digital in parts, but ridiculously ambitious in a down-to-earth stylee ... hellfire, if i didn't know i'd regret it, i'd call it a sequel to dazzle ships.
and i've only listened to the first side.
wow. i'm gobsmacked. i need to be getting me a copy of junk culture, just in case it turns out to be good as well.
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 7 June 2005 21:27 (eighteen years ago) link
― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 7 June 2005 21:30 (eighteen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 7 June 2005 23:50 (eighteen years ago) link
-- Geir Hongro (geirhon...), April 6th, 2003.i loved it and expected a full album .can't get into them before "junk culture".i thought "liberator" was great and "universal" was their best.i play the greatest hits more than anything.
― katomicaitten, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 02:10 (eighteen years ago) link
p.s. omd's middle eights are brilliant, love the key changes and ad-libs.
― katomicaitten, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 02:11 (eighteen years ago) link
greatest hits (with dreaming) 9
― katomicaitten, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 02:15 (eighteen years ago) link
insanity. how can an album with souvenir on it rate a 3? that song along rates it as a 6.
― keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 02:37 (eighteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 03:34 (eighteen years ago) link
Maybe the booker mistook them for OMC
― lute bro (brimstead), Monday, 1 February 2016 20:33 (eight years ago) link
how bizarre
― its subtle brume (DJP), Monday, 1 February 2016 20:35 (eight years ago) link
I like both of these bands, so it's not inconceivable to me that there other people who feel the same way (would much rather see Barenaked Ladies opening for OMD than vice versa though)
― soref, Monday, 1 February 2016 20:43 (eight years ago) link
Aw man, kinda disappointed that this wasn't news of new material - they're apparently working on an album due to come out this year.
― Turrican, Monday, 1 February 2016 22:02 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyYaWD3DWIU
This is great, don't be put off by the beginning.
― MaresNest, Friday, 26 February 2016 13:34 (eight years ago) link
Is that the doc where McCluskey gets out the masters for 'Messages', 'Electricity', 'Enola Gay', 'Souvenir' etc. and breaks them down track-by-track? If so, yeah, that's a good doc... it's impressive how crude some of those melodies actually sound when played dry like that, and it's impressive how they got so much out of the primitive technology of the time.
Sadly, there still doesn't seem to be very much in terms of new news about the forthcoming OMD record which is meant to appear this year... apparently, they've been doing quite a lot of writing, but McCluskey hasn't revealed anything about what they're working on this time around. Hopefully, it'll be a step further in the direction that English Electric took.
― The Dave Grohl of ILX (Turrican), Friday, 26 February 2016 21:12 (eight years ago) link
So there is a live album from that Museum of Liverpool show.
― The Kidd With The Erasable Borad (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 26 February 2016 21:26 (eight years ago) link
How's their drummer doing?
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 26 February 2016 21:32 (eight years ago) link
Mal Holmes? From what I can gather, he's okay but he's retired from playing live with OMD permanently because of the health risks involved. He still might do studio stuff with OMD, though.
― The Dave Grohl of ILX (Turrican), Friday, 26 February 2016 21:40 (eight years ago) link
So, according to the information that McCluskey has let slip so far, the next OMD has the working title of Punishment of Luxury and is pencilled in for a March 2017 release. Apparently, Mal Holmes won't feature at all on it, although this all of course may change. Humphreys and McCluskey have been working on quite a fair bit of material, although it's clear they're taking their time with this one and it's hard to say at this stage whether anything they're working on now, or how much of it, will make it to the actual album.
― // 166,000 W A N K E R S // LOVE (Turrican), Thursday, 10 March 2016 20:53 (eight years ago) link
So, they played a gig at the Royal Albert Hall a couple of days ago where they played both Dazzle Ships and Architecture & Morality in their entirety, so further to 'International' getting its debut live airing a couple of years back, they've now aired 'This Is Helena' and 'Silent Running' live for the first time, and they've played 'Telegraph' for the first time since they reformed. I've heard they played some other songs, just as '4 Neu' and 'Almost', but I don't know what else. There was no support act, so quite a long set.
― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 17:31 (seven years ago) link
It's being made available as a download I believe.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 17:32 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, I heard they recorded the gig and those that attended were able to get physical copies of it afterwards. As you'd expect, there's plenty of footage up on Youtube as well. It's great to see them performing these albums, and from what I've seen Stuart Kershaw is filling in for Mal Holmes better than I could possibly have imagined. I can't help but feel that Organisation is looking more and more underrated, and I'm hoping that Kershaw's presence in the band won't eventually mark a return to their Liberator era. I think both Humphreys and McCluskey are more protective about what they let out under the OMD name these days, so I'm guessing not.
― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 17:41 (seven years ago) link
I just bought it, actually, downloading now :)
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 17:50 (seven years ago) link
Silent Running sounds great, I guess they have a few songs with the same vibe, however it's a shame it hasn't been performed before now.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 18:53 (seven years ago) link
I agree, it's always been one of my favourites on Dazzle Ships... I love it how they took the keyboard track and slowed it down and reversed it to create '66 and Fading', too.
― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 18:59 (seven years ago) link
One cool thing, the thirties sounding female vocal sample at the end of Georgia is mixed quite loud, I've always loved the way that sample rubs up against the keyboard line, it's very evocative, wish I knew what track it was.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 19:11 (seven years ago) link
Oh shit, well thanks google.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Que_reste-t-il_de_nos_amours_%3F
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 19:14 (seven years ago) link
'Georgia' is a bit like 'She's Leaving' in the sense that I could totally imagine it as a single. Legend has it that Dindisc wanted to actually put 'She's Leaving' out as a single, but McCluskey refused - a decision he has since come to regret! It did come out as a single in Belgium, I think? They got the single choices on Dazzle Ships a bit wrong, though... 'Radio Waves' would have made a fine lead single.
― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 19:18 (seven years ago) link
Just took a plunge on Liberator and...its not so bad?? I'm grooving hard on "Best Years of our Lives" and "Christine"
― frogbs, Friday, 20 May 2016 13:22 (seven years ago) link
'Christine' is probably the best track on the LP, to be fair.
― Turrican, Friday, 20 May 2016 18:54 (seven years ago) link
GOD KNOWS IT'S A SHAME ... but it's always the way
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Friday, 10 February 2017 21:43 (seven years ago) link
'Goddess of Love' > 'If You Leave'
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Friday, 10 February 2017 21:54 (seven years ago) link
I just tested this theory out. Disproven.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Friday, 10 February 2017 23:50 (seven years ago) link
Honestly, I even had to look up which album that one was on. Now, if you had said "We Love You">"If You Leave," I might have humored you.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 11 February 2017 02:57 (seven years ago) link
'Goddess of Love' was actually the original song that they submitted for the Pretty In Pink soundtrack, but when the ending was changed they had to come up with a new song quickly and they came up with 'If You Leave' ...
Now, I'm fond of 'If You Leave' but the transition from 'Flame of Hope' into 'Goddess of Love' on The Pacific Age is a great moment, IMO... the chilled mood of the former gradually fading out and leaving the opening sample remaining, before suddenly switching to the opening of 'Goddess of Love' ... HEY! HEY! SHE'S OKAY! SHE'S OKAY! ... It's such an upbeat moment that it fills me with joy every time I hear it... and it's a great song. Would have made a better single than the re-recorded 'Shame' ...
(I like 'We Love You' too, fwiw)
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Saturday, 11 February 2017 19:10 (seven years ago) link
I really need to give Junk Culture, Crush, and the Pacific Age a fair shot. I enjoy everything up until then.
― Karl Malone, Saturday, 11 February 2017 19:19 (seven years ago) link
check out English Electric if you haven't, that's one of their best albums imo
― nomar, Saturday, 11 February 2017 19:30 (seven years ago) link
Sugar Tax is inconsistent, but there are some really pretty songs on there
― soref, Saturday, 11 February 2017 20:05 (seven years ago) link
I'd rank Junk Culture, Sugar Tax and English Electric as the best of the post-Dazzle Ships LP's, followed by Crush, History of Modern and The Pacific Age ... I hardly ever listen to Liberator or Universal.
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Saturday, 11 February 2017 20:20 (seven years ago) link
I love Crush.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 11 February 2017 20:45 (seven years ago) link
It's the better of the two Stephen Hague-produced records, IMO. '88 Seconds in Greensboro' and 'The Native Daughters of the Golden West' are two of my favourite OMD songs ever.
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Saturday, 11 February 2017 21:01 (seven years ago) link
Hey any fans of OMD, what record would be good to get into if I like "A souvenir (extended version". Only song I'm overly familiar with.
― Everything Moves Towards The Sun (Ross), Sunday, 12 February 2017 20:37 (seven years ago) link
if you like Souvenir, you will very likely enjoy Architecture & Morality and Organisation as well.
― Karl Malone, Sunday, 12 February 2017 20:43 (seven years ago) link
Thanks Karl, I'll check them out :)
― Everything Moves Towards The Sun (Ross), Sunday, 12 February 2017 20:44 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, start with Architecture & Morality, followed by Organisation and Dazzle Ships. Then try the debut, and then Junk Culture or English Electric.
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Sunday, 12 February 2017 21:07 (seven years ago) link
figured I'd get caught up on these dudes in anticipation of the new record...English Electric is really quite nice, isn't it?
― frogbs, Wednesday, 2 August 2017 13:44 (six years ago) link
It is. Saw them live last Friday -- absolutely wonderful show. They get away with playing songs exactly like the studio arrangements more than most, because they make it all work so well live.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 2 August 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
They're so great live, I saw the first comeback gig at the Hammersmith Apollo back whenever and it completely ruled to hear all of A&M and all the big hits.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 2 August 2017 14:43 (six years ago) link
If the forthcoming new album is as good as English Electric, I'll be happy!
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Wednesday, 2 August 2017 19:08 (six years ago) link
I was at the same show as Ned, they were excellent live, blown away. New songs were great (they played two of them). Looking forward to the new album, as the other two post-reunion albums were both great as well. Underrated band.
― akm, Wednesday, 2 August 2017 19:41 (six years ago) link
Of all the bands that reformed and put out new material this decade, I've been very happy with what OMD and Suede have been offering.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Wednesday, 2 August 2017 19:47 (six years ago) link
yeah, both, good point. they've really been true to their strengths and it hasn't been a nostalic money grab.
― akm, Thursday, 3 August 2017 04:45 (six years ago) link
Can anyone comment on the quality of the remastered reissues on vinyl?
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 13 November 2018 16:59 (five years ago) link
Well, I bought the S/T album and can confirm it sounds terrific. Outer & inner sleeves are high quality. Overall i'm very happy. Will likely buy the Organization and Dazzle Ships reissues to replace older copies.
― brotherlovesdub, Wednesday, 14 November 2018 17:45 (five years ago) link
I haven't heard any of the remastered vinyl reissues, but based on your feedback I might just check 'em out... sounds promising!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 14 November 2018 18:00 (five years ago) link
Do they have the same packaging/labelling as the original Dindisc vinyl, with the die-cut sleeves etc.?
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 14 November 2018 18:02 (five years ago) link
Yes, they are all replicas of the first pressings. Die-cut, nice inners, labels replicated as well.
― brotherlovesdub, Wednesday, 14 November 2018 18:52 (five years ago) link
Do you get the 7" with Organisation also?
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 14 November 2018 19:22 (five years ago) link
I don't think Organization has the 7".
― brotherlovesdub, Wednesday, 14 November 2018 21:31 (five years ago) link