Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark is an synth electronic group that became famous in the 1980’s, and has been one of my favourite artists. There have been an amazing 14 studio albums, with an emphasis on tuneful pop songs mixed with soundscapes and interesting musical interludes. So with the release of ‘Bauhaus Staircase’, here is my ranked list, as i consider which ones get more play or have most affection within my collection.
Architecture and Morality (1981)
The 3rd album, and a blend of musical soundscapes and catchy pop songs which combine together into an amazing album journey. This remains highly regarded in the genre, featuring choral samples and an excellent synth ambience. The singles ‘Souvenir’ and ‘Joan of Arc’ do stand out, but this is an album i always listen to as a whole piece of music. The vinyl cover has been issued in various colours, and initially had a cut out to show the image of the sleeve behind.
Crush (1985)
The 6th album generally does not make the very top of this band’s ranked lists, but i have always loved this album. A collection of vibrant pop songs, some with a raw edge such as ’88 Seconds’ and ‘Native Daughters’ and others really melodic such as ‘So In Love’ and ‘Hold You’, or featuring string effects ‘La Femme Accident’. Each side of the vinyl album closes with a more unique and interesting track to keep you on your toes, and the album cover features a painting by Edward Hopper.
Dazzle Ships (1983)
The 4th album, and the one that music journalists targeted with huge negativity. However, Dazzle Ships is a conceptual album focused on the cold war and is quite experimental, layering shortwave radio recordings to join together the more punchy tracks such as ‘Genetic Engineering’ and ‘Telegraph’. It now has more of a cult appeal, and the excellent gatefold vinyl cover features the dazzle camouflage with cut outs through where the coloured insert peeked through. I think this album is a creative peak alongside Architecture and Morality.
Universal (1996)
The 10th album, and this high position may bring surprise looks, as one of the trio of more solo efforts from front man McCluskey without Humphreys during the 90’s. A more organic sound, with a kind of spiritual or space theme emerging, this is another mix of catchy pop music such as ‘Walking On The Milky Way’ and ‘Very Close To Far Away’, but branches out in creative ways with some gospel and a waltz. As with my other higher ranked albums this is best listened to as a whole.
English Electric (2013)
The 12th album, and quite the return to form as the band continued its reformation into a new decade. English Electric comes across as bold and strong, from the bright cover, and into the driving beat of some of its tracks. With a neat futuristic theme of cities and robots, you can visualise the sci-fi influence as you listen. This album comes across as a modern Dazzle Ships and even the cover has a a nod of sorts to its predecessor. It is another album that tells stories and evokes its theme in excellent fashion.
Organisation (1980)
The 2nd album, and despite being the early days for the group, this album is very mature and melancholic. The hit single ‘Enola Gay’ is one of their best and most well known, but it is not overly reflective of the whole album which is more sombre and really atmospheric, with deep basslines, repeating rhythms and spiraling chords. Whilst this album is perhaps one for the right mood or time of day, it is exceptional well put together as a whole piece, and even the cover fits the album mood well.
Pacific Age (1986)
The 7th album, and the last of the 80’s era. This is a good compliment for Crush, with a more American feel including the introduction of brass sounds. The lead single was ‘Forever Live and Die’ but there are numerous other melodic tracks such as ‘We Love You’ and ‘Shame’, plus some sampling most notably in ‘Southern’. Another great example of cover artwork finished off a fine and more accessible OMD pop album.
Bauhaus Staircase (2023)
The 14th and latest album and a great one too, with a splattering theme of human evolution through to the end of civilisation. This album is strong throughout, being very rhythmical with driving and sometimes deep vibrating basslines, great melodies and vocals. It stands nicely alongside English Electic as one of their best recent releases, and if this becomes their last one, it is a great exit.
Sugar Tax (1991)
The 8th album, and into the 90’s when Paul Humphreys had left and front man Andy McCluskey wrote new songs performed by new members. There is a slight change in sound and style as we move into a new decade, the singles were strong in ‘Sailing On The Seven Seas’ and Pandora’s Box’. There was a great Kraftwerk style track called ‘Neon Lights’ and some moon landing sampling in ‘Apollo XI’. Overall this is a consistently good album to listen to.
Liberator (1993)
The 9th album, and one that i viewed with slight disappointment for many years, as it initially sat between two albums i liked more. However a recent return to listening has lifted my views as there are many great songs here, and it has a more mellow laid back feel. The atmospheric ‘King of Stone’ and ‘Dream of Me’, and rhythmical ‘Christine’ stand out, and it is much more a pop album than experimental. It is growing on me, so could go higher on the list.
The Debut Album (1980)
The first album, and very much a raw early synth record, with relatively basic layering and use of equipment. It is somewhat a mixed bag, but has a number of great songs on it starting with the singles ‘Electricity’ and ‘Messages’, the latter being a much more stripped back album version, which was improved for its single release. One of my favourites on this album is ‘Julia’s Song’ with it’s atmospheric feel and repeating bassline. To close each side of the vinyl is a more moody vibe with heavy progressive chord sequences.
History of Modern (2010)
The return of OMD after a 14 year gap with their 11th album. This feels like a mixed revisiting of their previous styles and i can hear elements or influences from older albums throughout. It is an enjoyable listen, although not quite scaling the heights of what has gone before. Favourite tracks include the Kraftwerk style of ‘The Future, the Past and Forever After’, and the more pacey track ‘Sister Mary Says’, and the mellow ‘Bondage of Hate’.
Junk Culture (1984)
The 5th album, and an emphasis on being less experimental than its predecessor, although it still has its creative moments. ‘Love and Violence’, ‘Talking Loud and Clear’ and ‘Hard Day’ are stand out tracks, alongside a couple of very popular singles. There are more varied influences here but the album does not hold together as well as their other 80’s releases, and with a couple of tracks i avoid, it has never been one that i have played a whole lot.
Punishment Of Luxury (2017)
The 13th album, and a good companion to its predecessor English Electric, in many ways continuing a futuristic science theme, with songs such as ‘Robot Man’ and ‘Isotype’, and then questioning materialism and human behaviour within the title track and the emotive ‘What Have We Done’. There are quirky electronic sound effects and pulses that underpin a number of tracks. This album starts strong but does not quite keep it up until the end.