One of the reasons Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark called their 11th and latest album ‘History of Modern’ is because they are acutely aware of what it was they were doing with its release. On paper, this is the UK synth-pop pioneers’ first new material since 1996, but in spirit, ‘History of Modern’ has more in common with the group’s early 80’s heyday, when ‘Enola Gay’ and ‘Souvenir’, penned by two teenage Krautrock fans from the Wirral, lit up the charts and set the agenda for a bold new movement in British electronic music.
[OMD taken at The Summer Pops at Aintree Pavilion, Liverpool, 2007.]
Together with the Human League and Gary Numan, OMD’s tuneful blend of cutting-edge synthwork, cool minimalism, and soulful pop – honed to perfection on the albums ‘Architecture & Morality’, ‘Dazzle Ships’ and ‘Organisation’– defined the decade, sold millions of records, and turned childhood pals Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys into stars.
“We were trying to be modern,” says Andy, pointing out that, in 1980, OMD were one of the first acts to use a sampler. “After architecture, art and design, popular music was the last of the great modernist movements, and we were genuinely trying to do something new. Quite how we thought we were going to change the world with three-and-a-half-minute pop songs, I don’t know, but we thought we could.”
[Photo courtesy of DavidPphoto on Flickr]
Fast forward 30 years to the reunited OMD and it’s clear that that sense of mischief and youthful idealism still fuels the group. “I suppose the nice thing is that, just like in the early days, we made this record simply because we fancied making a record,” says Andy. “There was no pressure to make a record in order to sell records and sustain a career. It was like making a first album again.”
OMD will be playing hits old and new in Vancouver on Friday, September 30 at the Commodore. I’m looking forward to catching their show after all this time (I too was a big fan back in the day and can’t wait to hear their new material performed live)! Australian band Washington will be opening for OMD. I have a pair of tickets to give away to one of you (and your new best friend). You can enter by:
1) leaving a comment on this site telling me your favourite OMD tune, or
2) RT the following: I entered to win tickets to see OMD at the Commodore via @arianecdesign
I’ll draw a winner at random on Tuesday, September 20. Winner and guest must be 19 or over to enter and your names will be added to the OMD guest list.
UPDATE: Congrats to @crunchycarpets aka Kerry Sauriol, whose name I drew via random.org this morning! I’ll confirm your details with the concert promoter and email you later today.
Tickets are sold out!
Tickets for OMD are also available via Live Nation or charge by phone at 1.855.985.5000. There is a NO SERVICE FEE mobile ticket service available to Rogers Wireless customers. Tickets are also available for pick up at Zulu Records, Red Cat Records, and all Ticketmaster Outlets.
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