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Post by stuhuggett on Jul 18, 2006 18:53:07 GMT 1
Not content with bringing back Doctor Who, my world continues to turn backwards with the news that OMD are reissuing Dazzle Ships (in full, lost-classic manner; with a few B-sides, live & unreleased tracks tacked-on); and furthermore have reformed to go on tour performing Architecture & Morality in it's entirety sometime next year... I'll be back on Farley's Rusks by Christmas! www.omd.uk.com |
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Post by rashamon on Jul 19, 2006 13:21:47 GMT 1
I (and possibly Michael) are probably the only two people in the local area who visibly punched their fist in the air with jubilation after reading that.  |
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Post by stuhuggett on Jul 19, 2006 13:39:52 GMT 1
I had another listen to Dazzle Ships this morning, while I cut my hair: still think it's their finest moment (and one of the best albums from that era). If you disagree, it's only 'cos you haven't heard it (apparently it sold very poorly). Top-quality Peter Saville sleeve too (and has anyone tracked down that new Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album in the bookshops yet?)
If you get time to look at the OMD website, there's also all their lyrics online. Yes, we got She's Leaving wrong (and, in my head, many others). Read the Bunker Soldiers lyrics for a start... (nb: Again, applies to Lee and Michael only, I expect)
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Post by Michael on Jul 20, 2006 0:53:54 GMT 1
Hard to believe but I still don't own a copy of the album so pleased with the news of a reissue with extra tracks. It's very much OMD's tribute to mid period Kraftwerk so if you like it and don't own a copie of 'Radioactivity', I suggest you pick it up (it should be mentioned that Dazzel Ships is better in some respects).
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Post by Michael on Jul 20, 2006 11:43:39 GMT 1
Hmmmmmmm... think I was a little over tired last night. Ignore stuff about 'Radioactivity'. DS does have a big Kraftwerk influence however.
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Post by stuhuggett on Jul 20, 2006 12:18:18 GMT 1
What I like about it is that OMD are taking their abilities at writing extremely melodic pop songs, and innovating with the instrumentation of them (the beginning of Genetic Engineering, for instance) without losing the tunefulness; and mixing all those short experimental collage tracks in amongst them. Aside from the inclusion of a couple of B-sides from the Architecture & Morality era (not a problem if you don't own that previous album, though they do now turn up as bonus tracks on the remastered cd), Dazzle Ships is a brave attempt at pushing the form of electronic pop music. That it stiffed, and sent OMD into a radio-friendly retreat into the sort of singles they're mostly remembered for now, doesn't detract from the album's ability to stand-up nowadays: it's certainly the group's peak achievement.
But Michael is of course correct about the worth of picking-up the Kraftwerk albums too (at least the classic run from Autobahn to Computer World).
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Post by Michael on Jul 20, 2006 22:29:36 GMT 1
Don't forget the 'Ralf & Florin' LP. It's kind of fun to note that whilst Kraftwerk were trying to ditch the human element from their work (i.e. moving away fron 'real' instrumentation such as string and wind instruments on R&F and other early works), OMD innovated electronica on DS by using the very same instrumentation (pre Four Tet folktronica anyone?).
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Post by stuhuggett on Jul 21, 2006 0:04:25 GMT 1
Hmm, well OMD used bass-guitar from the off, and soon employed a drummer and saxophone player (both doubling up on programming etc) very quickly (I think both were present on the first self-titled album). The opening track on 3rd lp Architecture & Morality (The New Stone Age) is primarily an attempt at replaying their own composition methods through the use of electric guitars, bass and drums (resulting in a surging noise cacophony). So, I think that OMD were re-introducing non-artificial sounds much earlier than Dazzle Ships. I think the skilled use of found/'sampled'(pre-sampler) sounds on this 4th lp is one of it's most noteworthy aspects (again: the clock/scissors opening to Genetic Engineering is way ahead of its time for analogue 1983). OMD's earlier albums (these first 4 under discussion here) contain many more useful pointers to much more recent styles (such as 'folktronica') than contemporaneous work by (currently more culturally-valued) acts such as Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, The Human League etc. Only New Order fused live/artificial instrumentation more seamlessly (it's unarguable that the Peter Hook/Stephen Morris ryhthm partnership is more effective than OMD's Andy McClusky/Malcolm Holmes one). There are several parallels between the paths of OMD and Joy Division/New Order, and both groups' '83 albums (Dazzle Ships and Power, Corruption And Lies) in many ways are the most finely-honed examples of the territories thay discovered, before their differing pushes towards commercialism took hold (both bands' work from 1984 onwards - OMD's Junk Culture lp and New Order's Thieves Like Us/Murder singles - equally show a finessing of their sound towards more a commercially palatable appeal). In the end, OMD's deflation came quicker than New Order's (whose later-80's records were more distinctively experimental, and have stood the test of time better), partly exacerbated by the former's willingness to play the pop-game versus the latter's fiercely independent mindset, but their early-80's work is of comparable worth, in my opinion.
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Post by rashamon on Jul 21, 2006 12:11:17 GMT 1
Despite initially deriding OMD when Stuart first introduced me to them I now hold the albums right up to the peak of Dazzleships with the highest regard. Each album pushed the boundaries of conceived pop - Dazzleships pushed it over the edge and the flop of that probably spurred Virgin to get OMD back on to the 'more pop' path for fear of falling sales. I still like Junk Culture and Crush to some extent but they were losing the creative and experimental spark by this point - major label deals...bah! |
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Post by stuhuggett on Jul 21, 2006 12:25:51 GMT 1
Yeah, Junk Culture's a strong pop album, but it's diminishing returns thereafter (Crush [1985] is half a good album; The Pacific Age [1986] is pretty dismal and rockist - (Forever) Live And Die aside. The rest of it, talent for tunes notwithstanding, was flogging a dead horse).
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Post by carolyn on Jul 22, 2006 10:26:21 GMT 1
Re: the Factory book - it is in Borders in Brighton - but wrapped in plastic. grrrr.  |
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Post by stuhuggett on Jul 28, 2006 9:05:24 GMT 1
'Factory Records. The Complete Graphic Album' (ed. Matthew Robertson. Thames & Hudson. 2006) is also in HMV in the Churchill Centre in Brighton, with £5 off the cover price. It's shrinkwrapped there too, but Carolyn lent me the money to buy it, yay!
The book almost does what it says on the cover, but there are a handful of omissions. An editorial decision was made to only include selected items from the Factory Benelux, Factory US and Ikon catalogues, whilst much of the ephemeral items in the Factory discography (installations, paperwork, etc) are ignored (although there's a near-complete listing in the appendix of what's missing). There are, however, a couple of dozen record releases which escaped illustration (for copyright reasons?); some of which (eg 'Subculture','Looking From A Hilltop','Reach For Love') admittedly only came in plain, die-cut sleeves (sometimes stickered), whereas others (eg 'The Sun's Going To Shine For Me Soon','Beast','I'm Not Your Slave') should really have been featured. It's still an informative book, though, especially now that it's very unusual to turn up original Factory Records releases second-hand. FAC461 you know...
[nb: on a related note, I've updated the entry for New Order's Singles album, in the Elitist Indie Scum! thread. And I'm going to see them at Wembley Arena in October, cool.]
HMV are also selling the Mumm-Ra 10" for £2.99 - it's the place to buy it!
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 8, 2006 18:49:49 GMT 1
Tying this all together, Interstate records are releasing a 2cd album (distributed by Cargo: in their advert in the new Plan B) of the Leigh Rock Festival '79 (billed at the time as 'Zoo meets Factory halfway', as Leigh is roughly halfway between Liverpool and Manchester). The album features sets from Joy Division, A Certain Ratio, Echo & the Bunnymen and OMD. Smart!
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Post by carolyn on Aug 10, 2006 16:43:38 GMT 1
OMD mentioned on Chris Moyles show this morning |
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Post by rashamon on Aug 10, 2006 17:35:18 GMT 1
Did he say 'they're sooooo GAY!'?
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Post by carolyn on Aug 11, 2006 23:46:13 GMT 1
Yes Lee, and they are!
More OMD news -
The forthcoming OMD concerts will employ the use of video projections
as a
backdrop during performances.
For Messages, Andy McCluskey thought it would be an interesting idea
to project
the names and addresses of OMD fans as the song is played. So we're
asking
visitors to the website from all around the world to submit a letter
with their
address on (preferably one that has been posted to them) so they can
be
photographed and added to the projections (The projections will not
be on screen
long enough to be copied if anyone is concerned with privacy issues).
You can send
your letters to this address:
OMD
PO Box 22142
London
SE18 3WQ
UK
In other news, Andy has been interviewed for The Word magazine for a
feature
entitled The Real 80's. The magazine will be published on 9th August. "
They are soooo lovely x
On a slightly side note - was feeling pissed off after reading a certain thread on these boards yesterday afternoon - went home, listened to OMD and felt full of love, they could be used in global issues ... x
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Post by carolyn on Aug 11, 2006 23:48:00 GMT 1
And another thing... check out www.omd.uk.com - april 06 news It is the cutest thing ever. Enough of the bad vibes.... |
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Post by Michael on Aug 12, 2006 13:11:24 GMT 1
Some OMD songs give me bad vibes (i.e. the mid to late '80s rubbish).
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 13, 2006 12:31:26 GMT 1
The weather this weekend was so appalling (leading to a pretty dismal Old Town Carnival) that we passed on Sock's party, Christa's party, the Lowercase gig, and the Regular John/Gorilla gig, in favour of staying in and watching tv. The Best Of OMD video got played... it's not all good!
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 15, 2006 21:25:04 GMT 1
Leigh Rock Festival '79 album tracklisting (from Amazon):
Disc: 1
1. Disorder - Joy Division
2. Leaders Of Men - Joy Division
3. Colony - Joy Division
4. Insight - Joy Division
5. Digital - Joy Division
6. Dead Souls - Joy Division
7. Shadowplay - Joy Division
8. She's Lost Control - Joy Division
9. Transmission - Joy Division
10. Interzone - Joy Division
11. Intro Of Sound Of Music - Joy Division
12. Tony Wilson Fucker - Eltifits
13. Faceless - Certain Ratio
14. I Feel - Certain Ratio
15. All Night Party - Certain Ratio
16. Choir - Certain Ratio
17. Crippled Child - Certain Ratio
18. Flight - Certain Ratio
Disc: 2
1. Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2. Bunker Soldiers - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3. Julia's Song - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4. VCBXL - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
5. Almost - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
6. Red Frame White Light - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
7. Mystery Reality - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
8. Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
9. Second Head - Teardrop Explodes
10. Brave Boys Keep Their Promises - Teardrop Explodes
11. Sleeping Gas - Teardrop Explodes
12. Take A Chance - Teardrop Explodes
13. Ha Ha I'm Drowning - Teardrop Explodes
14. Read It In Books - Teardrop Explodes
15. Straight Reigns - Teardrop Explodes
16. Camera Camera - Teardrop Explodes
17. Went Crazy - Teardrop Explodes
I don't know why I wrote that the Bunnymen were on it before: the advert I read clearly says Teardrop Explodes... I must have been tired!
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 16, 2006 20:47:17 GMT 1
Blimey, the Genetic Engineering video! www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YkEBtFbOGgThey're re-releasing Architecture & Morality with a bonus dvd (that old live video no-one ever bought), as well as doing a proper (mixed material) tour next year too... |
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Post by carolyn on Aug 26, 2006 16:09:45 GMT 1
I personally can't get enough of this sweet OMD news. Fell asleep listening to Dazzle Ships last night, and had happy dreams.
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 27, 2006 18:36:22 GMT 1
I'm glad they've decided to do a bit of the nostalgia circuit on their own terms, 'cos the ignominious end of OMD was otherwise this: youtube.com/watch?v=rO8vjIWCnQI |
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Post by rashamon on Aug 28, 2006 15:30:21 GMT 1
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 28, 2006 16:35:49 GMT 1
Bless him. There's a lot of Final Fantasy on YouTube isn't there? A good lesson for musicians to embrace the site...
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Post by carolyn on Jan 27, 2007 17:06:21 GMT 1
At last, the news we've all been waiting for. The OMD tour has been announced. They are playing three (possibly more to be announced?) dates in may. The nearest one would be Hammersmith Apollo on the 18th. Total cost will be about £34. Caroline - the ideal gift you'd always wanted?  |
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Post by lee on Jan 27, 2007 18:45:42 GMT 1
£34 is pushing it. I would only commit if they agree only to play up to and including the Tesla Girls era. Maybe Secret as an encorre.
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Post by stuhuggett on Jan 27, 2007 19:47:40 GMT 1
Fuck it, we ain't going to ATP this year, I think I can agree to £34 for OMD.
God knows it's a shame...
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Post by stuhuggett on Feb 3, 2007 13:36:29 GMT 1
So, this is the Architecture & Morality tour, yeah? Even better!
Also, 'cos I can't think of where else to put it, check out the tracklisting of this forthcoming 10 CD box-set on Mute (A&B sides & rarities), electropop-goldmine!
Mute Audio Documents
Volume 1 1978 - 1981
CD 1:
1. The Normal - T.V.O.D
2. The Normal - Warm Leatherette
3. Silicon Teens - Memphis Tennessee
4. Silicon Teens - Let's Dance
5. Fad Gadget - Back To Nature
6. Fad Gadget - The Box
7. Silicon Teens - Judy In Disguise
8. Silicon Teens - Chip 'n Roll
9. Fad Gadget - Ricky's Hand
10. Fad Gadget - Handshake
11. D.A.F. - Kebabträume
12. D.A.F. - Gewalt
13. Non - Soundtrack 1 (loop edit of 1'30" at 33rpm)
14. Non - Soundtrack 2 (loop edit of 1'30" at 33rpm)
15. Non - Soundtrack 3 (loop edit of 1'30" at 33rpm)
16. Non - Mode Of Infection
17. Non - Knife Ladder
18. Smegma - Can't Look Straight
19. Smegma - Flashcards
20. Fad Gadget - Insecticide
21. Fad Gadget - Fireside Favourites
CD 2:
1. Silicon Teens - Just Like Eddie
2. Silicon Teens - Sun Flight
3. Robert Rental - Double Heart
4. Robert Rental - On Location
5. D.A.F. - Tanz Mit Mir
6. D.A.F. - Der Räuber Und Der Prinz
7. Depeche Mode - Dreaming Of Me
8. Depeche Mode - Ice Machine
9. Boyd Rice - Side A Track 2
10. Boyd Rice - Side B Track 1
11. Fad Gadget - Make Room
12. Fad Gadget - Lady Shave
13. Depeche Mode - New Life
14. Depeche Mode - Shout
15. Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough
16. Depeche Mode - Any Second Now
Mute Audio Documents
Volume 2 1982
CD 1:
1. Non - Rise
2. Non - Out Out Out
3. Non - Romance Fatal Dentro De Un Auto
4. Depeche Mode - See You
5. Depeche Mode - Now This Is Fun
6. Fad Gadget - Saturday Night Special - Special Mix
7. Fad Gadget - Swallow It - Live
8. Die Doraus Und Die Marinas - Fred Vom Jupiter
9. Die Doraus Und Die Marinas - Even Home Is Not Nice Anymore
10. Non - Physical Evidence
11. Non - Man Kills Self While Cleaning Gun
12. Fad Gadget - King Of The Flies
13. Fad Gadget - Plain Clothes
14. Depeche Mode - The Meaning Of Love
15. Depeche Mode - Oberkorn (It's A Small Town)
CD 2:
1. Yazoo - Only You
2. Yazoo - Situation
3. Liaisons Dangereuses - Los Niños Del Parque
4. Liaisons Dangereuses - Mystère Dans Le Brouillard
5. Yazoo - Don't Go
6. Yazoo - Winter Kills
7. Fad Gadget - Life On The Line
8. Fad Gadget - 4M
9. Depeche Mode - Leave In Silence
10. Depeche Mode - Excerpt From: My Secret Garden
11. Yazoo - The Other Side Of Love
12. Yazoo - Ode To Boy
13. Fad Gadget - For Whom The Bells Toll
14. Fad Gadget - Love Parasite
Mute Audio Documents
Volume 3 1983
CD 1:
1. Depeche Mode - Get The Balance Right!
2. Depeche Mode - The Great Outdoors!
3. Duet Emmo - Or So It Seems
4. Duet Emmo - Heart Of Hearts (Or So It Seems)
5. Robert Görl - Mit Dir
6. Robert Görl - Beruhrt Verfuhrt
7. Yazoo - Nobody's Diary
8. Yazoo - State Farm
9. Depeche Mode - Everything Counts
10. Depeche Mode - Work Hard
CD 2:
1. Fad Gadget - I Discover Love
2. Fad Gadget - Lemmings On Lovers' Rock
3. Depeche Mode - Love In Itself.2
4. Depeche Mode - Fools
5. The Assembly - Never Never
6. The Assembly - Stop Start
7. The Birthday Party - Jennifer's Veil
8. The Birthday Party - Mutiny In Heaven
9. The Birthday Party - Swampland
10. The Birthday Party - Say A Spell
Mute Audio Documents
Volume 4 1984
CD 1:
1. Einstürzende Neubauten - Tanz Debil
2. Einstürzende Neubauten - Kalte Sterne
3. Fad Gadget - Collapsing New People
4. Fad Gadget - Spoil The Child
5. Robert Görl - Darling Don't Leave Me
6. Robert Görl - A Ist Wieder Da
7. Depeche Mode - People Are People
8. Depeche Mode - In Your Memory
9. Fad Gadget - One Man's Meat
10. Fad Gadget - Sleep - Electro Induced Original
CD 2:
1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - In The Ghetto
2. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Moon Is In The Gutter
3. I Start Counting - Letters To A Friend
4. I Start Counting - Adman's Dream
5. Bruce Gilbert - U, Mu, U
6. Bruce Gilbert - Here Visit
7. Depeche Mode - Master And Servant
8. Depeche Mode - (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me
9. Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumours
10. Depeche Mode - Somebody - Remix
11. Boyd Rice / Frank Tovey - Extraction 2
12. Boyd Rice / Frank Tovey - Extraction 7
Mute Audio Documents
Rarities
CD 1:
1. The Normal & Robert Rental - Live At West Runton Pavilion
2. Boyd Rice - Side A Track 1 - 33RPM
3. Boyd Rice - Side A Track 1 - 45RPM
4. Boyd Rice - Side B Track 2 -33RPM
5. Boyd Rice - Side B Track 2 - 45RPM
6. Fad Gadget - King Of The Flies - Live
7. Fad Gadget - I Discover Love - Live
8. Fad Gadget - The Ring - Live
9. Fad Gadget - Love Parasite - Live
CD 2:
1. Depeche Mode - Excerpt From: My Secret Garden
2. Depeche Mode - Shout - Live
3. Depeche Mode - Photographic - Live
4. Depeche Mode - Somebody - Live
5. Depeche Mode - Ice Machine - Live
6. Yazoo - Bring Your Love Down - David Jensen BBC Session
7. Yazoo - In My Room - David Jensen BBC Session
8. Yazoo - Winter Kills - Live
9. Yazoo - Don't Go - Live
10. Yazoo - Situation - Live
11. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - From Her To Eternity - John Peel BBC Session
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Post by Michael on Feb 3, 2007 16:57:52 GMT 1
That CD box set looks great! Shame I've just spent all my money :-(
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