Metamatic Forums Socialising The Green Room OMD - History of Modern

We don't seem to have a thread for Orch Men and the first new album from the original line-up in 24 years coming up, presumably, in autumn with tour etc.

BTW I read here today that they'll also be performing at the World Expo in China with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

History of Modern products start here...

they're doing Sounds-of-the-Universe style box sets with T shirt, DVD, vinyl issue, exclusive demos, book etc...oh and the CD.
http://omd.sandbag.uk.com/Store/DII-161-5-history+of+modern++limited+edition+box+set+++tshirt.html

Fifty quid and it's your guv'nor ..

History of Modern tracklist:

UK release: September 20th

Side One

1.New Babies: New Toys
2. If You Want It
3.History Of Modern (part I)
4. History Of Modern (part II)
5. Sometimes
6. RFWK
7. New Holy Ground

Side Two
8. The Future, The Past, and Forever After
9. Sister Mary Says
10. Pulse
11. The Night
12. Bondage Of Fate
13. The Right Side?

After hearing that awful 'Liberator'-style Sister Marie Says demo, I think I'll wait until I've heard some of the album before buying it any format. I heard an album sampler a few weeks ago and I wasn't impressed to be honest.

Yes, I'm just worried that the merchandising and all the expensive extras serve to cover up the sub-standard music, which is what it's all about really...isn't it?

Call me sad and old but I long for the days when you just needed to get the album and a couple of singles for the B sides and that was it, you had it all...

..but maybe I just say that cos I'm envious of those who can afford to splash out on all the extras..

"If You Want It" is apparently a kind of "Walking on the Milky Way" kind of song ... Andy McCluskey of OMD had this to say:
:rolleyes:

You can listen to the opening track called New Babies New Toys off the new OMD album "History Of Modern" via Spin Online Magazine.

The track for me says OMD ARE BACK! this track has balls on first listen you think WTF but play it again and it blows you away, hints of Joy Division on this one too. As a track opener on the album it certainly makes a statement!

OMD - Article & the track New Babies New Toys

Gary

As an OMD fan from the early days who lost interest in them when they went bland for the American market in the mid 1980s, I was really looking forward to this new album. Unfortunately the bits I've heard so far sound more like an OMD tribute band doing a series of weak OMD pastiches, and that cringeworthy new video doesn't help. Perhaps some bands are better left in the past?

I couldn't add to that - totally agree with every word. And I was really, really looking forward to the idea this album promised.

Oh Dear
More like OMG for all the wrong reasons

Sorry guys your better days are well and truly behind you.
One mans music is another mans noise I guess!!!!

"It's about the machinery of the music industry and all these willing volunteers who get themselves up on to X Factor and Pop Idol [England's version of American Idol] and have Simon Cowell inflict them upon us and upon themselves," McCluskey tells SPIN.com. "Particularly in England -- Simon Cowell is singlehandedly responsible for some of the most ******* awful music in the last 15 years that's been inflicted on the entire planet."

Yeah! & imagine the state of the pop industry if 'Atomic Kitten' were still going as well.

Ehmmm ... I kinda like the songs I heard so far, I think ... :rolleyes:
For example: I'd rather have David Bowie doing a 'Low 2' album. And I'd rather NOT have DB trying to incorporate the next hype, say dubstep ...

sorry Gary I have to agree with the other opinions posted here.

Its certainly a poppy and catchy song, and musically its OMD of the later period, and may well get them back in the charts, perhaps, but I think the lyrics are really naff, and fluffy as any pop nonsense can be:
"Cream will float, but sh!t will sell" :rolleyes:

Attacking X-Factor (much as I'm want to be sarcastic about it myself) does also seem a bit late in the day now, and there's more worthier things for guys as talented as OMD once were to focus their attention on.

I just don't get it with Andy, he's made various references over the years on programmes I've watched where he has attempted to downplay the serious side of OMD and implied that they shouldn't have got so deep about wanting to change the world with a pop song, and instead have been less idealistic in their approach. Well, I suppose that explains Atomic Kitten then.

Golden period for me is still the first OMD album and through to Dazzle Ships, after that is when the ship sank and I bailed out.

Well maybe it's because I'v just come off a very relaxing rtwo week holiday and I've got out more and had lots of fresh air and sunshine and all that, but I just have to say I REALLY LIKE If You Want It AND the video too...

yes production and everything is a bit OTT and very "rich" sounding (in fact the sparser Villa NAh remix gets the edge) but it's amazingly catchy and a very strong track, just like OMD used to be and obviously still can be.
I wasn't disappointed by the video at all which is a bit Pet Shop Boys-y but that's good .. not much of the McCluskey brothers but a bunch of strapping young "kids" doing something "modern" yes!..if you want a "cringeworthy" OMD video, then they did plenty of those in the 80s!

I was a bit taken aback by New Toys but I'd prefer to listen to it properly in the context of the album.. it may be a strong opening à la New Stone Age or may turn out a bit Black Rose & Universal Wheel .. don't know, we'll see.

30 second previews of each track on the album are now up on iTunes. If you don't have iTunes, one of the guys on the OMD forum has very decently saved the whole preview as an mp3 file on the link below;

http://www.mijnbestand.nl/Bestand-WVBVM366L8FS&download=TLEVSB7NC8DC

Looks like there are at least a couple of tracks to keep us fans of the old-style experimental OMD happy. Maybe I will buy the album after all!

Sorry chaps, this ain't for me!

I was hoping after seeing OMD live last year, I might be converted.

Sadly not.

Haven't heard anything yet but at least have made the decision to avoid the deluxe version.

For me, most of the first album is great, then three classics and then The Locomotion - the sheer horror. I have a slight soft spot for the Sugartax singles and a few of the later B sides but otherwise ...

Look out Hull...
http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk...il/article.html

For what it is worth there's a review in this months Q. They give it four stars.

"Even so, while synth-pop might have been oh-so-'80's, a winning way with a rattling pop tune is timeless"

I gotta admit, I guess I'm one of the few who's really digging OMD's new material. I'm quite literally counting down the days for the album to come out (although I'll probably have to order it in Australia, as I doubt I'll see it in retail stores, I'm generally lucky if I come across the "singles" compilation under the various "O" artists).

Undoubtedly "If You Want It" is a pretty disgusting example of synthpop trash, and what possessed them to release it as a first single is beyond me. However "New Babies: New Toys" is my a new favourite, and I'm really pleased with what I've heard of "A History of Modern (Pt 1 + 2)" on youtube.

Bring it on, I say.

I heard the first single at work today. Didn't know it or register it until the end and have no idea if I enjoyed it or not! Will listen out again.

I believe 'If You Want It' really kicks ass, and is one of the best new singles I've heard in ages.

Is it too "80s"?? Is it too OMD?? yes
Will it break the charts?? proabbaly not

Who cares!! Great single if you ask me. It has the immediacy and catchiness that you'd expect and stands out as a perfect choice for drawing attention to the handshakes and re-invention.

Lacks auto-tuning though. Schoolboy error, lads :rolleyes:

Maybe the lack of auto-tuning is deliberate..to give it an "analogue" feel .. or something..I don't even know what it means but anyway I still thinkit's a strong single . .apparently on the BBC Radio 2 playlist and who can say if they won't go top 20 ?!?!

"o'er the hills and far away.."

Hiya Membs Off to Bergamo in just over 2 hours , whence to John Lennon Airport* When I see Andy McCuskley busking outside Tesco's Metro tomorrow , I'll pass on your regards If I throw him a quid ,I wonder if he'll do "Red Frame/White Light"

*There's also a George Harrison Kwik Save . a Paul McCartney Sainsbury's and a Ringo Starr "50p Shop"

Well bon voyage mon brave and give my regards to Mathew Street..

I've got a (virtual copy of the) Telegraph, in my hand...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music...-Noughties.html

Cheers! That's a really good interview - McCluskey's on form - very funny.

OMD to support The Buggles:
http://www.trevorhorn.com/news/omd_to_support_the_buggles_on.html

£300 for the VIP ticket (is this the new frontier?)
and £100 for the gig only, a bargain sir!
I'll take half a dozen, better still, I'll buy the company

Well, if it's all for charideeee mate! Of Course!

And now it's Orchestral Manoeuvres Overdrive and a cover of "You Ain't Seen Nuthin' Yet"

Let's Synth Rock! Not 'Arf!

and I quote:

"OMD have spent the last 30 years the forefront of synth britannia"

After all of those years of service I think they should get their own reality TV show:

'At Home In The Dark With Orchestral Manoeuvres'.

Its just right for these times and the looming winters of discontent that may lay ahead in our great country of britannia.

Or an 80s sitcom...a bit like Auf Wiedersen Pet but with synthesizers and bad dancing.

Why, I can actually hear their version of "Oooooo, breakin' away!" in my head now...

...and it's still a damn sight better than Sister Marie Says!

Actually wouldn't mind seeing OMD "perform a special support set in a rare appearance in their original two-piece formation."

get yer wigs and baggy trousers out chaps!

Blimey! He looks like Malcolm McClaren!

Still, always nice to see Winston!

History-of-Modern-in-its-entirety now up on OMD official Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/officialomdmyspace

I'm so NOT going to listen to it ...yet..

I did and now I wish I hadn't....

(you can take that either way but I'm not going to expand on that yet as it might spoil it for anyone waiting until the official release)

Yeah well there have been mixed reviews, but a hell of a lot of build-up. I didn't like the single at first but then it's growing on me...hope the album does the same. I'm going to wait until a get a 'hard-copy' to listen to it all the way through .. like we used to in the olden days.

I have the album and as an OMD fan of 30 years I think it is an excellent album with just a couple of dodgy tracks "Pulse" sounds like an offering for an X-Factor wqannabee and "The Future The Past And Forever" is pretty poor, some classic OMD in the shape of "HOM I", "Sister Marie Says", "Bondage Of Fate", "If You Want It", "New Babies: New Toys" and the albums closing track "The Right Side".

Andy McCluskey has given me permission to feature 3 tracks on my electronic radio show next month.

I'd give the album 8.5/10

The Myspace Music Radio Show Official Homepage

OMD competition:

http://www.omd.uk.com/story/competition_time

You almost took the words! Pulse, sounds like an offering from Kylie or Dannii. Rest of the album is pretty good, it almost has that happy Pet Shop Boys type sound to the album. New Holy Ground reminds me of an Art Of Noise track meets Pink Floyds 'Mother' whilst Right Side has a Tangerine Dream synth style intro.

I like the album,even though it contains a little cheese.

When hasn't OMD contained at least just a little cheese in their sound? :p

theres an interview with OMD in todays Metro, (possibly still time to find a copy lying around on a bus should anyone be going home from work now)

Think I'll listen to it once more. Can't say its outstanding, just OK.

It's here in case you didn't find a copy..

I am listening .. I am elaborating ...
:rolleyes:

quote:- "Our record company asked us: “Can you guys make your minds up whether you’re supposed to be Abba or Stockhausen?”, and we said: “We’re both!”

Tis a shame they didn't think to wind up the company execs, and say to them that their musical direction was now going to be taking its cue from two '80's sources, northern Hen-Nights party anthem duo Black Lace - (Birdie Song, Sooperman, Agadoo, doo, doo, push pineapple tie my shoe), and Ronald RayGun's unsolicited foray into the avant garde with the 'The Wit And Wisdom Of' LP...

Reckon something from album will appear on a Ministry Of Sound album as the 'dubStep' mix. Reckon there will umpteen mixes available probably by the likes of Paul van dyk etc aimed at the club scene.

I still can't make up my mind about this album. Is it bubblegum or not?

I'm slowly getting into this album .. Ok it's not "Architecture & Morality 2" but it's not "Liberator 2" either as many may have feared.
It really is a bit of everything OMD .. it's all in there, catchy synth riffs, keyboard-choirs, Kraftwerk, Atomic Kitten.... The production is a bit bubble-gum and yes, there's cheese (see the homage to Kraftwerk that is RFWK "I loved you like a son"), but there's some damn strong stuff on there too.
The cheesy synth riffs on the two HoM's may grate a bit but HoM Pt 1 is as good a song about the end of the world you'll ever get (sing-along-apocalypse).
I even enjoy Pulse which is obviously there to appeal to the young 'uns and is eligible for about 10 different dance remixes. bring 'em on.
The one I'm still not sure of is ye olde 'Sister Marie Says' which has been pushed around from pillar to post since the early days and has now seen the light of day..but I don't like it, wish it had stayed where it was.
This may be the first Humphreys/McCluskey effort since 86's The Pacific Age but it's sooo Andy with no Humphreys vocals, no instrumentals, and a LOT of McCluskey's voice in it's various moods. [Some still say it's another AM solo effort with PH and the others chipping in a bit.]
:rolleyes:

Just bought it on my way home (deluxe edition for a good price).
Listening to it as I write this (HOM2 just comes along).
A bit cheesy indeed, but enough electronics to make me happy.
for now!

Just given my two penneth review on iTunes.

that is spooky as I'm listening to it on itunes now, while also reading comments on amazon posted by fans, I notice that gary hunter has his up there, (I think that 'pulse' feels like an atomic kitten out-take gary)

Its interesting reading, there seems to be a divide between fans and some of the music reviewers (Drowned In Sound, BBC), though it looks to me that the majority of fans who've posted seem about 95% in favour, whilst some of the reviewers give it the complete thumbs down.

I'd like NME to do one of their scathing without merit reviews on History Of Modern. No doubt the NME reviewers are too young to remember OMD!

I haven't seen a review but OMD did give the news of the new album back in May:
http://www.nme.com/news/omd/51178

but as Andy McC said in an interview with Liverpool Echo:
Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool.../#ixzz10RsPhLWg

I can't get into this album I want to like it,don't get me wrong it is cutting edge stuff for 2010 but..... I don't know.

What I do like is the little touches like the birdsong on one of the tracks (a chiff-chaff, I have them in my garden daily) only OMD would include sounds like this on such a commercial album.

Ok well if History of Modern is not your cup of darjeeling, how about some ..
Orchestral Manouevres ... at the Dog?
:rolleyes:

Hate to be boring but there's quite a good in-depth interview with McCluskey here .
Like interviews with Foxx, you always learn something new.

Having heard "Sister Marie Says" a few times now I am tempted to get involved. Anyone invested in the singles for the B sides - any good?

Navigation is my second favourite album after the BBC Sessions, that makes History Of Modern way down the list below A&M though History Of Modern tracks have made it onto my Top 25 iTunes most played.

OMD were alway spretty well known for having "experimental" type B sides compared to the more poppy A sides, so yes go for the NAvigation album if you want to investigate. You might be surprised by tracks like 66 & Fading or Sacred Heart or Navigation or Annex. Sadly they didn't continue that much after about 1984-ish and it all goes a bit flat, even th B sides.

Cheers D (and John) (I have Navigation and like it) - but what I actually meant was the History of Modern B sides, e.g. "Idea 1" on the flip of the first 7 inch.

Ah OK! .. .not so keen on Idea 1 myself but I do like "Alone".
Apparently the new single (SisMarSays)will have HoM Parts 3&4, and another track called "The Grand Deception" which is apparently a bit 'iffy'...

sneak preview: here

I’ve finally got round to listening to the History of Modern

It’s been dissected enough, so my rant/scribble will be brief: 1) IT IS a Mcluskey solo album 2) let’s hope the next one is a group effort.

1. New Babies New Toys
- pants

2. If You Want It
- Atomic Kitten’s pants

3. History Of Modern i
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius

4. History Of Modern ii
- pants

5. Sometimes
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius

6. RFWK
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius

7. New Holy Ground
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius

8. The Future The Past And Forever After
- satin pants

9. [i]Sister Mary Says
- pants

10. Pulse
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

Bonus points for repurposing the drum programming of Walking On Sunshine 12” by Rockers Revenge Featuring Donnie Calvin – an undisputed Electro classic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9BB50EU68U

11. Green
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

12. Bondage Of Fate
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

13. The Right Side
- A heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

Bluntly; 8 out of 13 - The good tracks I really liked, the bad tracks – oh jeezuz – they are just soooooo bad; History of Marmite anyone?

HA! Nice one Rads although I'll agree to differ on the majority of the 'pants' tracks ..
(I'm glad you like Green though as I thought you wouldn't!)
but I'll agree it's too much of a McCluskey solo effort .. Humphreys seems to have faded into the background along with Holmes & Cooper, although that's probably just as well since The Listening Pool and OneTwo stuff is..pants.



oh these were the days...

I thought that of the other HoM tracks that didn't make it on to the album perhaps Idea 1 should of done, but Save Me should never of seen the light of day.

Agreed ... and I was all the more peed off that it was included in the i-tunes album over 'ere as opposed to a decent 'bonus track'.

ohh the anger...

I just had a listen to the 30 second sample of the track that comes with the forthcoming SMS single - can't say I was impressed by that either

Nice purple, sorry *lilac* 7" vinyl with exclusive B side

OMD do a cover version:

http://thequietus.com/articles/05315-listen-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-cover-the-xx-vcr

original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI2eO_mNM88

They're in session tonight on Radio 2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wkbpt

'Limited edition' formats of the new release avaiable for pre-order now.

http://omd.firebrandlive.com/items/music/04/

if you like that kind of thing

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Fans Hospitalised After Drama At Omd Gig

I always thought Paul's dancing would end in tears one day.

Andy's I think you mean ("windmilling") ... but yes those OMD boys can get very rowdy indeed..
..it was only a matter of time..
:rolleyes:

It was spring before I heard any of this, but, generally speaking, I really like it apart from "Pulse" (I couldn't find one). I don't own "Save Me" and the little snippet I heard confirms that I won't... I also bought the "History of Modern (Part I)" CD single as mentioned earlier in the thread - a useful way to get all of the B sides, of which "The Grand Deception" is the pick.

So, what next I wonder?

There will be another new album.

I remember reading on the OMD site that the next album will be called "English Electric". I suspect they may go down the route of making the next album a concept album.

Interview with Andy McCluskey

Kraftwerk invented Atomic Kitten

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark to open new Liverpool music venue Eric's

read more