OMD have never shied away from the fact that they were influenced hugely by Kraftwerk when they started out and it seems that even now, way beyond their 80’s heyday, they continue to doff their hats to the German synth pioneers. Take a listen to new song Isotype, taken from forthcoming album The Punishment of Luxury, to hear the evidence. With its bleeps, pulses, vocoder voices and a beautiful sweeping synth line Isotype will no doubt please long-standing fans and that includes here at Breaking More Waves. The song itself seems to be a comment on the reduction of thoughts and information into simple forms for fast communication in today's web and app enabled world. For younger readers, if you like the sound of this and have never checked out the back catalogue of OMD I’d recommend starting with Architecture And Morality before going to Crush and then for some odd experimentation, try my personal favourite, the misunderstood Dazzle Ships – the record that lost them millions of fans – and then make sure you read Bob Stanley’s great piece on that album by clicking here. OMD - Isotype
It’s a huge generalisation but my experiences suggest that when it comes to music there are two kinds of people. The first are the type that music is something that they use to fill space in their lives, but as their lives become more cluttered the music occupies less space. It explains why as people get older they lose touch with new music. Jobs, careers and particularly the time filler of them all - parenthood - take their toll and suddenly what seemed important ten years ago doesn’t seem as important now. Before they know it this type of person is shaking their head in disbelief when they finally hear the latest sound, something different from their youth, and muttering ‘music isn’t as good these days as it was when I was younger.’ If you’re now in your twenties, living in the UK and are thinking that there hasn’t been anything as good since The Klaxons and The Libertines and still think that skinny jeans are the coolest fashion item, then I’m afraid you are already heading down this road.
The second type of person is the type for whom music doesn’t fill a space, but actually forms the space itself and becomes an integral part of their lives. I am very much this kind of person. I have an amazing partner, two children, a career and social life outside of music, but music is an integral part of all of this. It’s the constant evolution of music as an art form that excites me and the day that I stop relating to music of the now as well as the past will be a very sad day indeed.
Yet sometimes it’s great to be nostalgic and look back. That’s what these Music That Made Me posts are at least partly about – contextualising some of my past references and emotions to understand why I like the stuff I like today – but my search for new music is not just about finding music that reminds me of when I was younger. It’s about any music that strikes an emotional chord with me, whatever its style or reference points.
However, when I look back at the music that made me, I am reminded of some of the things that I will probably never do again, because of the internet. I remember queuing in the rain before shops opened to buy newly released albums and singles on the day of release, journeying to box offices hours before concert tickets went on sale and enjoying the camaraderie of those in the queue, I remember recording the singles charts off the radio onto cassette hitting the pause button at exactly the right moment so that I didn't get the sound of the DJ's voice , watching Top of the Pops as a ritual then everyone talking about it the next day at school and joining fan clubs to get newsletters, gifts and special exclusives from my favourite stars; these were all things I did to gain a sense of ownership of the music and the acts that I loved, but now these things are just memories.
The world continues to change – the internet is the modern day version of the industrial revolution. One day this blog will cease because there will be no point to it anymore. Music blogs will evolve into something new just as paper fanzines have evolved into websites and blogs – but I can’t see the day that I will stop being enthusiastic about music in some form.
This is one of those memories. It’s a band that I saw on Top of the Pops and fell in love with. There’s no doubt that their influence stays with me until this day. I remember the outrageously naff fashion trends of the audience and the fact that every Radio 1 DJ presented the show from time to time including a certain Mr John Peel. Whilst I certainly didn’t always share his musical taste, I completely and utterly share his vision for the new. Peel once said that if he was stuck on a desert island the ten records he would take with him would be ten that he had never heard before – I would do exactly the same.
Read this blog regularly and you cannot but help notice that a modern band that takes influence from OMD are likely to make my heart beat a little faster. Enjoy this music that made me.
1980’s synth pop superstars Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are probably one of the most referenced bands on this blog, and last month we got to see them play the first date of their European tour (here).
Therefore it goes without saying that when this recently released demo by OMD covering The XX came to our attention we felt a thrill of synthtopian excitement run through our veins. Thankfully OMD have given the song just the right treatment, maintaining The XX’s sense of vulnerability, minimalism and restraint whilst adding their own distinctive synth sound. With The XX having cited OMD as an inspiration, OMD tip their caps back to The XX, and a neat little circle is closed.
With the renaissance of 80’s influenced electronic pop music over the last few years, one name seems to have been referenced above all others – that of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. So now seems an opportune moment for the original synth pop duo to be releasing a new album – History of Modern – and taking it out on the road.
With the band being recognised as a keyboard act the first few seconds of this show are surprising in that a grunge-like, guttural guitar sound announces the arrival of the group as they charge into New Babies : New Toys. However, from thereon in things are exactly as you would expect. It’s a crowd pleasing, hit laden show with a number of songs from the new record. Main vocalist Andy McCluskey is an energetically impressive showman, prancing, pulling shapes, rock star poses and playing air keyboard with his hands like a brilliantly drunk uncle at a wedding, willing the crowd to join in at every opportunity – which they do. Paul Humphreys meanwhile is more composed, both behind the keyboard and when he takes his turn at the front to perform vocals on Forever Live and Die – whereupon someone from the audience throws a rather sizeable bra onto the stage, much to the duo’s amusement. No longer a spring chicken it’s noticeable that McCluskey's physical work takes its toll; covered in sweat he has to sit down on one of the monitors during Talking Loud and Clear to catch his breath, but to give credit his effort is huge.
Being the first night of the tour, there are a few technical hitches – the screens behind the group not displaying all the visuals that they were meant to, but nobody except the band seems to care. This is pop music that means something to people. Brighton Dome resembles the video for Queen’s Radio Ga Ga - hands clapping in unison - during the weighty and beautifully restrained Maid of Orleans. Current electronic pop connoisseurs Hurts would kill for a song like this. New single Sister Marie Says is trademark OMD, full of melody and hooky danceable keyboard riffs, whilst the title track from the new album has a middle section that bears a remarkable similarity to the vocal melody of Ring the Bells by James. During So In Love the band pull out the classic 80’s sax solo and somehow pull it off without it seeming cheesy. But it’s left to Enola Gay and the closing Electricity to inspire the maddest moments of dancing from the audience. OMD sound as fine now as they did back in the day.
Footnote : If you're a fan of OMD why not treat yourself to a free download of their new single Sister Marie Says remixed by electro-disco new boys Monarchy, which you can find on the player below, just click the little downward arrow.
Breaking More Waves is primarily a new music blog, and to many this means new bands and new artists that are only just breaking through. However today we post new music from a band that first hit the charts in 1980, but their electronic sound remains highly influential and cherished. OMD are back with a new album History of Modern on the 20th September, their first in over a decade and it’s preceded by a single If You Want It on the 6th September. The artwork for the album sees the band re-uniting with graphic designer Peter Saville to produce another bold and iconic cover.
If You Want It is trademark OMD and as they go back to the future, the duo are joining forces with modern electronic bands who no doubt owe debt to OMD in their influences. On their forthcoming European tour OMD will be supported by Breaking More Waves Ones To Watch 2010 - Mirrors and for their UK tour they will be joined by Finnish electro duo Villa Nah, who we recently blogged here. Furthermore Villa Nah have remixed If You Want It which is streaming and available for free download below. The remix retains the full essence of the OMD sound and could have probably been a single on its own right. Enjoy.
