Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Album: “Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark”

OMD singles give the image of a group devoted to producing good pop tunes. Their albums paint a very different picture. This group was heavily influenced by Vevlet Underground (doesn't the title of 'Red frame/white light' remind you of something? and they also did a cover version of 'Waiting for the man') and Joy Division but also prepared to experiment in the most radical ways with the possibilities offered by new technological advances such as 'Emulators'. The version of 'Messages' here falls short of the glory of the single but the other two singles, the classic 'Electricity' and 'red Frame/White Light', are good. High points for me on this album are the superb 'Messerschmitt twins', the haunting synthesiser of 'Almost' (terrible lyrics though) and 'Julia's Song' (which sounds totally different from anything else they ever produced). 'Pretending to see the future' unfortunately is less convincing than a later live version released on flexi-disc (whatever happened to them?). The experimentation on this album is less radical than it would become but there is a good reason why DJ John Peel liked this group so much- they were very original for the time. The album has a certain youthful naivety which might not appeal to all.

What a great item this is for any self respecting OMD fan or collector of Peter Saville designs. OMD's debut album has become an iconic piece of album design which is as innovative as the music contained therein.

Peter Saville's unique die cut sleeve failed to get the same treatment when the album was released on CD, something a lot of fans found disappointing. Yet here we are in 2010 with an American company giving us all what we once dreamed of.

It's a great album now housed in a great sleeve and the addition of bonus tracks from the Messages 10" UK release is an added bonus too.

If you like OMD, Peter Saville or genuinely funky CD sleeves then this is a must! Fantastic! Well done!

All we need now is the same treatment given to Architecture & Morality and Dazzle Ships...please?

The casual, almost punk lyrical style of OMD really shows through on track 1, Bunker Soldiers. But this is pure synth-pop - Bunker Soldiers, Mystereality, and Red Frame/White Light are all definite emblems of that post-punk British synth-pop sound. This album evokes quite well the pre-MTV era; before videos began corrupting the image and then sound of modern rock, as we entered the new decade. The synthesizers and percussion are a little sketchy; whispy at times (Bunker Soldiers). But the dates on the CD version are misleading ('87 and "88) so remember, this is their self-titled debut from 1980! Certainly a classic album though. You might be tempted by the name to get Architecture and Morality, but this is their best album.

While many prefer the more "popish" romantic junk put out by the marvelous OMD following JUNK CULTURE (last great record), it is on this debut that we hear traces of Kraftwerk and bubbling synthesizers. Prime cuts include "Bunker Soldiers," "Electricity" (their finest yet), and the haunting "Meschershmitt Twins". I personally own both vinyl and CD copies.

Definately not OMD's best album or even close, but it was their first one. I was really interested to hear what it sounded like so that's why I got it. The whole thing sounds very light, all the melodies are quite simple compared to the popular OMD singles we all know. When you have filler songs like "Julia's Song" and "Dancing" it brings the album down a little. A surprise I did like was the album version of "Messages" with a slower tempo and different synth, but still the same effect. "The Messerchmitt Twins" is beautiful, and only a preview of the slow tempo ballads McCluskey & Humphreys were going to soon bring out. Though not something you'll likely listen to much, I recommend it anyway.