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Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and their 2017 future classic The Punishment of Luxury, is an album that brilliantly merges biting social commentary with the band's signature synth-driven sound. Now available on blue vinyl, this release not only delivers sonically but also visually, with its vibrant cover art reflecting the album's thematic depth. From the opening title track, OMD sets the tone with an unapologetic critique of consumer culture, driven by Andy McCluskey's impassioned vocals and sharp lyrics. The band's ability to craft music that feels timeless yet relevant is on full display, blending modern production with the nostalgic essence of their '80s work. Tracks like 'What Have We Done' capture the disillusionment of the current era while offering a plea for a better future. Despite the absence of original drummer Malcolm Holmes, the album remains powerful, with Stuart Kershaw stepping in seamlessly and the deluxe edition's packaging, with its striking design and included lyrics booklet, further enhances the experience.

Review: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - or OMD - made a magnificent comeback with History of Modern back in 2010, an album released at the peak of a synthpop revival, and this reissue is timely in that it arrives on the crest of another wave of synth-heavy sounds in current music. Known for their lush, romantic 80s electronic music, the Liverpool outfit were at the forefront of the genre, gaining fame with hits in both the UK and the US, and this album is definitely reminiscent of other 80s releases like Junk Culture. Tracks such as 'New Babies; New Toys' and 'The Future, the Past, and Forever After' innovate and are dominated by big beats and catchy choruses. The album shines at OMD's strengths. The second part of the title track, in particular, recaptures their signature slow-dance grandeur. Overall, fans of the band at any point in their career should find something to enjoy here.

Review: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and their 2017 future classic The Punishment of Luxury, is an album that brilliantly merges biting social commentary with the band's signature synth-driven sound. Now available on blue vinyl, this release not only delivers sonically but also visually, with its vibrant cover art reflecting the album's thematic depth. From the opening title track, OMD sets the tone with an unapologetic critique of consumer culture, driven by Andy McCluskey's impassioned vocals and sharp lyrics. The band's ability to craft music that feels timeless yet relevant is on full display, blending modern production with the nostalgic essence of their '80s work. Tracks like 'What Have We Done' capture the disillusionment of the current era while offering a plea for a better future. Despite the absence of original drummer Malcolm Holmes, the album remains powerful, with Stuart Kershaw stepping in seamlessly and the deluxe edition's packaging, with its striking design and included lyrics booklet, further enhances the experience.

Review: Named after dazzle camouflage, an approach to painting naval vessels in ways that would make it difficult for them to be targeted with the naked eye (used extensively in World War I, less so in World War II), OMD's fourth studio album also arrived on Telegraph, an imprint that never existed and was instead a fictitious platform backed by Virgin Records. There's no mistaking the fact this is Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, though, with the tracks here defining the band perfectly.
By that, we mean grand, epic overtures, a strange - at the time, groundbreaking - hybrid of electronic synth stuff with classical, Neo-operatics and rock & roll. It's evocative, immediately captivating and very difficult to make many assumptions about, with techniques such as sampling, looping and layering employed to incredible effect, without overshadowing the song craft itself. Which, it's safe to say, is approaching their artistic peak at this point.