New Order- Lost Sirens, Depeche Mode – Delta Machine, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – English Electric: New Wave Is Alive And Well !

                  The three much-anticipated album releases by 80s New Wave icons this early 2013 were completed with the release of OMD’s  12^th  studio album, English Electric last April 8, 2013.  First to be released was New Order’s   Lost Sirens last January 14   followed by Depeche Mode’s  Delta Machine  on March 25.

                Presently,  the Lost Sirens and  Delta Machine   CDs are nowhere to be found   in any of the regular music stores here. Depeche Mode albums are always   pressed  locally  and  so were  the two previous New Order studio albums .   A little more patience, perhaps. To support the local industry , I  still prefer  buying  locally manufactured CDs but to mitigate the  rising cost of production, admittedly the quality of locally manufactured CDds have deteriorated. I’m referring to the packaging and inserts not the actual CD and the sound.   The thought of  the last few remaining music stores here  closing down  is dreadful. Anyway, both albums are available via digital download in  Itunes  Philippines.  However, OMD’s English Electric  for what reason,  is not available in Itunes Philippines and  is unlikely to be sold here locally, so I definitely need  to source a hard copy overseas as many avid local New Wavers  I’m sure already did.

New Order - Lost Sirens

                Lost Sirens is a mini-album with eight tracks. Seven tracks are new releases and one  re-worked( "I Told You So") from their previous album. As the  title implies the songs here are outtakes or unreleased tracks  taken from New Order’s  recording sessions for  Waiting For The Siren's Call  album around 2004-’05. The songs were intended to be included in their follow- up album but due to the band’s  unexpected demise in 2007  they were shelved. 

              After New Order's ressurection in 2011 , the 'lost' songs were finally given the light of day.  New Order's current line-up are: Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris,  Phil Cunningham,   the returning Gillian Gilbert and  new bassist Tom Chapman( replacing founder and bassist Peter Hook). 

                All I can say is.  for an album consisting of outtakes, this has exceeded my expectations . Although it doesn’t have any “Krafty” and “Jetstream,” outstanding  type of  songs ,  it is  more consistent and at times (with its feel good vibes)  more enjoyable  compared with  the parent album itself. Aside for being a nice addition to New Order’s catalogue, this cd is a must- have for New Order   aficionados as this may be the last New Order album with Peter Hook in it.  My favorites tracks are, “I’ll Stay With You” “Sugarcane”, “Hellbent” and I’ve Got a Feeling.”



Depeche Mode - Delta Machine

               

                Delta Machine  is the   13^th    studio album offering from dark-synth guru  Depeche Mode. Among their contemporaries,  Depeche Mode I would say is the most dependable when it comes to producing great albums. They have a formidable back catalogue and have been regularly rolling out new music every  4 years since their 1993 opus Songs of Faith and Devotion. 

                 Delta Machine is another solid release. In fact, I think this has to be among  their most consistent and most accessible music.   Even their great albums in the 80s sort of tapers.  Not this one, as it begins and ends strongly. 

              Compared with their last two releases, the excellent Playing the Angel and Sounds of the Universe , I wasn’t induced  to a narcoleptic  spell in the slow middle part of this album during my initial spins.  In fact, it took me only a few spins to  have a  firm grasp of the entire album.   

               All   twelve  songs are good and memorable. My favorites  however, are “Welcome to My World,” “Angel,” “Heaven,” ”The Child Inside,” "Alone" ”Soothe My Soul”and the  two most  classic-Depeche Mode sounding tracks (surprisingly penned by Gahan) “Broken” and “Should be Higher."

              Although this is a very good album ,  one thing I can say that it lacks when you   compare it  with their previous  releases in the past decade is,   it doesn’t  contain any   strong  song that even non-Depeche Mode fan would take notice of  like “Wrong”, “Precious”, ” A Pain That’ I’m Used to”, and  “Suffer Well ”among others.



OMD - English Electric

               English Electric is OMD’s 12^th studio album and their second since the band reformed in 2005. I thought History of Modern  their 11^th album  was an excellent comeback album. I noted that although it was promoted as having elements that goes as far  back as 1981, it is more connected to the polished pop ( to a positive sense) sound of  OMD in the 1990s under  McCluskey’s sole helm.

                      English Electric, stylistically marks a return or revisits the classic  OMD  in their golden period of  Architecture and Morality  in 1981 and in their most experimental album  Dazzleship in 1983. 

   For me this album is a  paradox. 

         First, this excellent release  sounds very fresh and invigorating  although it has many  references to  their previous works and past influences. “Metroland” has an obvious Kraftwerk-ish sound. “Kissing the Machine” is actually a track written by Karl Bartos (formerly of Kraftwerk) and Andy McCluskey that already appeared in the former’s  album more that 20 years ago. It was re-worked for this  OMD release. “Helen of Troy,” an odd choice for a subject in a pop song  reminded  me of “Joan of Arc.” "Dresden” has some influences  from  “Sister Marie Says” and “Enola Gay.”  Paul Humphreys even checked in with a gorgeous ballad,  “Stay With Me” which somewhat reminded me of "Souvenir."  The album itself was patterned after   Dazzleship with the following tracks, “Please Remain Seated,” ”The Future Will Be Silent,” “Decimal,” and “Atomic Ranch”   consisting  of   music–collage, seeming voice samplings,  futuristic  and  robotic blips and synth  sequences  among others. 

                             Second,  owing  to its very experimental nature, Dazzleship is actually my least- favorite OMD album; but " English Electric” which  is undoubtedly   a modern take on Dazzleship,  blew me away.

                    Despite its unconventionality, it is concise, cohesive, very listenable,  highly enjoyable and I would say recommendable even to non-OMD fanatics . It  easily thumps  History of Modern  which  I  consider as  among their best work. Perhaps with some modern touch, they achieved a fine balance between their old  quirky experimental stuff and  their fine pop sensibilities here.

                           Aside from the first single, ”Metroland”, “Night Café”, “Helen of Troy”, ”Kissing The Machine”, “Stay With Me”, and  “Dresden” are all  potential  singles.  

                            All in all, I think this is a   triumphant OMD release and will definitely sit among their best works.

                 Adding these three  albums from  New Order,  Depeche Mode, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark to their previous releases (' 90s and '00s),  as well as that from Morrissey, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Church, U2, Pet Shop Boys, Bad Lieutenant, Wild Swans,  Roddy Frame, Lotus Eaters, and Duran Duran among many others,  reinforces the fact that New Wave music has always been  alive and well.

Review: OMD Live in Manila - It's no secret... OMD is simply amazing

The New Wave synth-pop pioneer band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark held the one-night only Manila leg of their  History of Modern Tour  last March 12, 2012 at the famous Smart  Araneta Coliseum. The frantic bass-lines of the edgy "New babies: New toys", the opening track in their latest album,  History of Modern(2010),  kicked-off the high-energy concert. The audience  responded   to the call of the super-charged Andy McCluskey to stand up as he  appeared on the stage . However, they weren’t moving much or dancing enough to  his expectations. Perhaps surprised  by his  high-octane stage presence or they were just trying to decipher the tune that was sounding like a  classic OMD. After the song the witty McCluskey uttered, “ I know that was a new one, don't look so frightened, we're gonna play all the hits." The audience erupted in  cheers-- that broke the ice as from that  point, aside from the set of slow songs in the mid- part of the concert ,   the big-dome was like a gigantic dance floor as the audience danced, jumped, swayed and loudly sang along as the   OMD   went through their set consisting of their greatest hits peppered with  some tracks   from their latest album. .

Their first U.K. chart hit, the broodingly melodic “Messages” and the bouncy “Tesla Girls” followed, much to the audience's delight. A lesser known track “Radio Waves,” a gem from the 1983 experimental album, Dazzle Ships, came next   after which McClusky announced, “It’s bad dancing time”( a reference to his dancing style which on the contrary is actually good ) rousing the audience even more. After delivering the exhilarating “History of Modern Part 1” ( the 3rd  single from their latest album), two of their most popular hits came next; the sublime, "(Forever) Live and Die," sang by Paul Humphreys; and their  U.S.A. top 10   hit, the beautiful lament “If You Leave.” While  performing the latter, scenes from the 1986 movie Pretty in Pink, a teen-age  romance  classic which helped catapult the song into the charts and  OMD into global stardom, was  shown on the backdrop. Andy McCluskey once joked that they were actually an alternative band before this song. The audience swayed and swooned with much emotion on this one as if they were in  the '80’s again. 

The tempo was slowed down  as they performed the following set of   six songs: the  trio of U.K. top 5 hits from their critically acclaimed 1981 album, Architecture and Morality-- the lush and  lovely  “Souvenir,” OMD’s first single with  Paul Humphreys  on vocals; the atmospheric ethereal,  “Joan of Arc,” and the waltz-tinged, “Maid of Orleans,” their twin tribute to the Catholic saint;  the somber, “Statues,”  from their 1980 album ,Organisation. Although a song that is  likely unfamiliar to most in attendance , it managed to captivate them as well,  garnering  loud cheers of appreciation; the aching ballad, entitled  “Green” (from the History of Modern), wherein the stage lights and the backdrop turned green; and before performing the playful tune , “Talking loud clear,”  McCluskey reminded the audience to  “enjoy the last of the  slow songs" because after this ," it’s non-stop dancing time."

            Non-stop dancing time indeed, as the big-dome  turned into a huge dance floor as OMD delivered  the following   well-loved classics and  hits and a  final number from their latest album:  “So In Love,” their first song to chart in the U.S. top 40 in 1985, where McCluskey  delivered the falsetto superbly; the operatic “ Sister Marie Says”( the second single from History of Modern);  the upbeat “Locomotion,” a top 5  U.K. hit from their fourth album , Junk Culture;  the splendorous “Dreaming” where the audience  sang their hearts out  to  the chorus;  and after the pounding rhythm of  “Sailing on the Seven Seas,”  the set culminated in the New Wave genre classic , the gloriously uptempo, “Enola Gay” elevating the nostalgic exuberance even higher. McCluskey and Humphreys then  thank the audience for  the warm reception and after acknowledging the band members, exited the stage as the clamor for 'more'  reverberated in the arena.   

OMD returned for their 3 song encore after the deafening chants of “Secret”, “Secret,” ”Secret”… filled the big dome. Obviously, this has to be the favorite OMD song of Filipino New Wavers. The encore began with the soaring ”Walking on a Milky Way,”  proceeding with the crowd-pleaser of the night, the  gorgeous synth-ballad “Secret” sang by Humphreys and finally ending with the propulsive beats of “Electricity,”  the first song they(McCluskey and Humphreys) ever wrote.
 

All in all, for me  this was not just another night of memorable  and nostalgic  concert of one of my New Wave heroes, this has to be one of the best concerts I have ever  attended. Led by McCluskey, who kept the audience moving as he continuously danced, jumped , flailed, shook hands, and   exchanged high-fives ,  this 50-something  four-piece ensemble displayed an amazing  showmanship and  energy. "The kind of performance  that shows when band members are having fun together," as  Paul Humphreys said  in their  2010 tour  programme  book.    

 

OMD live in Manila, 3-12-12: Some thoughts and afterthoughts

Araneta Coliseum

It was drizzling last night, as if purposely cooling-off the hot summer day for an all important event among Pinoy New Wavers, happening at  the historic  Araneta  Coliseum, that is, the Liverpool’s  iconic synthpop veterans  Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s-- a.k.a. OMD  first live concert here in the country.

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To the hordes of Pinoy New Wavers who troop to the coliseum last night, it was another nostalgic moment to cherish. As a witness to one of the greatest era of pop history, OMD’s  endearing, high-energy,  and electrifying  performance serves as a perfect reminder to us, of how AWESOME was (and still is)  80's NEW WAVE MUSIC.

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Set list: Dazzle Ships, New Babies: New Toys, Messages, Tesla Girls, Radio Waves, History of Modern (Part 1), Forever Live and Die, If You Leave, Souvenir, Joan of Arc, Maid Of Orleans, Statues, Green, So In Love, Sister Marie  Says, Locomotion, Dreaming, Sailing on the Seven  Seas, Enola Gay. Encore: Walking On A Milky Way  Way, Secret, Electicity

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As expected, their  popular songs here earned the loudest cheers:  "Enola Gay," Souvenir,"         "Secret," So In love,"  "If You leave,"  "(Forever) Live and Die," and  "Dreaming."

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The most applauded song:  "Secret" 

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The most applauded new song: "Sister Marie Says"

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I was quite disappointed that though the event  was well-attended and successful, it  did not sell-out .  

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The three new songs they performed such as "New Babies:New Toys," "History of Modern (Part 1)" and  "Sister Mary Says," could  fit  well in their greatest hits collection. OMD is  a  relevant band -  not just for nostalgia.

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This is part of the History of Modern Tour but there was no History of Modern CD available

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Andy McCluskey's passionate performance was truly amazing! Among the many adjectives used to describe his dancing style are the following:  bizarre, awkward, frantic, jerking, energetic , gyrating and  weird

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The three Paul Humphrey's sung numbers were amongst  the most applauded.

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Andy McCluskey was able to keep the energy and the crowd moving. Even in slow tempo songs and in some   unfamiliar (to most in attendance) album tracks like the 1983 Dazzle Ships' gem, "Radio Waves" (this song actually predates OMD) and  "Statues" from 1980 Organisation,  he was able to enthrall the audience.

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It's great that their classical line-up is complete but from were I sat at the Upper Box-A section, I could hardly notice Mal Holmes and Martin Cooper. I wish  the stage was as bright as their music. 

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Selling for Php 1,500 pesos , I was wondering what's with the souvenir t-shirt?     

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I'm glad I bought the  OMD Live in Berlin CD/hardback book  History of Modern 2010 Tour Programme. It's worth it.

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My favorite quote of the night from Andy McCluskey:  feeling  that the crowd's  response was a bit  lacking (we were awed)  after  their opening number , "New babies: New toys,"  he  uttered,  " I know that was a new one, don't look so frightened, we're going to play all the hits," elliciting  loud cheers from the audience.  
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In terms of enthusiasm,  passion,  energy,  great performace and love for interacting with the audience,  Andy McCluskey is among the best , if not the best among New Wave   acts I've witnessed.

My souvenirs - Poster, CD/2010 Tour Programme book & promotional card

THE LISTENING POOL – STILL LIFE

            



Martin Cooper   Paul Humphreys   Mal Holmes

            It’s OMD week in our household. The week prior to their concert in Manila( this March 12 , 2012),  only OMD songs will be played in our house and car stereo.

           As I was taking  out my OMD CDs from the  rack, an unassuming album entitled, Still  Life, from an  unassuming band, called  , The Listening Pool, suddenly entered my mind. OMD fans who are familiar with this band will likely  include this CD with their OMD collections. The only reason why I don’t place it  together with my OMD CDs is because  I arrange my CDs in strictly alphabetical order.

Brief History (from Wikipedia)

            The Listening Pool is  made up of 3 out of the 4 OMD's classical line-up. They are Martin Cooper, Paul Humphreys and Mal Holmes. The band was formed after OMD’s  original-lineup split in 1989.  Andy McCluskey was given the right to continue using  OMD as his nom de guerre in exchange for allowing Paul Humphreys to extricate himself from their contract with Virgin records. Still Life is their  only album. It was released in 1994 under The Listening Pool’s own label, Telegraph Records. The same recording company which released China Crisis’ Acoustically Yours  album in 1995. The Listening Pool folded-up for good in 1996.

            Without Andy McCluskey, which undeniably is the more dominant figure in OMD, Still Life showcases Paul Humphreys’ ability  as a singer and keyboard player as well as  Martin Coopers’ solid bass playing and  Mal Holmes' tight drumming. They all passed  with flying colors as this album is,  in terms of quality could stand side by side  with any OMD releases. Afterall, Paul Humphreys is the driving force  behind some of OMD's hits such as "Souvenir," "Secret" and " (Forever)Live and Die." 

              In Still Life, the music do not soar high like many OMD songs, owing to Humpreys limited vocal range, but the superb songwriting makes up for it. They were not trying to be an OMD clone anyway. In general, I would described this album   as mellow, smooth and   jazzy  with many great melodies that are hummable and memorable,  provided you let it grow on you. This is definitely a must-have for all OMD fans. .

Tracks:

1. * "Meant To Be" – 4:15
2. * "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
3. * "Follow Where You Go" – 3:54
4. * "Breathless" – 4:17
5.  *"Somebody Somewhere" 4:03
6.    "Promised the World" – 4:28
7.    "Blue Africa" – 4:33
8.  * Still Life" – 4:34
9.   "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:33
10.   "Wild Strawberries"3:55
11.   "Hand Me That Universe" – 2:11

             * my favorite tracks

Meant to be

Breathless

Oil For The Lamps Of China

I would like to acknowledge and thank mipebar.youtube and preddy699.youtube for the videos.

RANKING OMD ALBUMS

            The OMD concert in Manila is a week away. To prepare for the event, I made a declaration: “It’s OMD week.” This means (whether my family  like it or not) I’ll be playing only OMD songs in the house and in the car.

            Today I'm thinking about how I would rank OMD albums. Reading album rankings of my favorite bands in Amazon and in various internet sites always interest me. It feels nice to find someone whom you share a common thought on what is the best or what is the worst album of your favorite bands. It fascinates me that most of the time our views are different. Needless to say, music appreciation is certainly subjective. What may be “the best” for me , could be “the worst” for someone.

            I find it difficult choosing which is  the best OMD album. Their albums have different styles, substance and moods. It’s like comparing apples from oranges so to speak. I cannot pick their worst album either, because I like all their albums and so, I’ll be ranking their albums from my  top-favorite to my least-favorite... Here it is: 

1. Architecture & Morality – Classic! Took me a long  simmering  though. 
2. Sugar Tax – Pop bliss! Perfect!
3. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - May sound  dated now but still a collection of nice songs. Great Debut album.
4. Junk Culture - Always enjoy playing this album--  9/10 stars.      
5. History of Modern – even with some elements from as far back as 1981, this is more akin to McCluskey’s OMD (Sugar Tax- Universal). Great comeback album! Thought of placing it as high as number three but I'm a bit bias to their earlier releases.  
6. Universal -  underated and underpromoted.
7. Crush - Contains two of their most popular songs here in the Philippines. "So In Love" & "Secret."
8. The Pacific Age - I consider this as Crush-lite
9. Liberator - in my view, the weakest of the 3 McCluskey's OMD releases,  nevertheless,  a very   good album 
10. Organisation – I could have placed this several steps higher but I just can't stand their rendition  of “The More I See You.” 
11. Dazzle Ships – Highly experimental. 
    
    

    

    My OMD cds

OMD TO PERFORM LIVE IN MANILA !!! 3-12-12

Farmers  Market, Cubao

ATM section



OMD's concert poster  with Olivia-Newton John and Brian Mcnight's concert posters

 Talk about a very pleasant surprise or another wish came true--Of all places, I found out about the upcoming concert of Liverpool’s  New Wave band OMD (Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark)  at the Smart Araneta Coliseum  on March 12, 2012, while withdrawing at the ATM  section  in Farmers Market here in Cubao, today February 15, 2012.

 I was reading the poster rather nonchalantly, since this was totally unexpected. The realization that they were coming here dawned on me in a delayed fashion but when it did, my neurons got electrified. I wasn’t able to contain my excitement, "Wow! Unbelievable! Amazing! OMD live here in Cubao!" , I told my wife in a restrained shout much to the consternation of the people nearby.

            

              OMD was in the forefront of the New Wave synth-pop revolution in the 80’s. Though   they never reached the level in popularity of some contemporaries like Depeche Mode,   they are one of the pillars of New Wave music. Their influence and contributions are undeniable. Their songs such as “Secret, “So In Love”, “If You Leave”, "Dreaming"  and the New Wave gem “Enola Gay” amongst others, once ruled the Philippine airwaves during the 80’s.

              OMD’s classical line-up of Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys with Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes reformed the band last 2007 and have been touring since then. They released an excellent  album, entitled, History of Modern two years ago. That is 24 years after their last album with this classical line-up (Pacific Age,1986) and  14 years after the last (McCluskey-only led) OMD album (Universal ,1996).   

                             

OMD is  one of my favorite New Wave bands. I have all their studio albums. Their comeback live concert dvd (2008),  OMD Live Architecture & Morality & More  is one of my favorite concert dvds. If  they  will perform the same way they did in that concert , then I believe we are in for a TREMENDOUS  live  synthpop experience, the OMD way.



Paul Humphrey's and Andy McCluskey



OMD -1983
L-R: Martin Cooper, Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys and Malcom Holmes

                        


Some of my OMD cds
L-R: Messages OMD Greatest Hits cd/dvd - available in local record bars. OMD Live Architecture &Morality &More dvd.  History of Modern cd. The concert poster says" new album out now." I checked the Odyssey music bar in  Cubao but it wasn't available.