Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Friday, March 11
Crofoot Ballroom
1 South Saginaw, Pontiac, MI
Ooh, I'm excited about this one! The sad/awesome truth is, I'd rush out right now to see ANYONE who was on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack (Duckie 4 Ever!) and this show will put me at 50% of the bands on the record (Dork 4 Ever!).
Do you think they could possibly be more sick of this song? Well... I'm not. I think they should open and close with this song. Actually, I could probably still sing all the tracks from "The Pacific Age," in order.
And hey! They've got a new album coming out! And they're offering us a free cut right here. Holy shit, McCluskey's voice hasn't changed at ALL. Damn, sounds good.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Tour North America in March
in Support of their latest critically acclaimed album
"History Of Modern"
*****
'Cause for exaltation' - NPR
'Synth pop icons re-emerge with '80s allure intact… Andy McCluskey's ageless croon still conjures ghosts in the synth pop machinery, as vintage Mellotrons weep quasi-operatic tears.' – SPIN
'OMD has the dignity that made them huge first time' - News of the World
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, one of the UK's most iconic bands, are back with their first new album in 14 years. The appropriately entitled 'History Of Modern' via Bright Antenna Records through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group, has already sold over 100,000 copies. And what a return!
Andy McCluskey has called it 'our best album since Architecture and Morality' – and few would disagree. The album was produced by OMD and mixed by one of the UK's most in demand producers Mike Crossey (Artic Monkeys/Blood Red Shoes/Razorlight).
Last autumn the classic OMD line up of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper (keyboards) and Malcolm Holmes (drums) embarked on their sold-out 'History of Modern' European tour. The press raved. The Times praised their “well-crafted song structures, lush arrangements and energetic stage performance” while Q Magazine declared them 'soaring synth-pop of the highest order'.
The tour is now officially heading stateside this March with North American stops including Boston, NY, LA, SF, Toronto and playing select shows at this year's SXSW. It will be the group's first US outing with the original line up since their 1988 stadium tour with Depeche Mode. After three years of critically acclaimed sold- out concerts in the UK and Europe these dates will feature the band mixing their most celebrated and classic hits; 'Enola Gay', 'So In Love' 'If You Leave' and 'Souvenir' with new songs, creating a distinctly contemporary live show.
It's nearly thirty years since OMD first harnessed their creative and commercial powers, and 2010's comeback album 'History Of Modern' proves they still have a way with a warm melody and interesting lyric. For all their love of experimental German music, the Wirral duo remains at heart, slaves to the pop song. History of Modern is a powerful, pulsating, vibrant testament to their shared pop sensibility. Tracks such as 'Pulse', 'Save Me', 'Sister Marie Says' and 'The Future' are huge dancefloor fillers while downtempo gems 'Bondage Of Fate', 'If You Want It' and 'Sometimes' are simply beautiful, classic OMD songs that invoke their pioneering and influential electronic roots. Many of today's electro artists such as LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy, Mark Ronson, The XX, MGMT and The Killers have repeatedly cited OMD as a massive inspiration.