2023-10-26 05:04:39
With synth-pop hits like “Enola Gay”, “Maid Of Orleans” and “Souvenir”, Orchestral Manoevres In The Dark – OMD for short – stormed the charts and the radio waves in the 80s and 90s. After over 40 years of band history, the duo has retained its distinctive sound. The new album “Bauhaus Staircase” will be released on Friday.
When school friends Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys appeared in a club in Liverpool in 1978 under the awkward name Orchestral Manoevres In The Dark and played their minimalist electronic music, they were actually just doing it for fun. “It was just a test of courage,” says McCluskey (64) in an interview with the German Press Agency in London and laughs. “We gave ourselves this crazy name so people knew we were different. We weren’t trying to be cool. It was just a hobby that accidentally turned into a 45-year career.”
At first no one liked the band and their “strange music”. But that changed. In their long career, OMD released more than a dozen albums, went through several line-ups and split up at times. The duo McCluskey and Humphreys have been active together once more since 2006. “Bauhaus Staircase” is the fourth studio album since the reunion and the 15th overall from the iconic synth-pop band.
“I’m an art freak, I’ve always loved art,” says McCluskey when asked regarding the connection between OMD and the Bauhaus school founded by Walter Gropius. “I was actually supposed to go to art school myself. But the band started before that, so I never got involved. But I get a lot of inspiration from art. And I especially love Bauhaus because I like this clear, simple implementation of Design in functional aesthetics.”
The album title and the title song are a plea for free art. “When times are difficult, we need art even more because it can speak to us and uplift our souls,” says the singer, who also sees a political component. “Totalitarian regimes don’t like art. They don’t understand it, they’re afraid that it might be critical and don’t understand that it’s critical.”
Recently, the pandemic has threatened art. “We mightn’t go to the museum, the theater or concerts,” says the frontman, who is also known for his strange, ecstatic dance moves, while his colleague Paul Humphreys statically hits the keys. “The government didn’t support artists. There was no money for musicians, actors, painters or dancers.”
In general, the time during the pandemic had a major influence on the album. McCluskey composed several songs on “Bauhaus Staircase” during this time. “I wrote them as musical hugs and declarations of love to people who are important to me,” says the 64-year-old. “GEM”, “Where We Started” and “Aphrodite’s Child” are such musical gifts. McCluskey laughs. “When the album was made, I called everyone and asked if I might please have the songs back for an OMD record.” The recipients remain anonymous. “But the songs express my love for them.” The uplifting “Look At You Now” sounds a bit like a German pop song.
“Bauhaus Staircase” is also unusually political. The song “Kleptocracy,” for example, criticizes corrupt politicians and the influence of money on democracy. “I believe in democracy. It’s not perfect, but I think it’s the best form of society,” says McCluskey. “Recently, however, it seems as if lying narcissists have hijacked our democracies.” The singer then angrily complains regarding Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and Vladimir Putin and then apologizes for the strong language. “To say I’m a little annoyed would be putting it mildly.”
Musically, Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark sound fascinatingly timeless and true to style. “We can’t help but sound like OMD,” says McCluskey, whose distinctive, versatile voice hasn’t changed. Paul Humphreys’ electronic sounds are just as unmistakable. The wonderful “Don’t Go” is the best example of this. “45 years ago we accidentally created a sound that is wonderfully recognizable today. The trick is not to sound like a bad copy of ourselves.”
After the good reviews and success of “The Punishment Of Luxury” from 2017, they would have thought carefully regarding whether they should even release another album. “As Paul always says: We’re not making a new album because our manager says we need a new logo for the next tour shirts,” says McCluskey. “The only reason to release an album is to have a collection of songs that are good enough for people to want to hear.”
The productivity since the reunion has paid off. “We’re not just a nostalgia band,” says Andy McCluskey happily. “The new albums were well received and made us modern.” This is also evident in the concert halls, which have recently become larger once more for OMD.
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