Name: English Electric
Brand: BMG (distributor)
SKU: 30025956
Availability: OutOfStock

Performer Notes

Personnel: George Andrew McCluskey (vocals, keyboards, bass guitar); Paul Humphreys (vocals, keyboards); Martin Cooper (keyboards); Malcolm Holmes (drums).
Audio Mixer: Paul Humphreys.
Recording information: Bleepworks, London; Motor Museum Studio, Liverpool.
On their second album since their 2005 reunion, synth pop pioneers Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark rekindle the spirit of two new wave classics, the first being their own "slept on" masterpiece from 1983, Dazzle Ships, an album that pushed the boundaries sonically. From the blippy, robotic, and almost musique concrŠte opener "Please Remain Seated" to the geometric sleeve that credits DZ designer Peter Saville with Executive Art Design, English Electric carries on the pop-meets-avant-garde spirit of that fan favorite album. It gives up a love song like "Night Caf‚" that's so glossed and polished that it could be used in a John Hughes film, and then it offers an edgy swerve like "Decimal," where answering machine messages, countdowns, and other disembodied voices provided some kind of silicon chorus that's equally majestic and precise. Propaganda singer Claudia Brcken contributes some seductive computer voice narration on the highlight "Kissing the Machine," which, being co-written and previously performed by Karl Bartos, brings to light the album's other obvious influence, Kraftwerk. Key cut "Metroland" is dangerously close to Kraftwerk's "Neon Lights," and with its booming drum beat and sampled choir, "Our System" sounds like Andy McCluskey crooning at the Electric Caf‚, but what a croon it is. Here, his voice is comfortable for the most part, full-bodied the whole way through, and powerful when need be, while background tracks are constructed with care, combining angular and certain beats with melodies that are either majestic and big or pillowy clouds of future fluff. Put it all together and it is the kind of OMD longtime fans crave, and if it comes closest to pandering with "Helen of Troy" (their "Joan of Arc" revisited) the duo's performances are as inspired as they are familiar, and you can say the same for most of the songwriting. Still, OMD's Kraftwerk fixation at this late date is a retro-within-retro move that puzzles, so prepare to be jarred a bit before declaring this a welcome addition to the catalog. ~ David Jeffries

Professional Reviews

Q (Magazine) (p.107) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Kraftwerk pastiches like 'Metroland' abound and 'Decimal' is an old-school automated vocal sample number."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.90) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "'Night Cafe,' 'The Future Will Be Silent' and the earworm that is 'Dresden' might just be some of their best ever pieces."

Album: English Electric
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Please Remain Seated
2)	Metroland
3)	Night Caf‚
4)	Future Will Be Silent, The
5)	Helen of Troy
6)	Our System
7)	Kissing the Machine - (featuring Claudia Brcken)
8)	Decimal
9)	Stay with Me
10)	Dresden
11)	Atomic Ranch
12)	Final Song

Album: English Electric
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Please Remain Seated
2)	Metroland
3)	Night Caf‚
4)	Future Will Be Silent, The
5)	Helen of Troy
6)	Our System
7)	Kissing the Machine - (featuring Claudia Brcken)
8)	Decimal
9)	Stay with Me
10)	Dresden
11)	Atomic Ranch
12)	Final Song