Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark or OMD were a Liverpool synth pop musical ensemble which recorded for Virgin Records. Although there were other fulltime members, Andy McCluskey (bass/keyboards/vocals) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards) were the core of OMD through their most influential and successful period.

Discography

• Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - 1980
• Organisation - 1980
• O.M.D. - 1981
• Architecture & Morality - 1981
• Dazzle Ships - 1983
• Junk Culture - 1984
• Crush - 1985
• The Pacific Age - 1986
• The Best of OMD - 1988
• Sugar Tax - 1991
• Liberator - 1993
• Universal - 1996
• The OMD Singles - 1998
• The Peel Sessions -2000
• Navigation - The OMD B-Sides - 2001

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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark was one of the original "synth-duos," and easily one of the best. Initially very raw and unrefined, OMD quickly grew into a lush and well-orchestrated outfit. By the time of Dazzle Ships they had mastered sound manipulation into 'melodie gorgeous.' They should have been stars, but the US was not comfortable with any pop star(s) that wasn't blatantly hetero. Shame (title of another great OMD song.) The first two albums were scattershot, but combined neatly into the U.S. compilation titled OMD highlighted by "Messages," "Enola Gay," and "Electricity." Start here if you can.

OMD created the field of synthetic syncopation and melody merged as one. "trained eyes in coordination."

Beautiful, engaging melodies brought to life by synths and a drum machine. That's OMD.

"...happens all the time to a friend of mine...."