English new wave/synthpop act, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, developed a strong fan base in the 80s, before returning to the fore in 2006, selling over 40 million records worldwide.
Originally based in the area of Liverpool, UK, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark were formed in 1978, with Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey making up the core members. Playing together in school, they later added Paul Collister, soon joining Factory Records for their debut single, “Electricity.” Impressing with this debut effort, they soon signed to Virgin Records subsidiary, DinDisc, deciding to utilise the record advance to create their own studio.
At the turn of the decade, their debut full-length, “Organisation” appeared, bolstered by the Top Ten single, “Enola Gay.” A steady string of successful albums followed, “Architecture & Morality” (1981), “Dazzle Ships” (1983) and “Junk Culture” (1984), all full of experimentation of the new wave sound that brought them several hit singles in the UK. Turning to a more pop-oriented vibe, “Crush” managed to break the charts across the Atlantic, with the single, “So In Love” reaching number 26 and “If You Leave” number four in 1986. “The Pacific Age” also piqued the interest of American fans but failed to impress at home.
By 1991, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark had lost much of their lineup, with McCluskey continued on, releasing “Sugar Tax” that same year. “Liberator” followed in 1993 and “Universal” in 1996 before the band went on an extended hiatus to embark on different projects.
Fast forward ten years and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark returned to their full lineup, performing live to great support, eventually writing new material in 2009. Their European fancies remained in droves and their new album, “History of Modern” in 2010 sold successfully, most notably in Germany. “English Electric” in 2013 also landed to great aplomb in the UK, peaking at number 12 and number eight in the US on the Dance/Electronic Albums Chart.
Frank Turner
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