Although, of course it had also its light moments.ĭazzle Ships opened with “Radio Prague,” which was practically just a short, undulating sound effect that preluded the proper track – the album’s first single, “Genetic Engineering,” which, in fairness, was hook-laden and very catchy, complete with an interesting lyrical theme.
It was remarkable for its use of sound collages, shortwave radio recordings, and non-romantic themes like the Cold War (the post–World War II tension between the then Soviet Union and the United States) and Eastern Bloc (the political unrest in Central and Eastern Europe). Released on March 4, 1983, on Telegraph Records, OMD’s fourth album was a major departure from the polished and radio-friendly sound of its hugely successful predecessor. Speaking of OMD’s avant-garde nature, nothing is more apt to revisit to be able to better understand the music of the pioneering band than 1983’s Dazzle Ships, which turned 35 a few days ago. Nonetheless, this other side of OMD is as important as their Pop-leaning predisposition, for it sets them apart from many other artists in the genre whose sense of direction is geared towards only the spotlight of the mainstream and nothing else.
However, to those who are familiar with the English Synthpop/New Wave band only for their singles that made them commercially popular in the 1980s, like “Enola Gay,” “Secret,” “(Forever) Live and Die,” “Souvenir,” and the aforedescribed song, “If You Leave,” the band’s more experimental-oriented albums might throw them off. Most likely, they might have even watched Pretty in Pink a number of times already – the 1986 film whose New Wave-dominated soundtrack included that quintessential song by the English band known as Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD for short. Of course, anyone who was a cool, preppy New Wave enthusiast, especially in the genre’s peak in the 1980s, could instantly sing those unforgettable lines in his or her head. “ If you leave, don’t leave now Please don’t take my heart away…”
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