OMD | Summer Of Hits

Synth-pop pioneers OMD for the first time in Latvia

 On August 28^th, one of the pioneers of synth-pop and the brightest representatives of this style – OMD or Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – will perform for the first time in Latvia at Kimmela Quarter (Rīga, Bruņinieku street 2).

Such well-known hits as Electricity, Messages, Enola Gay, Locomotion, Souvenir, Sailing On The Seven Seas, Pandora’s Box, (Forever) Live And Die, Maid of Orleans (The Waltz of Joan of Arc), If You Leave, So in Love, Walking on the Milky Way made OMD not only one of the most significant musical bands of the 80's, but also a source of inspiration for a number of popular music stars up to the present day. From Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and Human League to Moby, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Future Islands, etc.

Ticket sales throughout the Biļešu serviss network:

December 17^th, from 10:00 pre-sale only for www.ltips.lv subscribers

December 19^th, from 10:00 a start of the public sales 

The birthday of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) is considered to be October 12^th, 1978, when soloist and bassist Andy McCluskey and keyboardist and vocalist Paul Humphreys performed for the first time under that name at the Liverpool's “Eric's club”. Before that, they had already been in several musical projects, the most famous of which was The Id. The two young people were united by their passion for krautrock, Kraftwerk, Brian Eno and David Bowie.

A very important role in the formation of the guys' musical style was played by the very basic Korg M-500 Micro Preset synthesizer, purchased on credit by E. McCluskey's mother. It determined the laconic rhythm, which is vividly complemented by a melancholic vocal and catchy melodies with interludes.

OMD's first single Electricity ( McCluskey later described it as: “a faster, punkier version of Kraftwerk's Radioactivity with a chorus”) in 1980 allowed the duo to get their first record deal with the release of self-titled debut album, which included another hit Messages. The duo gained wider recognition in Europe and their first in the USA with Enola Gay from their second album "Organisation" (1980) - a controversial composition in which the pulsating rhythm of the dance floor and the passionate melody contrast with the poignant lyrics about the US aircraft from which the nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

With the release of the album “Organisation”, OMD for a while becomes a 4-man band, where the core duo is joined by drummer Malcolm Holmes and saxophonist and keyboardist Martin Cooper. This is considered the golden line-up of the band. “Architecture & Morality” - the third album - clearly demonstrates the creative and professional growth of the musicians, introducing us to the now classic pieces: Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc and Souvenir.

Since the experimental 4th album “Dazzle Ships” failed, the musicians decide to direct their style more towards pop and unpretentiousness. Commercially, this turns out to be a successful decision - along with the albums “Junk Culture” (1984) and “Crush” (1985), the listeners get Locomotion, Tesla Girls, Talking Loud and Clear, So In Love and Secret. The highest position in the US chart is achieved by If You Leave Me, a ballad written for the movie “Pretty in Pink”.

In 1989, Andy McCluskey remains the only member of OMD, as the other bandmates decide to form their own band The Listening Pool. The first album of McCluskey's solo OMD, “Sugar Tax” (1991), turns out to be quite successful, as it includes hits such as Sailing On The Seven Seas and Pandora's Box. Also, despite the frozen attitude of British radio stations, listeners eventually appreciated Walking on the Milky Way from the album “Universal” (1996).

Between 1996 and 2006, the OMD project was suspended, with the duo members mainly working separately. McCluskey collaborated with former Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos and formed the girl pop group Atomic Kitten, while Humphreys, together with Claudia Brücken, the former lead singer of the German synth-pop band Propaganda, created the project Onetwo.

Since 2006, OMD has been back together in its golden line-up: McCluskey, Humphreys, Holmes and Cooper. Only drummer Malcolm Holmes, due his health issues, has been replaced by Stuart Kershaw since in 2015. During the reunion, OMD have released 4 studio albums, the latest of which, “Bauhaus Staircase”, was released in 2023. This clearly shows that the band to be one of the few of their generation still able to create music that inspires and was received to critical and fan acclaim.

In 2024 they hit the road to play their largest and most successful UK tour to date, culminating in their biggest ever London show at the O2 arena.

Over the past nearly five decades — give or take a decade break —the band have sold over 40 million records worldwide, establishing them as electronic synthesiser pioneers and one of Britain’s best-loved pop bands.

More info:

https://omd.uk.com

https://www.facebook.com/ltipsagency

Videos:

Enola Gay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfnf9e_WCjE

Maid of Orleans - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy-Q8LZcaiA

Sailing On The Seven Seas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-6dWcOpMb8