Six years after the release of their critically acclaimed and #9 ranked album „The Punishment Of Luxury“, synth pioneers Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) are back with their brand new studio album „Bauhaus Staircase“, out October 27.
The first track on the album is the title track, which is a nod to Andy McCluskey’s love of the Bauhaus era and the power of protest art. The song is available today – you can see the animated video HERE.
„I’m a big lover of the visual arts, especially the mid-20th century movements Andy comments. „The song is a metaphor for strength and artistic passion in the face of
Criticism and adversity. When times are tough, governments tend to cut funding for creativity just when the arts are most needed to nourish our souls. It seems fitting that the song and its eponymous album were written during the pandemic.
It is the band’s most political record and the culmination of their desire to be both Stockhausen and Abba – born of the impulse to explore new things during the lockdown. Andy McCluskey admits, „I rediscovered the creative power of total boredom.“
Bauhaus Staircase was written, recorded and mixed primarily by McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, who recently became a father for the second time. The other major influence was David Watts, best known as a rock producer who oversaw the recent UK #1 album by Sheffield band The Reytons and mixed two tracks on the new OMD record.
From the beautiful film noir ballad „Veruschka“ to „Anthropocene“ – a term for the current epoch of Earth’s evolution – to the somber „Evolution Of Species“ and the frantic „Kleptocracy“ – OMD’s biggest direct protest song – the new album is a wide-ranging, electronic, sonic masterpiece that lyrically explores the issues of the future. The album closes with „Healing“ – a moment of reflective calm and a rare OMD co-production, with lyrics by McCluskey’s girlfriend, Liverpool singer-songwriter Caroline England, and production by ATOM TM.
OMD have sold an astonishing 25 million singles and 15 million albums, establishing themselves as pioneers of electronic synthesizers and one of the most popular British pop groups. Their 13 albums include reissues of „Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark“ (1980), „Organization“ (1980), „Architecture & Morality“ (1981) and „Dazzle Ships“ (1983).
Actually, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark should be in semi-retirement, performing classics like Enola Gay and Maid Of Orleans at nostalgia festivals like so many of their peers. Instead, they have created a fascinating album that is absolutely worthy of their œuvre. Although OMD were happy to have help with the album, Bauhaus Staircase is unmistakably the work of a duo that is still perfectly in tune with each other 45 years after their first performance at the legendary Liverpool club Erics. They wouldn’t be releasing the album if it hadn’t lived up to The Punishment Of Luxury’s high standards.
„I’m very happy with what we did on this record,“ McCluskey sums up. „I feel comfortable if this is going to be OMD’s last statement.“
Watch the Video here:
Stream the Song on a Platform you prefer here: