sat 07/12/2024

Reissue CDs Weekly: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | reviews, news & interviews

Reissue CDs Weekly: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Reissue CDs Weekly: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Botched reissue of 'Junk Culture', OMD’s 1984 retreat from the experimental

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in 1984: blissfully unaware of the future havoc to be wreaked on "Junk Culture"


ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK JUNK CULTURE DELUXE EDITIONOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Junk Culture

OMD’s fifth album, Junk Culture, followed 1983’s Dazzle Ships into the shops. Where that was experimental, fragmented, wilful, used found sounds and, in places, eschewed melody and traditional song form, 1984’s glossy release was recorded at Montserrat’s swish Air Studios, the facility founded by George Martin which was favoured by Dire Straits, Elton John and Paul McCartney. Dazzle Ships was influenced by Stockhausen. Junk Culture featured the mambo-esque calypso “All Wrapped Up”, a weedy echo of early Eighties chart funsters Modern Romance.

Of course, ditching the challenging in favour of embracing the undemanding is part and parcel of pop. It often happens after a potentially demanding piece of art is a – relative – lack of success compared to the established track record. Junk Culture had its moments, but it did not build on the classic Dazzle Ships.

This Deluxe Edition reissue of Junk Culture spreads the album over two discs. The first includes the album in its original running order; the second includes the free single which came with the album, B-sides, tiresome 12-inch single versions and some demos.

'Junk Culture' did its job. It restored OMD to their position as a chart-friendly band

The liner notes make it clear that OMD’s first extra-UK recording experience was protracted. Although now thought of as a pioneering electropop band, there was “a more organic feel to the material.” After time in Montserrat, they moved to a studio in Brussels to complete the album. Work was also undertaken at Hilversum, in the Netherlands. Producer Tony Visconti was asked see what he could do with the proposed album. In the end his contribution was limited – he suggested adding brass to some tracks. While Junk Culture was clearly a difficult album to birth, it instantly spawned the hit single "Locomotion" and all seemed right in OMD’s world.

Junk Culture did its job. Or the job their label Virgin wanted. It restored OMD to their position as a chart-friendly band. The winningly obtuse Dazzle Ships was judged a heroic failure. After "Locomotion" charted, "Talking Loud and Clear" and "Tesla Girls" were also drawn from Junk Culture and became hit singles. This is the point where this reissue becomes fishy.

Anyone familiar with Junk Culture will know the album version of "Tesla Girls" was edited for issue as a single. Here, the single version is included on Disc One. Album track "Love and Violence” is also included in a shortened form. What purports to be a reissue of the album isn't. Was no one at Universal, who issued this, either checking the masters used or even aware of what the album actually was? These two instances are not the only problems: fans cognisant with the nitty-gritty of OMD have gone into the many issues with the Junk Culture Deluxe Edition in forensic detail on Amazon.

This isn’t OMD’s best album, but it should have been produced properly for reissue. Get this if you need the demos and unreleased songs, but otherwise don’t bother. Find an original pressing. Copies including the free single can be picked up on the internet from £1.99.

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters