'Bauhaus Staircase' LP due out on October 27 via White Noise
Over the past four decades — give or take a decade break — the illustrious and critically acclaimed Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) have sold over 40 million records worldwide, establishing them as electronic synthesizer pioneers and one of Britain’s best-loved pop groups. Their 13 long players include benchmark-raising classics Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (1980), Organisation (1980), Architecture & Morality (1981), and Dazzle Ships (1983). OMD conquered the United States, and yielded the 1986 hit, “If You Leave” from the Pretty In Pink Soundtrack. They have also achieved 12 top 20 hits on the UK Singles Chart, as well as three top 20 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Following the celebration of their 40th anniversary last year, now, OMD will return with their first new studio album since 2017’s highly praised The Punishment Of Luxury, a record entitled Bauhaus Staircase, due October 27, 2023 via White Noise (through The Orchard). The forthcoming Bauhaus Staircase is regarded as OMD’s most explicitly political record and the crowning achievement of their desire to be both Stockhausen and Abba – born from the impetus to kickstart new explorations during lockdown when, as Andy McCluskey admits:
“I rediscovered the creative power of total boredom.”
Predominantly written, recorded, and mixed by both McCluskey and Paul Humphreys (who has recently become a second-time father), Bauhaus Staircase’s other main external influence was David Watts, mainly known as a rock producer who helmed Sheffield band The Reytons’ recent No 1 album and mixed two tracks on the new OMD record.
Ranging from the beautiful film noir ballad of “Veruschka,” to “Anthropocene” (a term for the current epoch in Earth’s evolution), to the sinister “Evolution Of Species,” and the hectic “Kleptocracy” (OMD’s greatest straight-up protest song), the new album is a broad, electronic, sonic masterpiece that lyrically tackles the topics of the future. The record closes on “Healing,” a moment of reflective calm and a rare OMD co-write, with lyrics by McCluskey’s friend, Liverpool singer-songwriter Caroline England, and production from ATOM.
With Bauhaus Staircase, OMD have created a landmark album worthy of their finest work. It remains unmistakably the work of a duo who are still perfectly in sync 45 years after their first gig at legendary Liverpool club Eric’s.
“I’m very happy with what we’ve done on this record,” McCluskey summarizes. “I’m comfortable if this is OMD’s last statement.”
Bauhaus Staircase – TRACKLISTING:
01. Bauhaus Staircase
02. Anthropocene
03. Look At You Now
04. G.E.M.
05. Where We Started
06. Veruschka
07. Slow Train
08. Don’t Go
09. Kleptocracy
10. Aphrodite’s Favorite Child
11. Evolution of Species
12. Healing
Following the recent release of the record’s first two singles — “Bauhaus Staircase” (which serves as a nod both to Andy McCluskey’s love of the Bauhaus era and the power of protest art) and “Slow Train” (a raucous, glam-tinged explosion that arrived with help from the band’s only other external influence, producer David Watts — today, OMD shares the record’s third cut, “Verushka.”
A simply beautiful, film-noir ballad, “Veruschka” exemplifies the determination OMD have to make Bauhaus Staircase an album to rank among their finest, and an acceptance that life is sometimes about taking risks.
“My attitude is like I say in this song: if you’re too afraid to jump off the cliff, you’ll never learn to fly,” singer Andy McCluskey mentions. “We couldn’t keep saying: ‘It’s not going to work.’ You have to keep trying, to see where you end up.”
The track additionally comes alongside the stunning futuristic animated video (created by Cine1080 Studio).
After the recent announcement of their forthcoming new studio album, OMD have also revealed details of their return to the stage, with the band taking to the road next year.
Across January, February & March 2024, OMD will play 40 dates across the Europe, UK & Ireland, including their biggest ever London headline show at London’s O2 Arena on March 24th, 2024.
“We are so excited to be able to tour again with a brand new album to showcase,” says Andy McCluskey. “It’s been six years since we learned new songs for live performances. The songs from Bauhaus Staircase will fit beautifully into our setlist – we just have to choose which five to play, as we have to treat people to the hits as well!”
OMD will additionally perform alongside New Order, Tears for Fears, Soft Cell, The B-52s, DEVO, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Psychedelic Furs, and many more at the SOLD OUT Darker Waves Festival, taking place Saturday, November 18 in Huntington Beach, CA. They will also play a Darker Waves after show, taking place at House of Blues Anaheim on November 19.
Tickets and more information for all of OMD’s forthcoming live dates can be found here.
Tour Dates:
Nov. 18 – Darker Waves Festival – Huntington Beach, CA – SOLD OUT
Nov. 19 – Darker Waves After Show – Anaheim, CA – SOLD OUT
Jan. 22 – Rockerfeller – Oslo, Norway
Jan. 24 – München Brewery – Stockholm, Sweden
Jan. 25 – Tradgar’n – Gothenburg, Sweden
Jan. 27 – Grey Hall – Copenhagen, Denmark
Jan. 29 – Sparkassen Arena – Jena, Germany
Jan. 30 – Jahrhunderthalle (2P) – Frankfurt, Germany
Feb. 1 – Mitsubishi Electric Halle – Dusseldorf, Germany
Feb. 2 – Sporthalle – Hamburg, Germany
Feb. 3 – Stadhalle – Chemnitz, Germany
Feb. 6 – B90 – Gdanks, Poland
Feb. 7 – Stodola – Warsaw, Poland
Feb. 8 – ICE – Krakow, Poland
Feb. 10 – SasaZu – Prague, Czech Republic
Feb. 11 – Hau Auensee – Leipzig, Germany
Feb. 12 – Tempodrom – Berlin, Germany
Feb. 14 – AFAS – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb. 15 – Cirque Royal – Brussels, Belgium
Feb. 16 – La Cigale – Paris, France
Feb. 27 – Ulster Hall – Belfast, Ireland
Feb. 28 – 3Olympia Theatre – Dublin, Ireland
March 1 – O2 Apollo – Manchester, England
March 3 – M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool, England
March 5 – First Direct Arena – Leeds, England
March 6 – Usher Hall – Edinburgh, Scotland
March 8 – Royal Concert Hall – Glasgow, Scotland
March 9 – O2 City Hall – Newcastle, England
March 10 – City Hall – Sheffield, England
March 12 – De Montfort Hall – Leicester, England
March 13 – Royal Concert Hall – Nottingham, England
March 15 – Civic Hall – Wolverhampton, England
March 16 – Swansea Arena – Swansea, Wales
March 17 – Cliffs Pavilion – Southend-On-Sea, England
March 19 – Beacon – Bristol, England
March 20 – New Theatre – Oxford, England
March 22 – Guildhall – Portsmouth, England
March 23 – Regent – Ipswich, England
March 24 – The O2 – London, England
March 26 – Dome – Brighton, England
March 27 – Winter Gardens – Eastbourne, England
Connect with OMD on Twitter and Facebook. Stream and download their music on Spotify and Apple Music.
Source: Press Release
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