Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Dazzle Ships (40th Anniversary Edition, 2LP, Reissue, Repress, All Media, Stereo)

Description

Dazzle Ships is the fourth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 4 March 1983 by Virgin Records (under the guise of the fictitious Telegraph label). Its title and cover art allude to a painting by Vorticist artist Edward Wadsworth based on dazzle camouflage, titled Dazzle-ships in Drydock at Liverpool. The follow-up album to OMD's commercially successful Architecture & Morality (1981), Dazzle Ships marked a departure in sound for the group, who contended with writer's block and record company pressure to duplicate their previous release. The album is noted for its experimental content, particularly musique concrète sound collages, and the use of shortwave radio recordings to explore Cold War and Eastern Bloc themes. It also concerns itself with the rise of technology in society. The record spawned two singles: "Genetic Engineering" and "Telegraph". Dazzle Ships met with largely negative reviews and, despite reaching the top five of the UK Albums Chart, was regarded as a commercial flop; it nevertheless attracted a cult following and served as an inspiration for multiple recording artists. Music journalists eventually came to recognize the album as an underrated and misunderstood work, and a record ahead of its time. Since its initial re-release in 2008, Dazzle Ships has received critical acclaim.

Release Info

Artist: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Label: Virgin
Format: LP, Album, Reissue, Repress
Country: Europe
Label: Virgin
Released: 2023-03-31
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Experimental

Tracklist

A1 Radio Prague
A2 Genetic Engineering
A3 ABC Auto-Industry
A4 Telegraph
A5 This Is Helena
A6 International
B1 Dazzle Ships (Parts II, III & VII)
B2 The Romance Of The Telescope
B3 Silent Running
B4 Radio Waves
B5 Time Zones
B6 Of All The Things We've Made
C1 Telegraph 82 (Very Early Demo)
C2 Silent Running (Demo)
C3 Sold Our Souls (The Avenue Demo)
C4 Shakespeare 82
D1 Untitled Instrumental 82
D2 In Heaven Above (4-NEU Demo)
D3 Telegraph (Live 1984)