OMD - History Of Modern

The first time I ever heard OMD, they were Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and the song was on the Urgh! A Music War soundtrack, and back then OMD were a bit rougher than their major claim to fame, “If You Leave.”

The press assets will try to suggest otherwise, but I don’t think of OMD as a major component in 80’s synth-pop. Save for that piece that’s permanently embedded in John Hughes nostalgia, just exactly what did OMD bring that wasn’t already on our shores?

So the fact that History of Modern is the band’s “first album in 14 years” doesn’t get me all giddy like a Yaz reunion or even a hint of a Tubeway Army album. After one listen, I can understand why the band’s label is quick to point out their longevity and their place in the history of it.

History of Modern is a note-perfect record of some kind of lost OMD album, recorded and canned slightly before the band embarked on one-hit wonder notoriety.

From the band’s logo, to the album art, to the cold digital clicks of electronic percussion, History of Modern is a gentle piece of eighties worship that’s curiously out of step with today’s players who use similar strategies for irony and/or worship.

It’s fluffy, simplistic, and harmless-just like all of the rest of the band’s foray into credible pop leanings after jumping into it with a song about nuclear arms and Margaret Thatcher’s hawkish diplomacy.

If the tones and textures are enough to conjure up nights of eyeliner and extra-hold hair gel, how about the closer “Save Me” which features none other than Aretha Franklin in her best supporting role since “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.” I say “supporting role” loosely as she’s the only vocalist on the track, demonstrating that the Queen of Soul is probably the only person outside of Allison Moyet and Anne Lennox that’s able to bring human depth to the cold white hands of English white dudes.

Considering this and the band’s triumphant return to form here, there are moments that may convince you of OMD’s vitality during their original run. To that, allow me to direct your attention to one their more stronger efforts was called Junk Culture-and from that standpoint, History Of Modern is merely another album that lives up to its name.