Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Universal
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Universal album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Released2 September 1996 (1996-09-02)
RecordedPre-recorded at The Factory, Dublin, JE Sound, and Johnny Juma, Los Angeles
Recorded at The Townhouse, and Metropolis, London
GenreSynth-pop, pop rock
Length49:40
LabelVirgin
ProducerAndy McCluskey
Matthew Vaughan
David Nicholas
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark chronology
Liberator
(1993) 		Universal
(1996) 		The OMD Singles
(1998)
Singles from Universal
  1. "Walking on the Milky Way"
    Released: 5 August 1996
  2. "Universal"
    Released: 21 October 1996

Universal is the tenth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 2 September 1996 by Virgin Records. Frontman Andy McCluskey opted for a more organic, acoustic sound on the record, which spawned the singles "Walking on the Milky Way" (a UK no. 17 hit) and "Universal". The media's resistance to OMD, who were rendered unfashionable by the prevalence of indie rock and Britpop, prompted McCluskey to dissolve the group. Universal would remain their final album for over a decade until the band's reunion.

Background[]

McCluskey opted for a more organic sound on Universal, while looking to capture an "epic" feel.[1][2] He explained, "I'd abandoned techno/house; it was like an old man dying his hair jet-black: ridiculous. I decided to follow the current trend of getting more acoustic, using real drums and bass." McCluskey had been writing with former Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos, who had also become interested in more organic music.[1] Bartos is credited as a co-writer on "The Moon & the Sun".[3]

OMD co-founder Paul Humphreys, who had departed the group in 1989, served as co-writer on "Very Close to Far Away" and "If You're Still in Love with Me".[3] The former marked Humphreys' first songwriting collaboration with McCluskey since leaving the band; the latter dated to 1987 and had originally been envisioned as a reggae song. Anne Dudley of Art of Noise arranged "If You're Still in Love with Me" for a 12-piece string section.[2]

Alternative titles for the album were Very Close to Far Away and That Was Then, This Is Now. The cover artwork was designed by Area, based on a concept by Peter Saville.[2]

Reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic2/5 stars[4]
Encyclopedia of Eighties Music3/5 stars[5]

In a retrospective review, Trouser Press wrote that Universal "quickly settles into the type of pop OMD has offered since [1985's] Crush" and is "enjoyable enough for what it is".[6] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine was less favourable, observing "only a fraction of the sophisticated craft that made its predecessor Liberator enjoyable, and none of the adventurous spirit of [OMD's] '80s records."[4] Original keyboardist Paul Humphreys, then estranged from the band, considered Universal a "really, really good record".[7]

By 1996 the British media were reluctant to promote OMD, who were rendered unfashionable by the prevalence of indie rock and Britpop. McCluskey, therefore, elected to dissolve the group.[8] He later said, "I could see I was no longer a priority, I felt like a dead man walking, so I stopped. I wanted to be a stay-at-home dad."[1]

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Andy McCluskey, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Universal" 5:41
2."Walking on the Milky Way"McCluskey, Nigel Ipinson, Keith Small4:38
3."The Moon & the Sun"McCluskey, Karl Bartos3:37
4."The Black Sea"McCluskey, Stuart Kershaw3:38
5."Very Close to Far Away"Paul Humphreys, McCluskey5:45
6."The Gospel of St Jude" 2:23
7."That Was Then" 4:27
8."Too Late"McCluskey, Kershaw4:09
9."The Boy from the Chemist Is Here to See You" 4:41
10."If You're Still in Love with Me"Humphreys, McCluskey, Kershaw2:51
11."New Head"McCluskey, Simon Fung5:01
12."Victory Waltz" 2:45

Personnel[]

  • Andy McCluskey – vocals, keyboards, production, mix on tracks 8–9
  • Matthew Vaughan – keyboards on tracks 1, 4, 8, and 10, guitar on tracks 2, 3, and 5, piano on track 3, bass on track 9, production on tracks 1–7, and tracks 10–12
  • Breda Dunne – backing vocals on track 1
  • Phil Spalding – bass on tracks 1–3, track 5, and track 7, backing vocals on track 2
  • Chuck Sabo – drums and percussion on tracks 1–3, track 5, and tracks 7–9
  • Hannah Clive – backing vocals on track 2
  • Carol Kenyon – backing vocals on track 5
  • Richard Allen Singers – vocals on track 6, courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
  • Jimmy Taylor – guitar on track 7
  • Maggie Keane – backing vocals on track 8
  • Anne Dudley – string arrangement for track 10
  • David Nicholas – production on tracks 1–7, and tracks 10–12, engineer, mix on tracks 2–10, and 12
  • Gregg Jackman – mix on tracks 1, and 11
  • Julie Gardner – engineer, assistant engineer
  • Neil Tucker – assistant engineer

Charts[]

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[9] 21
European Albums (Music & Media)[10] 45
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 39
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 43
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 34
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 28
UK Albums (OCC)[15] 24

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Wilson, Lois (30 September 2019). "OMD". Record Collector. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "OMD Discography: Universal". Messages. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Universal liner notes. 1996. Virgin Records.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b AllMusic review
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music. Virgin Books. p. 350. ISBN 0753501597.
  6. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Trouser Press. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  7. ^ "OMD interview - Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys (part 4)". FaceCulture. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". BBC Breakfast. 13 September 2010. BBC One. British Broadcasting Corporation.
  9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Universal" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  10. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 39. 28 September 1996. p. 21. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Universal" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Universal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Swisscharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Universal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""