History of Modern
Encyclopedia
History of Modern is the eleventh studio album by British synthpop
band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
(OMD). It is their first album since 1996, and the first album featuring the classic 4-piece line-up since 1986's The Pacific Age
. The album was released in the UK on 20 September 2010, reaching to Top 30. The album was released in the US on Bright Antenna
on 28 September 2010. The artwork was conceived by Peter Saville and designed by Four23.
The title was thought of by lead singer Andy McCluskey
after he took his daughter to an art exhibition called 'The History of Modernism'.
A free download demo track taken from the album called "Sister Marie Says" was released on 25 November 2009. Elements of the song were originally composed in 1981 and a reworked version of the track was due to appear on the 1996 album Universal
but got shelved because it sounded too much like early OMD and was out of step with the more reflective tone of Universal. The second song to be played from the album was "History of Modern pt.2". The song was played on 31 May 2010 on BBC 6 Music
, the title of the song was revealed on the shows web page a week before the broadcast. In an interview during the show the band confirmed the album would have two songs named "History of Modern" on it and plans to change the name of one of the songs to "The Big Bang Theory" had apparently been scrapped. The first single from the album, "If You Want It
", was released on 6 September 2010.
in 2008 as an extra track for an EP
which was later shelved. Humphreys also co-wrote "Green" and "History Of Modern (Part II)".
Samples
are prevalent towards the end of the album. "Pulse" contains a sample from "Pulse" by Brother and Sister, "Bondage of Fate" samples Hannah Peel's "Organ Song", while the closing track "The Right Side?" contains a sample from "Looking Down on London" by fellow Kraftwerk
enthusiasts, Komputer
.
"Sometimes" features Jennifer John, who provided backing vocals on "Oil For the Lamps of China" and "Promised the World" by The Listening Pool
, the band formed in the wake of OMD's original split in 1989 by Paul Humphreys with Martin Cooper
and Malcolm Holmes
.
"RFWK" is a homage to childhood heroes Kraftwerk and its initials comprise the first letter of each of the classic 4-piece line-up's forenames (Ralf
, Florian
, Wolfgang
and Karl
).
"The Future, The Past and Forever After" began life as "Wheels of Steel", a track originally considered for inclusion on the Sugar Tax album.
"Sister Marie Says" was part-written in 1981 and later recorded during the sessions for 1996's Universal
album. It was subsequently dropped from the album and didn't get its first public airing until the OMD Event in 2005. The track has been revamped for the new album, produced and mixed by Guy Katsav
at his London studio.
The track "Pulse" features backing vocals by former members of Genie Queen, including Abigail Clancy
.
The track "The Right Side" is an overt hommage to Kraftwerk
, with the arrangement drawing heavily on the structure employed on their track "Europe Endless".
Bar three tracks, the album was mixed by Mike Crossey, who has worked for the likes of Arctic Monkeys
, Foals and Razorlight
.
The album was originally going to include "Save Me", a mash-up of OMD's "Messages
" and Aretha Franklin
's "Save Me
", but it will be included as a bonus track on the US release only.
Special edition box sets of the album will also include a double vinyl LP, a DVD book pack and a CD of album demo tracks.
" was released as the first single on 6 September 2010. It was their first single since 1996's "Universal". In October, "Sister Marie Says
" was announced as the album's second single, and was released on 19 November 2010. The third single, "History of Modern (Part I)" has been remixed in radio and extended forms, and is due for release on 28 February 2011.
described History of Modern as "There are moments of typical gaucheness here, but the tracks New Babies: New Toys and The Right Side? really do reprise the impressive mix of the metronomic and the elegiac OMD started with." The review in Q
was also positive: "This 11th album refines their sound and gives it a modern production tweak". BBC
reviewer John Doran was very negative, stating "A few highs aside, this is a poor return from the 80s hit-makers." The Allmusic review by Andy Kellman awards the album with 2.5 stars. He ends the review with "At its best, History of Modern is to OMD what Secrets is to The Human League
: an inspired return from post-punk-turned-synth-pop greats."
to digital download and CD versions of "If You Want It" single.
"Idea 1" - B-side to limited edition 7" vinyl single of "If You Want It".
"The Grand Deception" - B-side to CD version of "Sister Marie Says".
"History of Modern, Pt. III & IV" - B-side to limited edition 7" vinyl single of "Sister Marie Says".
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
(OMD). It is their first album since 1996, and the first album featuring the classic 4-piece line-up since 1986's The Pacific Age
The Pacific Age
The Pacific Age is the seventh album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1986. " Live and Die" became the group's third hit single in the US and returned the group to the top 20 in the UK, peaking at #11, but the album sold poorly in both countries.The Pacific Age was Stephen Hague's...
. The album was released in the UK on 20 September 2010, reaching to Top 30. The album was released in the US on Bright Antenna
Bright Antenna
Bright Antenna is a record label founded in 2007 and based in Oakland, California. One of the founders is author and filmmaker Tiffanie DeBartolo...
on 28 September 2010. The artwork was conceived by Peter Saville and designed by Four23.
The title was thought of by lead singer Andy McCluskey
Andy McCluskey
George Andrew "Andy" McCluskey is the lead singer, bass guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark ....
after he took his daughter to an art exhibition called 'The History of Modernism'.
A free download demo track taken from the album called "Sister Marie Says" was released on 25 November 2009. Elements of the song were originally composed in 1981 and a reworked version of the track was due to appear on the 1996 album Universal
Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album)
-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...
but got shelved because it sounded too much like early OMD and was out of step with the more reflective tone of Universal. The second song to be played from the album was "History of Modern pt.2". The song was played on 31 May 2010 on BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
, the title of the song was revealed on the shows web page a week before the broadcast. In an interview during the show the band confirmed the album would have two songs named "History of Modern" on it and plans to change the name of one of the songs to "The Big Bang Theory" had apparently been scrapped. The first single from the album, "If You Want It
If You Want It
"If You Want It" is the thirty-first UK single from synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in September 2010 by 100% Records as the first single from their eleventh studio album "History of Modern". It is the band's first single since "Universal" in 1996, and is the first single...
", was released on 6 September 2010.
Anticipation and pre-release
Many of the songs had been written and demoed by Andy McCluskey prior to OMD's official reformation, announced at a fan gathering in April 2005. Contributions by the remaining members were made in between other commitments. "New Holy Ground" was originally written by McCluskey and Paul HumphreysPaul Humphreys
Paul Humphreys is a British musician.-Life and career:He is best known as a member of synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , which he founded with Andy McCluskey in 1978.He grew up on the Wirral Peninsula in North West England, during which time he developed his interest in German...
in 2008 as an extra track for an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
which was later shelved. Humphreys also co-wrote "Green" and "History Of Modern (Part II)".
Samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
are prevalent towards the end of the album. "Pulse" contains a sample from "Pulse" by Brother and Sister, "Bondage of Fate" samples Hannah Peel's "Organ Song", while the closing track "The Right Side?" contains a sample from "Looking Down on London" by fellow Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
enthusiasts, Komputer
Komputer
-Background:Collaborating since 1982, Leonard and Baker were originally signed to Mute Records in 1984 under the name I Start Counting and continued with releases under the moniker Fortran 5 until the release of Komputer’s debut album, The World of Tomorrow in .Simon Leonard and David Baker...
.
"Sometimes" features Jennifer John, who provided backing vocals on "Oil For the Lamps of China" and "Promised the World" by The Listening Pool
The Listening Pool
The Listening Pool was an English band, founded by three former members of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , after the original-lineup split in 1989...
, the band formed in the wake of OMD's original split in 1989 by Paul Humphreys with Martin Cooper
Martin Cooper (artist)
Martin Cooper is a painter and a musician.-Musical career:From 1980 until 1989 Cooper was a member of the rock group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Prior to joining OMD, Cooper played the saxophone at some of their concerts, or they used his pre-recorded work. He also played with Dalek I Love...
and Malcolm Holmes
Malcolm Holmes
Malcolm Holmes is a British drummer. He is best known for being the drummer with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, with whom he had a #3 UK hit with "Souvenir" and a #4 US/#48 UK hit with "If You Leave."-Biography:...
.
"RFWK" is a homage to childhood heroes Kraftwerk and its initials comprise the first letter of each of the classic 4-piece line-up's forenames (Ralf
Ralf Hütter
Ralf Hütter is the lead singer, keyboardist, and reportedly leader of the electronic-music band Kraftwerk. Since the departure of Florian Schneider in 2008, he is also the group's sole remaining founding member....
, Florian
Florian Schneider
Florian Schneider-Esleben is one of the founding members of electronic music band Kraftwerk. He left the band in November 2008.-Career:...
, Wolfgang
Wolfgang Flür
Wolfgang Flür is a German musician, best known as a member of the electronic group Kraftwerk, from 1973 to 1987, playing electronic percussion...
and Karl
Karl Bartos
Karl Bartos was, between 1975 and 1990, along with Wolfgang Flür, an electronic percussionist in the electronic-music group Kraftwerk. He was originally recruited to play on its US "Autobahn" tour...
).
"The Future, The Past and Forever After" began life as "Wheels of Steel", a track originally considered for inclusion on the Sugar Tax album.
"Sister Marie Says" was part-written in 1981 and later recorded during the sessions for 1996's Universal
Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album)
-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...
album. It was subsequently dropped from the album and didn't get its first public airing until the OMD Event in 2005. The track has been revamped for the new album, produced and mixed by Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
at his London studio.
The track "Pulse" features backing vocals by former members of Genie Queen, including Abigail Clancy
Abigail Clancy
Abigail Marie "Abbey" Crouch is a British lingerie and catwalk model and television presenter.-Early life:...
.
The track "The Right Side" is an overt hommage to Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, with the arrangement drawing heavily on the structure employed on their track "Europe Endless".
Bar three tracks, the album was mixed by Mike Crossey, who has worked for the likes of Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, Foals and Razorlight
Razorlight
Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...
.
The album was originally going to include "Save Me", a mash-up of OMD's "Messages
Messages (OMD song)
"Messages" is the third single of the synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark . The single has a re-recorded version of the song found on their debut album Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The single provided OMD with their first top 40 hit in the UK, reaching number 13...
" and Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
's "Save Me
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You is the breakthrough 1967 album by Aretha Franklin. It went to number 2 on the Billboard album chart and number 1 on the magazine's Black Albums chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1967...
", but it will be included as a bonus track on the US release only.
Special edition box sets of the album will also include a double vinyl LP, a DVD book pack and a CD of album demo tracks.
Singles
"If You Want ItIf You Want It
"If You Want It" is the thirty-first UK single from synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in September 2010 by 100% Records as the first single from their eleventh studio album "History of Modern". It is the band's first single since "Universal" in 1996, and is the first single...
" was released as the first single on 6 September 2010. It was their first single since 1996's "Universal". In October, "Sister Marie Says
Sister Marie Says
"Sister Marie Says" is the thirty-second UK single from English synthpop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released on 15 November 2010. Remixes by Monarchy, Stopmakingme, Kinky Roland and Mirrors have been commissioned.-Background:...
" was announced as the album's second single, and was released on 19 November 2010. The third single, "History of Modern (Part I)" has been remixed in radio and extended forms, and is due for release on 28 February 2011.
Reception
MojoMojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
described History of Modern as "There are moments of typical gaucheness here, but the tracks New Babies: New Toys and The Right Side? really do reprise the impressive mix of the metronomic and the elegiac OMD started with." The review in Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
was also positive: "This 11th album refines their sound and gives it a modern production tweak". BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reviewer John Doran was very negative, stating "A few highs aside, this is a poor return from the 80s hit-makers." The Allmusic review by Andy Kellman awards the album with 2.5 stars. He ends the review with "At its best, History of Modern is to OMD what Secrets is to The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
: an inspired return from post-punk-turned-synth-pop greats."
Track listing
B-sides and other tracks
"Alone" - B-sideA-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to digital download and CD versions of "If You Want It" single.
"Idea 1" - B-side to limited edition 7" vinyl single of "If You Want It".
"The Grand Deception" - B-side to CD version of "Sister Marie Says".
"History of Modern, Pt. III & IV" - B-side to limited edition 7" vinyl single of "Sister Marie Says".
Personnel
- Andy McCluskeyAndy McCluskeyGeorge Andrew "Andy" McCluskey is the lead singer, bass guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark ....
- Paul HumphreysPaul HumphreysPaul Humphreys is a British musician.-Life and career:He is best known as a member of synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , which he founded with Andy McCluskey in 1978.He grew up on the Wirral Peninsula in North West England, during which time he developed his interest in German...
- Martin CooperMartin Cooper (artist)Martin Cooper is a painter and a musician.-Musical career:From 1980 until 1989 Cooper was a member of the rock group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Prior to joining OMD, Cooper played the saxophone at some of their concerts, or they used his pre-recorded work. He also played with Dalek I Love...
- Malcolm HolmesMalcolm HolmesMalcolm Holmes is a British drummer. He is best known for being the drummer with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, with whom he had a #3 UK hit with "Souvenir" and a #4 US/#48 UK hit with "If You Leave."-Biography:...
Chart performances
History of Modern reached No. 5 in the German Albums Chart. It also cracked the national albums charts of several countries including reaching #97 in the Netherlands, #63 in Switzerland, #36 in Austria and #28 in the United Kingdom where it reached as well #3 at the official independent charts remaining 12 weeks in the top 50 .Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Top 100 Albums European Top 100 Albums The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100... |
18 |
| German Albums Chart | 5 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 36 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 63 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
28 |