Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – La Mitrailleuse

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark are a hugely influential electronic music band. Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, themselves inspired by Brian Eno and Kraftwerk, have often been called โ€˜the Lennon-McCartney of synth-popโ€™. Their impact stretched out to artists as diverse as U2, a-ha, No Doubt, Talk Talk and Radiohead (and, more obviously: Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Information Society, Yazoo and Underworld).

On 1 September, OMD put out their 13th album The Punishment Of Luxury. It will be released in several CD and LP formats, but also on cassette. Humphreys describes the album as โ€˜stripped downโ€™. The first track that was made available might be representative for the musical direction. La Mitrailleuse (French for โ€˜the machine gunโ€™) is just over two minutes long, and only features the lyric โ€˜Bend your body to the will of the machineโ€™. This is sung with a Kraftwerk-like vocal effect, accompanied by a minimalist choir. After 45 seconds, sound effects of (machine) gun shots, bombs and jets flying over form a rhythmic backdrop to the ongoing choir. This makes for an alarming and intense atmosphere, which is only augmented by the video.

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