OMD: English Electric

[bongsteve]

Just received the English Electric box set in the mail yesterday. Beautiful package priced at 45 pounds. Included in a 7" metal tin are:
CD standard album
Exclusive CD of nine demo tracks
DVD with interview, track by track commentary, and three CGI videos
Exclusive 7" vinyl with unique b-side
Good value for money given the exclusive demos CD and 7" (although I would have preferred an exclusive CD single instead) wrapped in an gorgeous Peter Saville designed package.
Hoping PSB release similar deluxe packages now they're independent.

How were the demos? I couldnt afford to spring for the box but would love to hear the demos...aren't there a couple of non album tracks included?

[Danimal]

They're all demos of tracks that eventually ended up on the album in different form. There are nine of them and truth be told I like the demos disk better than the main album; it's a great album in it's own right reminiscent of they're early records. PM me your email address.

[bongsteve]

They're all demos of tracks that eventually ended up on the album in different form. There are nine of them and truth be told I like the demos disk better than the main album; it's a great album in it's own right reminiscent of they're early records. PM me your email address.

Hey...tried to respond to your last PM, having troubles as my PM's are sitting in my outbox but won't send. Contact me via e-mail when you get a chance and we can continue our chat.

[Very Lucky]

The interludes, although a signature OMD thing from Dazzle Ship days, make the album a bit short for me. Aside from that it is a strong album, an improvement in some ways from History of Modern.

Stay With Me reminds me of Souvenir.

[Danimal]

My only criticism of History ofModern, whichIwould give 4 out of 5 stars BTW, is that it was too long. In this day and age of 70 minute albums I feel it a real sign of confidence in the material to only put 8 or 9 songs on in addition to the interludes. They had at least 4 and perhaps more songs left over, all of which are good as far as I've heard, so they must be confident that this is the best configuration.

[Very Lucky]

Indeed, at the same time I feel that the interludes add something to the album when you listen to it from front to back.

Recently in one of their videos, I think it was Andy that stated, they're not necessarily doing it for success. I guess they can't really expect success at this point in their careers either way, but I do find that that kind of attitude in artists usually signals exceptional albums. They wouldn't name their album Take The Crown or pretentious crap like that.

[ChoonHound]

I just listed to this. f*** hate it. Especially compared to HOM. Very wispy with A LOT of filler.

[Radiophonic]

Was no. 7 in the first lot of mid weeks and now no. 10.

Apologies that that info was attributed to Depeche Mode in an earlier post. These British synthy groups are evidently all the same to me.

[df118junkie]

I just listed to this. f****** hate it. Especially compared to HOM. Very wispy with A LOT of filler.

Agreed...

[Danimal]

I just listed to this. f****** hate it. Especially compared to HOM. Very wispy with A LOT of filler.

I disagree. English Electric is nothing like Elysium.

[DJ Pat]

It seemed to start ok but about 5 tracks in I just had an urge to turn it off vesy quickly.

[Danimal]

The fact of the matter is, if you like OMD, especially their experimental albums, you'll love English Electric. If you're not a fan of OMD, especially their first four albums, you're not going to like it at all.
Those who like their later output such as Junk Culture, Crush, and The Pacific Age or the 90s Andy McClusky solo era might like The History of Modern and should stick with that album.

[Danimal]

Out of the entire OMD catalog, many PSB fans would probably like 1993's Liberator the most as it's the one album by any artist from that era that closely resembles PSB's Very in terms of sound and content (although it predated Very by about three months).

[Radiophonic]

Was no. 7 in the first lot of mid weeks and now no. 10.

Ended up at 12.

However the good news is that David Bowie still top ten after five weeks. Now there's a comeback.

[DJ Pat]

Out of the entire OMD catalog, many PSB fans would probably like 1993's Liberator the most as it's the one album by any artist from that era that closely resembles PSB's Very in terms of sound and content (although it predated Very by about three months).

I'd say 1996's 'Universal' as well