Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
OMD performing at the Brighton Centre
Reviews

OMD Review

Nov 18, 2021
-
Posted by Am Jones

Stepping out in front of a moonlit shore, a foamy tide lapping hungrily against the strand, OMD are once again rebirthed on stage. Before a massive triptych visual display, the audience are immersed in a sea of anticipation as Andy McCluskey opens the night with a mesmeric rendition of ‘Sealand’. The singer commences a countdown commemorating 40 years of their quintessential album ‘Architecture & Morality’, and goes on to greet an enthusiastic crowd that is eagerly awaiting his next move.

The band tear through the album’s greatest tracks, ‘Souvenir’, ‘Joan Of Arc’ and ‘Maid Of Orleans’, with McCluskey and founding member Paul Humphreys remaining effortlessly poised, dressed head-to-toe in black. The stage now awash with gold, flooded with dreamy pinks and violent blues, we’re transported inside a utopian fantasy, kicking off with ‘The New Stone Age’. The audience erupts into dancing, and we’re left breathless and impatient as he teases out the opening of ‘Tesla Girls’ off the album ‘Junk Culture’. Quickly moving through the decades, we make our way to ‘History Of Modern’ with a brisk stopover for OMD’s later years.

Having originally formed in 1978, OMD were hailed as iconic innovators of synth-pop and received wall-to-wall acclaim for their anti-war anthem ‘Enola Gay’ in 1980 and for tracks such as ‘Electricity’ and ‘Messages’ from the band’s namesake album the same year. Reuniting in 2006 after a fairly lengthy split, the band have put out three new albums this century, with 2017’s ‘The Punishment Of Luxury’ being their most recent release.

The band’s performance tonight generates a genuine sense of community and hopefulness for the future. There’s a gracious to-and-froing between McCluskey and Humphreys as they let the other take the lead, and both applaud additional members Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw throughout the night. McCluskey addresses the audience with open arms and we witness cherished moments between friends reunited, with everyone taking a moment to reflect on the difficulties of the past year and a half.

Patiently pondering the arrival of a closing track, we are met with a surprise. OMD have traditionally ended many a tour with the track ‘Electricity’ (now in its 45th year), but tonight the duo opt for a different farewell, closing instead with ‘The Romance Of The Telescope’. It’s a sleepier, reflective wind-down from a high-powered night. We end with McCluskey throwing a bra back into the audience. He beams and shouts “Christmas came early”.

Brighton Centre, Tuesday 16th November 2021

Nov 18, 2021
Email
← PREVIOUS POST
Am I Invisible Yet? Review
NEXT POST →
Hundred Heroines Collection launches Object Artefact Photograph
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Accidental Birth of an Anarchist
    May 18, 2022

    Activists protesting against fossil fuels occupy an oil rig in this exciting collaboration between Unmasked Theatre and artists' collective Rising Tides.

  • Jacob Collier, Thursday 16th June
    May 18, 2022

    The multi Grammy-winning singer and multi-instrumentalist brings his worldwide 'Djesse' tour to Brighton Dome.

  • The Great Escape 2022 Review (Fri)
    May 18, 2022

    More bands, more reviews. Friday's festival was a heady mix of Turkish techno, gothic indie, Japanese folk, jazz punk and grime metal.

  • Gregory Porter Review
    May 17, 2022

    Gregory Porter was back in town, ahead of his headline slot at Love Supreme, with an excellent, expanded band and a totally amazing opening act.

  • The Great Escape 2022 Review (Thur)
    May 16, 2022

    The Great Escape made a triumphant return with three days of musical mayhem across the city. Here's a round-up of two dozen acts we caught on Thursday.

  • To Be Men at Brighton Fringe
    May 11, 2022

    Highly rated Fintan Shevlin is back with 'To Be Men': taut physical theatre, original sounds and high tension in Tyrone. Brighton-based writer and performer.

  • When Shall We Three Meet Again
    May 9, 2022

    A cut down up-to-date Macbeth by Brighton's Suitcase Theatre performed by three women with guitar sounds. Exquisite contemporary drama, cosy venue.

  • Brighton Spiegeltent
    Must-see local theatre at the Fringe
    May 8, 2022

    This year's Brighton Fringe is teeming with local talent. Highlights include an ode to Woodstock, a radical history tour and the tale of a Brighton prostitute.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2021
OMD Review - Brighton Source