By now, the English band Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD), which has origins dating back to 1978, has become one of the few enduring and prolific pioneers of Synthpop/New Wave music. To date, it has a discography of fourteen albums – from 1980’s self-titled, to the just unleashed Bauhaus Staircase.
Released on October 27, 2023, via White Noise, Bauhaus Staircase is OMD’s follow up to their 2017 album The Punishment of Luxury. Coming after a recent celebration of their 40th anniversary, Bauhaus Staircase contains twelve songs that are immensely inspired by the current world events as well as those that occurred in the last decade.
As always in their creative and envelope-pushing disposition, OMD, led by Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar, keyboards) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals), but also including longtime members Martin Cooper (keyboards, saxophone), and Stuart Kershaw (drums), deliver a fresh yet familiar set of songs that will capture the nostalgic hearts of their longtime followers. Additionally, these new songs will strike the curiosity and interest of young music fans who are into under-the-commercial-radar types of Electronic music.
Produced by OMD, Bauhaus Staircase opens with the pulsating ascend of the title-track which was the lead single released back in August. A great start, it immediately uplifting you to a state of melodic familiarity that flows through until the end. The conclusion, “Healing,” features lyrical intent and instrumental flourishes that will surely sooth the heart and mind of the wishful listener. Doing this, it will remind us it is good to remain breathing and hopeful after the woes that the world has given humanity for the past several years. In-between these two powerful tracks reside equally moving and individually unique songs that include the twee-sounding “Where We Started” plus the very timely, lyric-wise, “Kleptocracy”; which has a glaze of OMD’s classic “Enola Gay.” This is while “Evolution of Species” offers an ominous throwback to the band’s telegraphic ’80s days and a peek into what the world may have in store ahead for its restless and discontented denizens.
Forty-three years after the release of their debut record, OMD continue to apply a futuristic approach to their lyrics and, more so, musicality. However, they also do not forget to pay homage to their past and roots that made them now sturdy trees of musical wisdom amidst the countless other artists that came before and after them. Simply put, Bauhaus Staircase is a must-have. Climb the ladder and grab yourself a copy while it is still out there. After all, you cannot expect gems to always be around whenever you need them. That is why Cryptic Rock gives OMD’s latest gold nugget, Bauhaus Staircase, 5 out of 5 stars.
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