Architecture And Morality

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Mon Jan 25 2021

5

I'm completely blown away by this album - it's so full of surprises. It starts as a Cold War inspired atmospheric exercise, a la "Spacelab" by Kraftwerk or "Warszawa" by David Bowie. Heavy on rich synth sounds of the era. It moves seamlessly to industrial instrumentals that masterfully layer noise and disparate sounds. Throughout they throw in bouncy pop songs that carry that Soviet synth sound, overlaid with vocals with loads of reverb and echo. Given that this album came out in 1981, it feels like a "granddaddy" reference for so many bands, and albums that would follow. Hell, it sounds futuristic to this day. One of the best albums in recent memory! (And this is one I listened to probably 30 albums into this exploration).

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Wed Mar 16 2022

2

Sounds like Depeche Mode but boring. Didn't see anything special in this, just more 80s synth music. I think my ghost would have been pretty apathetic if I never heard this before I died.

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Fri May 28 2021

5

OM NOM NOM. More New Wave albums, please. OM NOM NOM.

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Thu Sep 30 2021

5

I'm genuinely pretty shocked to be giving a new wave synth pop album five stars, but this was looooovely! I've never really listened to OMD before, except passive radio play, so I didn't really know what to expect, other than a vague idea they were very poppy? This was excellent - atmospheric, emotive, unexpected shifts happening mid song - it kinda prefigures post-rock! Fave track - "Sealand". Just - WOW.

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Thu Jun 10 2021

5

A beautiful album which I will always be grateful for stumbling across. This is an example of why I persist with this project…without it I would have been musically the poorer. Buy this album!

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Thu Oct 27 2022

5

Notes - Experimental synth-pop album - Band famous for their songs “enola gay” and “if you leave” - Increased use of mellotron and choir samples - A lot of the time, the synths on here sound like they’re struggling to produce the notes - Which is really effective and adds to the melancholy of this whole album - Moments of atonality over top of more pop elements, almost some aspects of post-rock - Delicate, sparse, deliberate, cold, personal - What a strong mood…. Holy shit Fav - She’s leaving - Love the way the vocals are treated and the chime-y synth lines Least fav - I mean…. There really isn’t one - Just listen to this album! 5/5

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Fri Jan 21 2022

4

This album was one that confused me a lot as to its importance until I looked it up. In a lot of ways it sounds like a typical 80s synthpop album. However, it was released in 1981, which puts it way ahead of its time. Reframing it that way helped me contextualize this work. It's not one that particularly grabbed my interest, but it's good and was clearly influential in the decade it helped usher in

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Thu Feb 17 2022

4

Yeah, decent. Like a cross between Kraftwerk and The Cure but actually more listenable. Not really what I’m into but certainly ahead of it’s time for 81.

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Thu Oct 28 2021

2

L'arrivée de cet album dans le générateur confirme ce que je pensais depuis déjà un bon moment : Robert Dimery a un sens de l'humour très aiguisé. Je n'ai pas trop envie de m'attarder sur l'aspect musical de cet album qui est, nous l'avons tous compris, une sorte de poisson d'avril avant l'heure. On est en effet plongé dès l'introduction dans un ennui des plus profonds. Différents sons se mélangent, mais aucun ne parvient à attirer notre attention, et ce tout au long de l'écoute. De temps à autre, une voix dont on se serait bien passé vient se poser sur les instruments pour nous débiter différents couplets sans le moindre intérêt. Je soupçonne d'ailleurs le chanteur à qui celle-ci appartient d'être né de la même portée que le camarade Morrissey tant les deux voix sont horriblement similaires. À côté de cela, j'ai été très irrité de voir que mon analyse du genre de l'album comme étant majoritairement de l'"Ambient rock" n'a pas été partagée par Wikipedia qui a préféré le cataloguer de "Synth-pop". J'entrerai donc très bientôt en procès contre l'encyclopédie en ligne et vous tiendrai informés de chaque étape de la procédure. À bientôt chers lecteurs

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Tue Aug 31 2021

5

Brutal.

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Thu Dec 09 2021

5

Supreme synth music, almost in Kraftwerk class

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Fri Mar 18 2022

5

Great great album. Was surprised how much I liked it. This is the 2nd really big discovery where I hadn't heard of the artist before and it was 5/5. Stoked!

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Sat May 21 2022

5

This is an outstanding album, one of the best of its genre. I can't really think of another band from that era that sounded like OMD. They were leagues ahead of their peers. I think one of the big differences is that OMD had a talent for balancing the lovely with the dissonant, the melodic/accessible with the experimental/strange. These songs are incredibly elegant, with gorgeous, thoughtfully crafted arrangements, but also with a strategic use of dissonance to keep it all from getting too pretty. A big part of this sound is Andy McCluskey's unusual and compelling vocal style, that ranges from croonerish to almost grating. There's no one else in music who sounds like him. The band headed in more of a (frankly, less interesting) pop direction as the decade progressed, but this album stands out as being some of the most inventive music of that time. It's a historically important collection of songs, but also just such a pleasure to listen to. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Souvenir, The Beginning and the End, She's Leaving, Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans), Joan of Arc, Sealand, The New Stone Age, Georgia, Architecture and Morality

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Thu Nov 18 2021

5

Albums like this are exactly why I'm going through this project. Some albums you slog through. This one flew by.

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Thu Sep 15 2022

5

Bra grejer det här. Ägt alla tre singlar från albumet.

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Thu Feb 04 2021

4

If there was a clear high point for OMD in terms of balancing relentless experimentation and seemingly unstoppable mainstream success in the U.K., Architecture & Morality is it.

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Sun Apr 04 2021

4

If there was a clear high point for OMD in terms of balancing relentless experimentation and seemingly unstoppable mainstream success in the U.K., Architecture & Morality is it. Again combining everything from design and presentation to even the title into an overall artistic effort

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Fri Mar 04 2022

4

I really like the sound palette on this, by using more analog electronics (I assume) it avoids the sort of ageing that some synth based albums from the 80s sometimes fall victim to. Also one of my favorite album covers, but I wouldn’t let that influence my score, would I?…;)

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Fri Sep 02 2022

4

The New Wave crashed and reverberated through America in the 80's, and became the Cold War of the British Invasion. Listening to albums like this, it's hard not to see why. The rattle, humming and texture of the album belies the novelty that was synth-pop's first breaths. It's a masterful experience to listen and hear the sound cascade over your ears in "Sealand". There's a distinct, and odd, warmth to every track bleeding through the frigid synths. OMD not only created a blueprint for the later 80's, but also it's first bonafide masterpiece and balances open soundscapes and tighter, shorter tracks. As a big fan of synth-pop and New Wave, this is an essential listen for all those passionate about the genre 8/10

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Thu Feb 25 2021

3

Interesting, some good tunes, of its time

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Tue Jun 08 2021

3

It's an OK album. Nothing out of the ordinary with some nice chill tunes. Sometimes a bit too electric for my taste.

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Sat May 08 2021

3

The first song was an absolute BANGER, but the rest of the album bounced between "pretty good" and "pretty boring" unfortunately.

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Wed Sep 29 2021

2

Retrospectively turgid

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Sun Jun 11 2023

2

I appreciate the pun, but “Manoeuvres” is one of the most infuriating words I’ve ever had to type out. I guess that’s why everyone calls them OMD, because the “M” in that acronym is fucking impossible to spell correctly. The 80’s synth pop on this record is fine and usually engaging, but if you’ve heard any of the other 300 British synth pop records on this list, it’s hard to be impressed by it. OMD doesn’t do much to differentiate themselves from that maudlin crowd, at least to my ears. With that said, I had glimmer of hope during the first track that this record might be a little more adventurous than it turned out to be.

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Sat Jun 12 2021

1

I question this record's inclusion on this list. I was not impressed. I guess for historical context it's here, but this was not a legendary listening experience for me.

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Mon Oct 04 2021

1

I avoided them at my freshers’ ball. That is my main connection to this feeble synth doodling. Undeservedly revered.

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Mon May 31 2021

5

Beautiful! I really enjoyed this one, and will definitely check out more OMD. It's not enough just having "If You Leave" in my music library.

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Thu Apr 01 2021

5

Brilliant!

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Sat May 08 2021

5

Am I an asshole for actually liking this a lot? I feel kinda gross.

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Fri Jun 04 2021

5

very nice!!!

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Thu Aug 05 2021

5

beautiful in an unexpected way

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Tue Aug 31 2021

5

Muy estraño, pero muy interesante. Me gustó creo todo, aunque lo identifico más para moods muy exactos. Entre movido de repente, sombrío, todo synth, a veces darks, no sé. "The New Stone Age", "Souvenir", "Sealand", "Sacred Heart", entre mis favs. No skips. 9.5/10

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Tue Aug 31 2021

5

No sé. Es que empieza bien, y continúa maso. Me gusta porque es chill y darketona, pero también hubo multiples momentos en los que pensé que estaba de hueva el mood, supo go que un poco ese era el punto . Fav: The New Stone Age (rolón)

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Sun Feb 27 2022

5

Megahits: Souvenir, Joan Of Arc

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Wed Mar 30 2022

5

Really enjoyed this album

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Wed May 11 2022

5

Excelente!

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Fri May 13 2022

5

:')

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Fri Oct 07 2022

5

HL: "Maid of Orleans", "She's Leaving", "Souvenir" First heard "Maid of Orleans" earlier this year at a record shop, Shazam informed me that it was just a demo from "Architecture & Morality: The Singles". Not on Apple Music, but it was worth the extra effort to locate it. Beautiful, almost ambient-at-times, synth pop. Proves that there's more to OMD than "If You Leave" anyway. October 12, 2022

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Mon Oct 17 2022

5

Melkeinpä jopa ajatonta - kuitenkin 80 luku paistaa pikkasen läpi - kuitenkin - syntikkaa hillitty... Ei poraa päähän.. Äänet tarkasti sijoiteltuja ja muodostettuja - niillä on luotu prkeleen kauniita kokonaisuuksia...

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Fri Nov 04 2022

5

What to write. Pure genius. Sealand is fucking incredible. Funnily enough I am currently working my way through a Depeche Mode challenge from start to finish and this just blows everything they were up to until about 5 years later out of the water. I'm only sad I only got around to listening to this about 5 years back, as I've been missing out, one of the best records ever made.

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Mon Dec 12 2022

5

this might be the soundtrack to my life 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

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Fri Dec 30 2022

5

J’ai dû me rabattre sur une version live, car je n’avais pas accès à l’album original sur mes plateformes. Mais j’ai adoré ça. Tellement typique 80, mais avec une identité propre. J’ai aimé la voix et l’énergie. Je réécouterai

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Tue Jan 03 2023

5

outstanding

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Thu Mar 23 2023

5

OMD provided a unique view into music in what felt like an attempt to do the most they could with music and technology in the 80's. Testing the limits of experimental sounds and still harmonizing in a congruent manner. Again, I enjoyed this, I truly hope to remember this when someone asks for an 80's recommendation. Ethan, did you crumb at the sound of this album?

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Thu Mar 23 2023

5

Fuck. Ya.

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Sun Apr 23 2023

5

Unexpectedly wonderful. I didn’t expect to like ‘Architecture & Morality’, and initially I didn’t. I found it harsh and cold. However, it couldn’t be further from the truth and further listening confirmed this. It’s full of textures and layers, typically vague but interesting lyrics, and beautiful atmospheric synth soundscapes that envelop you. On a quality sound system or hi-fi this would blow you away. An amazing record.

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Fri May 12 2023

5

I didn't think they could get better than Organisation's, but I was really blown away by this record. It's so lush and beautiful, with lovely multi-layered melodious synths that bring emotions that reminds me why I love synthpop so much. It's atmospheric and otherworldly with introspective yet simple and somewhat cryptic lyrics that I can relate to. It just kept getting better and better with each song. The synth effects are so versatile and creative, they keep me engaged each second, and I just wish some of these went on for 10 minutes, and I'm glad there were more ambient ones like "Sealand" that did. I love the use of space to give me time to appreciate everything that's going on. Some super bright pieces like "Joan of Arc" and some super dark industrial pieces like "Architecture and Morality". I hear Eno a lot in this, like "The Beginning and the End" could almost be from Another Green World. They're also pretty complex and evolve... I was pretty shocked when songs like "Georgia" just took a 180. Exciting opener, great build up, and a satisfying conclusion with every song being memorable, there's not much more I could ask for.

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Thu May 18 2023

5

This album blew me away. It's hard to believe that it didn't receive the best of reviews when it was released. It starts with a dark new wave song, but cycles through baroque pop, synth pop, and just overall wonderfully layered and compelling music. The vocal samples are stunning.

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Tue Aug 08 2023

5

What a glorious remaster

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Sat Aug 12 2023

5

10/10 amazing synth pop

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Sun Sep 17 2023

5

Megahits: Souvenir, Joan Of Arc

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Sun Oct 15 2023

5

This is it. This is the reason that I started to do this one album a day thing. I'm not sure how this album has passed me by thus far, I really enjoyed all of it, and it fits perfectly within the relaxed synthpop 80s sound, along with other artists I love like New Order, Depeche mode, Tears for fears, The cure, etc. Not only would I listen to this album again, I believe that it will enter into my list of albums that I keep coming back to, and that I recommend to my friends. T10 Extended Souvenir was a stand-out track to me (and is the playlist track), but it came on and gave me an intense feeling of nostalgia, and played the part it was trying to play perfectly. Edit: I just realized that T3 (Souvenir) and T10 are extremely similar, and are practically the same song, but I think it was almost genius to do that in the context of an album, and by the time T10 played, I felt as if I had been listening to that song for years. 1hr album, but I found myself melting away in the context of the music, without any desire to listen to anything else at all. I really enjoy the more new-wave albums that are on this list. 5/5

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Wed Oct 18 2023

5

Brilliantly innovative

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Sun Oct 22 2023

5

The only time I’ve really heard this type of music was in Stranger Things LOL. “Sealand” was beautiful, loved the instruments for the majority of the song and then his voice came in sounding like an Angel ascending from heaven. Blessed. Love the whale noises in “ Joan of Arc”, wait… in the first “Joan Of Arc”. Why are there two? The Wiki says it’s inspired by religious music which I definitely heard, and kinda made me feel like I back in Sunday School with my whole family. Weirdly nostalgic. I’ve wanted to cry in the corner in the fetal position to a couple of these songs. There’s a part of me that wasn’t awaken until I listened to this album, like I was coming out as gay or something. I absolutely loved this. 10/10

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Fri Nov 03 2023

5

One of the soundtracks of my youth! Great memories. Love it!! 5/5 ⭐️

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Fri Nov 17 2023

5

I was so surprised by this album. Beautiful, weird, experimental, synth vibes. An unexpected 5 stars.

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Wed Nov 22 2023

5

Very cool! I only knew the single „maid of Orleans“ but the album has so much more to offer. From almost industrial sounding soundscapes to fast post punk, there is everything!

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Wed Nov 22 2023

5

Love this album. I’ve listened to it 3 times, start to finish. You can hear the Kraftwerk influence merging with more wistful memories. Powerful and rich music. The first song on the album, The New Stone Age, is unexpected and captivating. A faultless work of art. Really interesting.

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Mon Dec 04 2023

5

oooooh i loved loved loved loved this, im so happy i found them, and i don’t even care that they’re weird and seemingly boring, i think they’re just so cool and made me feel nostalgic for a time i wasn’t even born.

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Fri Sep 11 2020

4

Good ass synth album. 9/10

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Tue May 04 2021

4

this is very nice <3 pet shop boys vibe but i guess bc ka-era

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Mon Sep 14 2020

4

Never heard of this album or group but really enjoyed this album

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Wed Oct 07 2020

4

great synth-pop record, only got to li sten to the live version but Joan of Arc is a treat

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Tue May 18 2021

4

Surprisingly entertaining synth pop with catchy tunes

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Thu Feb 25 2021

4

I do quite like this. I will be listening to more of it for sure.

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Thu Jun 03 2021

4

Weird and funky but it worked.

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Wed May 12 2021

4

Into it! Almost every song would be great in a soundtrack.

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Fri Jan 22 2021

4

Reminded me of my childhood ! Still good in my opinion

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Wed Feb 03 2021

4

Pretty good. Enjoyable early electronica.

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Fri Feb 19 2021

4

I can get on board with this weird synth post punk thing.

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Thu Mar 11 2021

4

80s blaster

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Thu May 27 2021

4

I enjoyed the ride

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Fri Apr 23 2021

4

Best OMD album. Also has one of the best synthpop songs of all time in "Souvenir." Bridging the gap between Kraftwerk and 80s synthpop/new wave. 7-8/10

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Tue Jun 22 2021

4

This was a very very pleasant surprise, I dread now when I see an 80’s album in my daily draw but this was quite amazing, yea there are synths but not used in the common hideous way this list has me used to by now, I’m very glad I found this one. Favorite song: of all the things we’ve made

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Wed Mar 10 2021

4

very sexy synth pop, como para salir a patinar por Santa Monica

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Sat May 29 2021

4

8/10. Wasn't sure what to expect, but worked out to be quite good, if a bit strange

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Mon May 17 2021

4

Is this the sound of white guys in turtle necks sipping pinot and shedding a single tear? Is it the sound of Englishmen trying to be German? Whatever it is, it's enjoyable. Hearing some Magnetic Fields, LCD Soundsystem, Depeche Mode. It's interesting to hear an album from 1981 that so clearly reminds me of my high school and college experience. Vanity of vanities, truly there is nothing new under the sun.

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Mon May 17 2021

4

There’s a lot of interesting soundscapes on this album. Many of the songs would be perfect for film scores. It’s a beautiful album. Best listening to this alone and high and not on a perfectly warm spring afternoon on a vacay-eve. Still broke through the tone being off for my day. 4

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Mon May 10 2021

4

I love this album and band soooooo much! It’s like if LCD and The Cure had a baby.

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Sat Jun 26 2021

4

OMD is great.

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Sat May 15 2021

4

Less sad joy division + less spectrum talking heads = good

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Fri May 28 2021

4

very good, i especially loved the track 'souvenir'

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Thu May 06 2021

4

Interesting. Great 80s vibe. Love the synth play

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Fri May 28 2021

4

I have had zero exposure to this band outside of the one hit, and I pleasently surprised with how fresh this felt

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Mon Jul 05 2021

4

I've already saved it in my albums, I THINK THAT SAYS SOMETHING nie skupiłam się bardzo na muzyce czy słowach, ale nie musiałam, wiem, że wrócę

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Fri Jul 23 2021

4

22nd July 2021 Listened on my phone first thing while dozing in and out. Quiet week this week which is nice. Off to Norfolk this weekend... I really enjoyed this. Squishy 80s synth, nice.

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Thu Aug 12 2021

4

Souvenir is big Pet Shop Boys and hence MGMT vibes. The percussive foundation of Sealife provides a rich textrual back drop... ahh nevermind. Early electronic can go one of two ways and this fell on the good side.

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Fri Aug 20 2021

4

Special. Synthpop, quand meme bon, je ne connaissais pas mais c’est tres atmosphErique. 4.10

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Sat Aug 28 2021

4

Dark, electronic, 80s new wave… what’s not to love here!!

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Wed Sep 08 2021

4

twas chill

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Mon Oct 11 2021

4

Muy bueno, me pareció muy avanzado para su época

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Mon Nov 01 2021

4

// Favs: Souvenir / Sealand / Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) Score: Light 4

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Fri Nov 12 2021

4

Very adorable, it refers to quite nostalgian sounds, which I personally enjoy. Definitely good piece of synth-pop.

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Fri Nov 26 2021

4

That’s more like it

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Sun Jan 09 2022

4

very nice!!!!

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Thu Jan 13 2022

4

First song and thought it was a one star. But by the end of the album I loved it. Can hear inspiration that so many artists drew from OMD

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Mon Jan 24 2022

4

Radical e innovador para su epoca, Gran disco!

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Sun Feb 06 2022

4

It's a good one from OMD

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Sun Feb 13 2022

4

Aged very well

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Wed Feb 16 2022

4

Könnte teilweise auf FM4 als aktuell laufen. Eingängige new wave songs mit unpeinlichern experimentellen einflüssen dabei. Auf Sealand hört man Beirut. spannend wie sie dissonnante und weirde soundkullissen in total simple, tw. banale melodien auflösen. Geile sounds.

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