Dazzle Ships

**Dazzle Ships** is the title of the fourth studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released on 04 March 1983. Although the album was poorly received both critically and commercially at the time, it has since been re-evaluated and is known to have become an inspiration for many other artists since.

## Background

After the huge global success of Architecture & Morality in 1981, into early 1982, the group (namely Humphreys and McCluskey) were largely disillusioned with the music business and making music in general. The track Of All The Things We've Made, released with the 12" version of Maid of Orleans in January 1982, was indeed intended as their final composition and release. The record company Virgin (Dindisc had folded after the aforementioned release) had allegedly requested an "Architecture & Morality 2", so that OMD could become the "new Genesis" (in terms of sales and popularity), but this is not what they wanted. Consequently the duo took a complete break from writing and recording, even moving to Los Angeles "for a holiday" in the summer with Humphreys' then girlfriend Maureen.

Nevertheless some writing did begin to come about when they returned to the UK, as is documented by a series of demos such as Guitar Thrash and Violin Piece, later released 'labelled' with the date 09.1982. OMD also took possession of an expensive yet decisive piece of technology, the 'Emulator' sampling synthesiser, with which the songwriters discovered they could now sample sounds digitally and play them back to make music. Thus together with their usual collection of keyboards and drum machines, the OMD instrument roster was augmented with the sampler plus such diverse instruments as toy piano, typewriter, short-wave radio and a Speak & Spell machine. The sounds for a new album were taking shape, as *musique concrète* "found sounds" collages, were mixed with more conventional songs. It was no surprise that the songwriting duo cited Kraftwerk's *Radio-Activity* album as a big inspiration.

A further catalyst for the recording of a new album had also come from designer Peter Saville, who had worked on the group's previous album covers and artwork and had become OMD's friend. Saville had seen a painting, "*Dazzle-ships in Drydock at Liverpool"* painted in 1919 by British artist Edward Wadsworth (1989-1949). He had liked the striking design, and the name, and so allegedly asked OMD to write an album about it. Thus *Dazzle Ships* was born. Saville would eventually carry the theme over to the sleeve design of the album (see below).

Regarding subject material for the songs, for the new album OMD took inspiration from the changing geo-political world around them, and in particular the Cold War, which was entering into a new phase with reactionary leaders Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher opposing the 'nuclear threat' of the Soviet Union and China. Science and technology were, as ever, subject matter to be addressed in a fast-changing world where, for example, the telegraph system was becoming obsolete, and genetic engineering was becoming a reality.

While some recording took place at OMD's own Gramophone Suite studios in Liverpool, they also looked for inspiration in a new studio, and ended up at Phil Manzanera's White House (latter Gallery Studios) in Chertsey, and hiring former Roxy Music producer Rhett Davies. As usual, however, relations with the producer were often uneasy, as indeed they were within the group. Drummer Malcolm Holmes later stated, "*Both myself and Martin [Cooper] seriously began to doubt Paul and Andy's judgement... More and more, it was becoming Andy's album*." Some recording also took place at MAyfair Studios in London.

## Previews

Initial announcements of a new single, album and ensuing tour were published in the music press around mid January 1983. On the 29th of that month the group - McCluskey, Humphreys, Cooper and Holmes - went to Maida Vale studios in London to record what would be their fourth, and final, session for Radio 1 DJ John Peel. the session was first broadcast on 21 February and featured new songs Genetic Engineering and ABC Auto-Industry. New recordings of Of All the Things We've Made (originally dating back to a year earlier) and Bunker Soldiers, from the *OMITD* album, completed the setlist. Genetic Engineering had just been released as a single when the session was first brodcast. Peel was impressed with the session, describing it as 'a more muscular' sound than previous recordings ( the session would be repeated in one of his shows in December, selected as one of the best of the year).

OMD also appeared on Channel 4's *The Tube* on Friday 04 February 1983, performing ABC Auto-Industry and Genetic Engineering to a mostly bewildered studio audience.

## Release & reception

As announced, the album was preceded by the new single Genetic Engineering b/w 4-Neu. The release of the album, shortly after the lead single, was accompanied by the usual round of interviews with McCluskey & Humphreys which appeared in *Record Mirror*, *Sounds* and Smash Hits (which featured the group in full-colour on the cover). An interview with David Jensen (?) was also broadcast on BBC Radio 1.

Writing in *Record Mirror*, Jim Reid was critical of the album calling it "nonsense played without feel or feeling" and "..a record replete with the worst kind of futuristic nonsense" (2 stars). Johnny Black in *Smash Hits* was more enthusiastic however stating, "*The songs are waiting to be found and are as melodic, passionate and vital as ever. These people are originals and should not be underestimated..*" (8/10).

*Dazzle Ships* entered the UK album charts at no.5 in the week beginning 06 March 1983. It was outsold by two other big new releases, Thin Lizzy's *Thunder and Lightning* and erstwhile live performance associates U2 with *War*, which went straight in at no.1. Spandau Ballet's *True* also entered the Top 10 at no.9. OMD slipped down one place a week later, when Michael Jackson's *Thriller* went to no.1, and Tears For Fears' *The Hurting* entered the charts at no.3. *Dazzle Ships* spent a total of eight consecutive weeks in the Top 40 and a total of 13 weeks in the Top 100. Its performance was ultimately a fraction of that of its predecessor *Architecture & Morality*.

## Tracklisting

### LP / MC

Telegraph / Virgin - V2261/TCV2261

Timings per labels. All titles by Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark, except Radio Prague and Time Zones arranged by OMD, Radio Waves written by OMD/Floyd. Produced by Rhett Davies & OMD.

2. Genetic Engineering
3. ABC Auto-Industry
4. Telegraph
5. This Is Helena
6. International
2. The Romance of the Telescope
3. Silent Running
4. Radio Waves
5. Time Zones
6. Of All The Things We've Made

## Related tracks

* 4-Neu - B-side to Genetic Engineering 7"/12"
* 66 and Fading - B-side to Telegraph 7"/12"
* The Avenue - released a year later in 1984 as B-side to Locomotion 12", although a demo version was made during the *Dazzle Ships* sessions.

## Re-issues

### 1984/1997 CD releases

* A similar CD was released on the budget Disky label in 1997, both featured with a blue colour scheme artwork, as opposed to the origianl green.

### 2008

	+ Telegraph (The Manor Version 1981)
	+ 4-Neu
	+ Genetic Engineering (312mm version)
	+ 66 and Fading (*full length version*)
	+ Telegraph (Extended Version)
	+ Swiss Radio International

## Live performances

### 1983

	+ Tracks performed: Radio Prague, Dazzle Ships (Parts II, III & VII), ABC Auto-Industry, Genetic Engineering, The Romance of the Telescope, Telegraph, Radio Waves, Silent Running. (*Radio Prague and* *Genetic Engineering do not feature on the audio release*)

### 2014

	+ Tracks performed: Dazzle Ships (Parts II, III & VII), ABC Auto-Industry, Radio Waves, Genetic Engineering, 4-Neu, International, The Romance of the Telescope. (*4-Neu and International were performed live for the first time*)
* A special vinyl Dazzle Ships At The Museum Of Liverpool (EP) was also issued, with an exclusive track Dazzle Ships (Parts I, IV, V & VI)

## Related pages

* Dazzle Ships tour
* Dazzle Ships (demos)
* Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London 10.05.1983
* Dazzle Ships at The Museum Of Liverpool (album) / Dazzle Ships At The Museum Of Liverpool (EP)
* Architecture & Morality / Dazzle Ships – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
* UNCUT, May 2023

## External links

* Discogs
* Spotify - 2008 tracklisting, 2023 tracklisting

## Notes

1. ↑ Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike. *Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Messages*. Sidgwick & Jackson. 1987. pp. 110–118.
2. ↑ See *How to lose 3 million fans in one easy step*, Bob Stanley, guardian.com, 07 March 2008.