release date: Sep. 1, 2017
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: OMD
label: 100% Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "The Punishment of Luxury" - 2. "Isotype" (4 / 5) - 4. "What Have We Done" (4 / 5) - 5. "Precision & Decay" - 9. "One More Time"
13th studio album release by OMD is the band's third after the reformation though the line-up has changed after drummer Malcolm Holmes collapsed at a concert during the band's live tour after English Electric (2013) in Toronto, 2013. Holmes recovered but soon after left the band and was replaced by Stuart Kershaw, who also played on Liberator (1993). Stylistically, it's not a big move into new territory, neither is it an album which incorporates new styles - in fact it's modelled much in the same expression as the predecessor from 2013. It's, however, the first album since Crush (1985) to be written and composed solely by the duo McCluskey / Humphreys as was the normal procedure on the band's first six studio albums.
Like the 2013 album, this one was met with in a general positive spirit, which hasn't been seen welcoming since Dazzle Ships (1983). The album peaked at #4 on the UK albums chart list making it the band's third highest charting studio album - ever.
I perfectly understand the positive reviews - of course fine charts must always be considered in a broader perspective, as also the 2013 album was well-received, as well as the fine live album Architecture & Morality / Dazzle Ships (5.16) from (May) 2016, which of course attracts more attention to new material.
Now, where it took me a few years to digest the previous album this one had an immediate appeal, and frankly, I find it bettering the 2013 album. Not with a broad margin, but as a whole, it's quite an accomplishment. It has the same fine balance between signature sound and contemporary synthpop, which goes perfectly hand in hand. McCluskey's voice sounds as if he had only just finished Dazzle Ships, and the songs are a fine combo of classic OMD pop-material and more experimental electronic synthpop sending tribute to both Kraftwerk, Jarre and their contemporaries of New Order. I like it. It's goood.
Imho, the album is top-10 material of 2017, and not to forget: it's bettering the last 33 years of OMD studio albums, which naturally makes it recommendable.
[ allmusic.com, Uncut, PopMatters 3,5 / 5, The Press, Classic Pop 4 / 5 stars ]
