Universal [Import]

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• ASIN: B000005RQ3
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,744 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Universal

2. Walking On The Milky Way

3. The Moon & The Sun

4. The Black Sea

5. Very Close To Far Away

6. The Gospel Of St Jude

7. That Was Then

8. Too Late

9. The Boy From The Chemist Is Here To See You

10. If You're Still In Love With Me

11. New Head

12. Victory Waltz

Editorial Reviews

1996 album for Virgin by the '80s synthpop balladeers. 12 tracks, including the singles 'Walking On The Milky Way' & 'Universal'. Founding member Andy McCluskey wrote & producedthe entire album. Anne Dudley of Art Of Noise guests.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A redemptive conclusion to the final decade of OMD pop., January 2, 2004

By 

Dull Roaring - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Universal (Audio CD)

OMD didn't create any devastating waves with this final voyage home. There was no buzz about the last CD from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark when it landed here in the States. No radio attention. No tears wept by the dumbed-down MTV legions. Only the quiet whirring of a handful of CD players loosely scattered around the continent; CD players owned by a few loyal OMD followers who knew this was the last link in a fading chain.

Having been moderately unmoved, yet equally devoted to the two previous OMD albums (Liberator and Sugar Tax), I was hoping for a clean diversion from the too-commonplace pop that had seeped into Andy McCluskey's work as of late. What I heard was not the early OMD experimentalization that so many OMD disciples have traditionally called for, and that was fine by me (you can't go back to the way things were). More over, what I heard on Universal was not the poppy, simple melodies with over-instrumentalization that wore thin in recent projects, either. In fact, Universal didn't match up perfectly with any previous OMD CD at all, and that was precisely what I needed to hear.

It's easy on the ears, there's no denying that. And the sound is unmistakably OMD's (former OMD founder Paul Humphries even had co-writing credits on two of the songs here: "Very Close to Faraway" and "If You're Still in Love With Me"). But the approach was so stylistically sensitive that even now, in 2004, it makes more sense than half of the filler out there. Furthermore, it's probably the most emotionally genuine album I've ever heard from OMD, including their "roots" days back in the early 80's. "That Was Then" captures McCluskey at his most reflective and sincere ever, his voice harkening back to the vulnerability of Sugar Tax's "Was It Something I Said."

This disc is, note for note, the album I would've chosen to honorably conclude the evolution that was OMD's life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OMD at its best - a superb swan song. They will be missed.., February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Universal (Audio CD)

I am a long-time fan of OMD and have been distressd at the band's decreased output in the 1990's. Now that Andy McCluskey has said that OMD is no more, it is with great sadness that I realize that "Universal" is their swan song. But what a way to go out. This is a collection of outstanding tunes: some simply beautiful, bordering on mainstream pop-rock, and others with the unique and iconoclastic flair that is typical OMD. "Walking on the Milky Way" and "The Moon and the Stars" are a great one-two punch. Unusual songs that show that McCluskey and his mates went out at the top of their game. It is reported that OMD is no more because of McCluskey disgust with the lack of support from his label, Virgin. Indeed, this lack of support is shown by he fact that "Universal" was never released in the US. There is, apparently, no place for unique and unusual bands these days in the new world of corporate music conglomerates. Too bad... Give this a listen and you will love it and be amazed at Virgin's stupidity. A fine and unique album in all respects, that, lke most OMD stuff, never got the attentio and respect it deserved. OMD will be greatly missed!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OMD at its best - a superb swan song. They will be missed.., February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Universal (Audio CD)

I am a long-time fan of OMD and have been distressd at the band's decreased output in the 1990's. Now that Andy McCluskey has said that OMD is no more, it is with great sadness that I realize that "Universal" is their swan song. But what a way to go out. This is a collection of outstanding tunes: some simply beautiful, bordering on mainstream pop-rock, and others with the unique and iconoclastic flair that is typical OMD. "Walking on the Milky Way" and "The Moon and the Stars" are a great one-two punch. Unusual songs that show that McCluskey and his mates went out at the top of their game. It is reported that OMD is no more because of McCluskey disgust with the lack of support from his label, Virgin. Indeed, this lack of support is shown by he fact that "Universal" was never released in the US. There is, apparently, no place for unique and unusual bands these days in the new world of corporate music conglomerates. Too bad... Give this a listen and you will love it and be amazed at Virgin's stupidity. A fine and unique album in all respects, that, lke most OMD stuff, never got the attentio and respect it deserved. OMD will be greatly missed!