This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Live Reviews
Live Review: OMD at The Hammersmith Apollo in London on 7 Nov
By Marc Samuels | Published on Friday 12 November 2010
It’s nearly thirty years since OMD were at the peak of their powers, creatively and commercially, but this year’s comeback album ‘History Of Modern’ has shown they still have a way with a warm melody and interesting lyric and, for all their love of experimental German music, the Wirral duo have basically always loved a great pop song.
First up tonight though are Finland’s Villa Nah, who also fit the classic synth-pop duo template but whose songs are imbued with a wistfulness and melancholy that harks back to the OMD of ‘Stanlow’ and ‘Souvenir’. In Juho Paalosmaa they have a charismatic vocalist who elevates their songs to something special and emotive; and live they faithfully recreate the sound of their encouraging debut album ‘Origin’. They end with a Finnish version of ‘West End Girls’, which doesn’t do anything with the track sonically but, well, they’re in London, so it kinda works.
And then, the duo the decidedly middle-aged audience have really come to see take their places; Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey, aided by the loyal backbone of drummer Mal Holmes and keyboardist Martin Cooper. The abstract electronica opening reminds us of OMD’s more off kilter pedigree, before we’re launched into a pummelling ‘New Babies, New Toys’, which proves just as great an opening track live as it does on ‘HOM’. The set design is angular and minimal but brilliantly effective, whilst McCluskey is on fine form: cavorting around like a man half his age, doing his famous dancing (if that’s the right word), exhorting the crowd and generally Being A Frontman, although his continued defensive re the new album is unnecessary and almost sours things.
It’s essentially a greatest hits set, with a handful of ‘HOM’ tracks, from which the effervescent title track and new single ‘Sister Marie Says’ are particularly memorable. As for the hits, only a slightly naff ‘Sailing On The Seven Seas’ sits uneasily with the more earnest material, but ‘Joan Of Arc’, ‘Tesla Girls’ and the rest are a stellar reminder of the days when you could have hits with songs about science or historical figures. And whilst the mid 80s tracks played are more commercial, they still maintain a sense of sounding like OMD. (And for the record, OMD’s albums between 84-86 are far better than some of the dross their post punk contemporaries – The Human League, Numan et al – were putting out post Live-Aid.)
“This is our last tour for three years”, say McCluskey, to disappointed groans. Given the energy he’s dissipated tonight though, you wouldn’t begrudge him a break. But if they put on shows as blisteringly good as this when they return, it will be worth the wait. MS
