Dazzle Ships is the fourth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 4 March 1983 by Virgin Records (under the guise of the fictitious Telegraph label). Its title and cover art allude to a painting by Vorticist artist Edward Wadsworth based on dazzle camouflage, titled Dazzle-ships in Drydock at Liverpool. The follow-up album to OMD’s commercially successful Architecture & Morality (1981), Dazzle Ships marked a departure in sound for the group, who contended with writer’s block and record company pressure to duplicate their previous release. The album is noted for its experimental content, particularly musique concrète sound collages, and the use of shortwave radio recordings to explore Cold War and Eastern Bloc themes. It also concerns itself with the rise of technology in society. The record spawned two singles: “Genetic Engineering” and “Telegraph”. Dazzle Ships met with largely negative reviews and, despite reaching the top five of the UK Albums Chart, was regarded as a commercial flop. It nevertheless came to be recognised as a “cult classic”, and an inspiration for many artists across electronic, rock and hip hop music. The music press gradually reversed its opinion of Dazzle Ships, praising the record as an underrated and misunderstood work, and an album ahead of its time.

Tracklisting

1. Radio Prague (1:18)
2. Genetic Engineering (3:42)
3. ABC Auto-Industry (2:06)
4. Telegraph (2:57)
5. This Is Helena (1:58)
6. International (4:26)
7. Dazzle Ships (Parts II, III & VII) (2:21)
8. The Romance Of The Telescope (3:26)
9. Silent Running (3:33)
10. Radio Waves (3:44)
11. Time Zones (1:49)
12. Of All The Things We’ve Made (3:23)
13. Telegraph 82 (Very Early Demo) (2:50)
14. Silent Running (Demo) (3:25)
15. Sold Our Souls (The Avenue Demo) (3:12)
16. Shakespeare 82 (0:50)
17. Untitled Instrumental 82 (3:22)
18. In Heaven Above (4-NEU Demo) (2:51)
19. Telegraph (Live 1984) (3:50)

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Videos

Radio Prague

More Videos

• Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Genetic Engineering
• ABC Auto-Industry
• Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Telegraph
• This Is Helena
• International
• Dazzle Ships Parts II III And VII
• The Romance Of The Telescope
• Silent Running
• Radio Waves
• Time Zones
• Of All The Things Weve Made

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