English electronic band Orchestral Maneovrues in the Dark have had a reputation for being weird, intellectual and fun all at the same time, and their fourteenth studio album, “Bauhaus Staircase” is no exception. Released on Oct. 27, 2023, it was met with success in the United Kingdom and the United States– and for good reason. OMD, as they are colloquially called, has had a very successful musical career. They became famous back in 1980 with their electronic, anti-war song “Enola Gay.” Other famous releases include the albums “Crush,” “Universal,” and “Sugar Tax” all leading up to their newest musical pioneering feat.
It’s one wild adventure, with allusions to French literature, the Columbine massacre, Greek mythology and Darwinian evolution (to name a few). It’s also an album exceptionally focused on the human condition, with deep ruminations on pride, hurt and healing, all accompanied by masterful synth loops and percussion. All lyrics were written by band member Andy McCluskey during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and were mixed either by his friend Paul Humphreys or another producer named David Watts.
The album opens with its title track and thesis, “Bauhaus Staircase.” The song instantly proves to be a wonderful bop with its simple melody and clever word play, the singer singing about the euphoria of being at the top of the world. The melody moves between a high synth line and the vocals, all underscored by the drumset and a punchy synth bass.
Several other songs deal with the human condition, but on a much larger scale. “Anthropocene” is a partially spoken-word, partially sung song with long instrumental portions that serve as commentary on climate change. “Kleptocracy,” despite its bright melody, describes the pointlessness of politics, as sooner or later someone will always obtain power through their own means. “Evolution of a Species” is probably the most pessimistic song on the album, using simple words to describe the almost robotic change of a species over time.
The negative thoughts of humanity are not present in every song. The album also seems to acknowledge the capacity for humans to improve. Almost as commentary on other songs like “Anthropocene,” the single “Veruschka” asks in the chorus, “If you’re too afraid to die, how will you ever learn to fly away?” The culmination of this idea is in “Look at You Now,” which serves as encouragement that despite the challenges ahead of us, individually and collectively, we’ve come so far already.
The musical accompaniment is stunning. With electronic music, there is always a risk of creating a voice or loop that is either overplayed or just plain annoying. This album has reached the unique equilibrium of creating synthesized parts that sound unique without sounding whiny. The synth lines, the vocals and the drums all flow effortlessly into each other, and it feels like all the parts are one musical instrument.
Supposedly and speculatively, this album is the last that will be heard from Orchestral Maneovrues in the Dark. No promises have been made for any albums in the future, and so the band will stick mostly to touring. If this is truly the case, then “Bauhaus Staircase” was an excellent closer, perfectly encapsulating the lyrical and musical genius of this foundational electronic band.
