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Universal
Electronic · 1996 · 12 tracks

Universal

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Lush, mid-90s synth-pop that trades industrial edges for orchestral grandeur. A cinematic collection of songs about the cosmos and the passage of time.

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It's like the 80s grew up, looked at the stars, and decided to hire a full orchestra.

A grand, cinematic sense of wonder tempered by the quiet sadness of looking back.

Universal · vs · Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Stargazing+2.9σ

Stargazing saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

Tracklist · 12 Tracks
01
Universal
5:41
02
Walking on the Milky Way
4:39
03
The Moon & the Sun
3:37
04
The Black Sea
3:39
05
Very Close to Far Away
5:45
06
The Gospel of St Jude
2:24
07
That Was Then
4:27
08
Too Late
4:09
09
The Boy From the Chemist Is Here to See You
4:41
10
If You’re Still in Love With Me
2:51
11
New Head
5:01
12
Victory Waltz
2:46
Moments Worth Waiting For
The way the title track builds from a sparse synth pulse into a massive, choral-backed orchestral swell.
The soaring, radio-ready chorus of Walking on the Milky Way that feels like a final grasp at Britpop-era stardom.
The haunting, minimal electronic percussion that anchors the atmospheric depths of The Black Sea.
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