Shnootz - Reaction (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Dazzle Ships + The Romance of the Telescope)

[@nigelabennett]

The romance of the telescope is a favourite. A beautiful piece with the choirs and drums towards the end. The line: "we're just waiting looking skyward..." gives that imagery of staring at the cosmos. Dazzle Ships was used to open concerts. Lights down then boom that opened up as band walked on. Could cause the odd spilt drink!!

[@nigeljames5622]

I love this song, one of my favourites from the album, moody, slow with the military sounding drums and the discordant notes and his voice suits the tone perfectly

[@a.k.1740]

After “International”, “The Romance of the Telescope” is my second favourite track on the album. There is a certain similarity between OMD's Dazzle Ships album and Kraftwerk's Radio-Activity album (1975) which both have these experimental interludes with a lot of sound effects which largely serve as transition pieces between tracks in a more classic format. Moreover, Andy McCluskey from OMD made no secret of the fact that Kraftwerk's album Radio-Activity was a major influence for Dazzle Ships (and you can feel it if you know the album!😉).

[@rick-says-hello-world]

Dazzle Ships (the album) is a mood. It is a "whole album" album, not something you listen to a couple tracks here and there...and for me, I come away from it a little melancholy and introspective. I loved this album when it came out (and I was one of the few at the time). It remains my favorite OMD album, though it doesn't have my favorite OMD songs on it (excepting maybe International). When the time comes, I think you'll find English Electric to be the spiritual successor to Dazzle Ships -- although that album rocks quite a bit more.

[@SJ-tk4ri]

The Romance of the Telescope is one of the best tracks released by OMD and oft cited by McCluskey and Humphreys, themselves, as their favourite track. Originally released in a very clean but unfinished form as the b-side to the Joan Of Arc single in 1981, this album version has a more polished production courtesy of Rhett Davis. The detuned synths, mournful vocals, big military drums and choral finish makes for a wholly unique and excellent track, which I’m glad was finished off and released on the album. However, it did signify the bands lack of material at the time for this new album after A&M. The title track that precedes it is one of the most abstract tracks they released, but somehow finds its elf sandwiched between International and Romance … albeit, the choral final segment segues nicely into the next track. In terms of the title of the track, reference is made to “looking skyward” and the “romance sustaining itself”, typical OMD 😁

[@thelwulfeoforlic6482]

Dazzle camouflage is a type of camouflage that was used extensively by allied ships during World War I. Called ‘Razzle Dazzle’ by the U.S it consisted of complex patterns, in contrasting colours and geometric shapes, which interrupted and intersected each other, making it difficult for an enemy to estimate a ship’s range, speed, and heading (much like the stripes on a zebra), it was used to confuse German U-boat attacks. The album was named after the 1919 painting by English artist Edward Wadsworth “Dazzle-ships in Drydock at Liverpool”, which depicts one such ship, OMD of course originating from Liverpool.

[@mattsnider2667]

Cheers, appreciate that, and I have heard the phrase "razzle dazzle" but never its etymology. Thanks!

[@ijustneedmyself]

​@@mattsnider2667A group of zebras can be called a dazzle 🙂