Like their British synth-pop peers Tears for Fears, OMD tempered their dance-floor-friendly electro-pop with often somber philosophical or historical themes, their singles moving quickly away from the animated pop of "Electricity" to the slightly less bouncy, if increasingly brooding "Enola Gay." For this 1981 album, considered by many as their best, mainstays Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey worked hard to add depth and biotic ambiance to their heretofore largely minimalist electronic music. The results are an often surprising, sometimes challenging collection of unlikely disco-intended songs and soundscapes, highlighted by two of the period's most sullen dance hits, "Souvenir" and "Joan of Arc." This is music to dance to while pondering the meaninglessness of one's existence. --Jerry McCulley
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