Dazzle Ships is one of those albums people love in hindsight or at least in principle— the archetypal non-commercial "serious art" statement by perennial chart-toppers. I admit I'm mostly on board with that. And conceptually, I do like the idea of dazzle (anti-)camouflage, with its intent to confuse rather than conceal. I guess that's what's going on with the album's dour abstractions. But then they throw in a pop gem like this one, which would surely give their ship away to enemy rangefinders.
Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark - Telegraph
You nailed it. This album didn't get a positive reception in the US until its 25-year re-release. Most stores didn't carry it in '80s and I gave up looking until running across the vinyl in a cut-out bin. The whole concept of '80s via the '30s takes ear adjustment. Back when you were sorta forced to listen to an entire album straight through, OMD gave you a lot of avant garde to consider on your way to their big pop hits. They may ultimately just be a gentler and less literate Joy Division, but they crafted some very cool atmospheres.
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