OMD
London Hammersmith
19th May, 2007

Since long before their official split in the 90s, OMD had been a band of two distinct halves: early Kraftwerk-inspired soundscapes/ synth pop excursions, and latterday brash pop nuggets. So tonight, a gig of two halves, namely the entire Architecture & Morality, followed up by a dozen or so shiny pop classics. It sounds unlikely that a magisterial song like Sealand could rub shoulders with T-T-T-T-Tesla Girls, but it worked extremely well and the band powered energetically through the arm-waving numbers and gracefully through the early epics. The visual aspect of the show is astounding too, with stunning Peter Saville-esque industrial images and colourful pop-art collages and animations. Andy McCluskey occupied the apron for most of the gig, gleefully darting about, to an extended ovation after both Joan Of Arcs. The synth noir and shiny pop made for a very special show.