Note: We’ve interrupted the “Rage In Eden” ultrabox thread today because we still have not had the time to listen carefully to the 5.1 mix of the album in detail. Let’s hope for that after this next weekend. In the meantime, here’s another PPM core collection band making reissue moves.

Has it already been fifteen years since the 25th anniversary [see inset], DLX RM of OMD’s derided then but appreciated now, line-in-the-sand that was “Dazzle Ships?” Time flies when you’re battling existential threats common to the zany 21st century. In the interim, the reputation of the fascinating and challenging album has bee re-appraised, and there is a whole generation [or two] now, who have no idea that this album was what almost killed OMD’s career in 1983, but just as certainly, killed their artistic nerve from the period following it to the point in 2011 when they dared to pick up their instruments again in the studio after some time away from the hurly-burly of the music industry.

Today OMD have announced a 40th anniversary campaign for the album, and like the one for their top-selling 1981 release, “Architecture + Morality,” the band have resisted the more conventional thinking that results in the excessive ultrabox paradigm that can see an easy three figures to squeeze from fans who have to have it all. There are vinyl and CD options; available separately, to keep us from buying things we don’t necessarily want, thankyouverymuch. I can afford one or two ultraboxes a year on my stingy budget and have to pick my targets carefully. But what’s on offer this time is so straightforward and painless, I may even have the scratch to do a rare [for me] pre-order. What’s at stake here?

EXPANDED ALBUM: CD, 2XLP, 2X COLORED LP

OMD: Dazzle Ships DLX RM – UK – CD [2023]

1. Radio Prague
2. Genetic Engineering
3. ABC Auto-Industry
4. Telegraph
5. This Is Helena
6. International
7. Dazzle Ships (Parts II, III And VII)
8. The Romance Of The Telescope
9. Silent Running
10. Radio Waves
11. Time Zones
12. Of All The Things We’ve Made
13. Telegraph – Very Early Demo / 1982
14. Silent Running [Demo]
15. Sold Our Souls [The Avenue Demo]
16. Shakespeare ’82
17. Untitled Instrumental ’82
18. In Heaven Above [4- NEU Demo]
19. Telegraph – Live 1984

The blue coloration of the 40th anniversary edition is the same as the original 1984 UK CD pressing of the album, which we still have in the Record Cell. It features what looks to be a completely different complement of bonus tracks from the 25th anniversary disc. Which had these songs instead.

1. Telegraph [The Manor Version 1981]
2. 4-Neu [Genetic Engineering B-side]
3. Genetic Engineering [312MM Version]
4. 66 And Fading [Telegraph B-side]
5. Telegraph [Extended Version]
6. Swiss Radio International

So the 25th anniversary edition contains the album and all of the tracks released on singles, plus two previously unreleased cuts. The 40th edition has the album and what appear to be all unreleased material concurrent with the campaign. I’m not sure how an “early demo from 1982” of “Telegraph” might be cruder than the polished Manor version from 1981, but we’ll see soon. In the case of these new materials, Paul Humphreys has curated and mixed them from his tape archives. The CD has my name on it, but those of a vinyl persuasion will be able to get the exact same material on two different LP formats.

There’s a colored vinyl copy in a gatefold sleeve with discs in blue and gray pressings. For those who prefer black vinyl, there’s also another gatefold sleeve, this time with the same die cuts as the original 1983 UK pressing, as well as a litho print of the album art. What we used to call a “album flat” back when there was an ecosystem of viable record stores.

OTHER MERCH

There are two pieces of merch that have also been issued, or in the case of the enamel badge below, reissued.

Or in the case of the t-shirt, issued anew. I really admire that t-shirt, but truth in obsession laws compel me to admit that I currently have six…no, seven OMD garments in my cornucopia of tour wear, so I hardly need another design in my home. The happiness is that none of these are particularly expensive. The official OMD store has all of this ranging from the £11.99 CD to the megabundle with everything at just £107.99. There are fractalized sub-bundles of every conceivable stripe with discounts applied, so knock yourselves out. The release date for all of this is March 31st, so it’s just around the corner. I just want that CD, but if you need any of this, then DJ hit that button.

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