In this bonus episode, we’re joined by Andy McCluskey — co-founder, songwriter and creative force behind Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark — for a deep, chronological conversation spanning more than four decades of music, technology and ideas.
Andy takes us back to his earliest relationship with sound, growing up on the Wirral in 1970s Britain, discovering Kraftwerk, and becoming fascinated not just with songs, but with texture, machinery and the possibilities of noise itself. From The Id to that first OMD gig at Eric’s in 1978 — complete with a tape recorder as a band member — we explore the Liverpool and Manchester scenes that shaped the group, including those formative early shows alongside Joy Division.
We dive into Andy’s long-standing creative partnership with Paul Humphreys, the DIY ethos that defined OMD’s early experiments, and how home-built synths, tape machines and limitations helped forge a totally new musical language. Andy reflects on the evolution from analogue to digital, the emotional pull of certain machines, and why OMD have always been more interested in pushing technology forward than chasing nostalgia.
Across the episode, we take deep dives into key albums — from the self-titled debut and Architecture & Morality, through the misunderstood brilliance of Dazzle Ships, the commercial shifts of the late ’80s, the Sugar Tax era, and the band’s eventual disbandment in the mid-'90s. Andy talks about what led to the band’s reformation in 2005, and the creative renaissance that followed with albums like English Electric, The Punishment of Luxury, and 2023’s Bauhaus Staircase.
We also explore OMD’s strong visual identity and its deep ties to Liverpool and the Wirral, Andy’s relationship with designers and artists, and the importance of place in shaping both sound and imagery. Beyond OMD, Andy reflects on The Motor Museum studio, his work writing for other artists during the late ’90s and 2000s, and what he learned from stepping into the world of pop songwriting.
We finish by talking about touring then and now, playing to multi-generational audiences, what still excites Andy creatively, and the advice he’d give to young artists starting out today — plus who he’s listening to right now.
A huge thank you to Andy McCluskey for his generosity, insight and time.
The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.
Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.
Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.
Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk
Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
