OMD

There is no denying OMD's prowess. They are one of the most memorable bands to have risen to prominence in the early 80s for their forward thinking records. Never ones to think inside the box, they delivered trendsetting sounds married with social observations and predictions, which proved at times eerily precise before disbanding in 1996 once their sound had had become an almost routine synthpop exercise. Returning in 2010, their sound may not have been as groundbreaking as it once was, but it fitted the sonic landscape of the music industry while carrying an air of nostalgia that certainly appealed to their fans of old. As they release the third album post-reunion, The Punishment of Luxury, have they managed to re-invent the wheel?

The simple answer is no. But that is not necessarily the worst thing in the world. While their contemporaries The Pet Shop Boys have proved time and again that consistency is the key as opposed to trend-setting, The Punishment of Luxury proves OMD's finest moment since their return. Yes, this is the synth pop sound that defined their mid-era but with an fearsome edge in the lyrics and an unsettling undertone to the music, this is a an OMD record to make you think as well as dance.

While The Punishment of Luxury comes nowhere close to the genius of their very early work, this is a still a good collection of songs. It may not be about to see them hailed for their genius, but it will more than satisfy their established fans while winning over a few new ones.

While Art Eats Art and Robot Man are the most playfully poppy cuts, they are also the most shallow lyrically. Almost playing for radio exposure with these tracks, the more notable songs might miss out on the praise and acclaim they deserve. At the other end of the spectrum are the lush What Have We Done, euphoric Isotype and frankly adorable One More Time. However it is the the stark La Mitraileuse, which has echoes of early OMD, that steals the show.

The Punishment of Luxury contains some of the weakest OMD tracks to date, it also contains some real gems. On balance it contains more songs that warrant your attention, so we suggest simply using the skip button when listening. This is good stuff, it just isn't groundbreaking.