Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Pretending to See the Future — 1st Ed

£100.00

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Pretending to See the Future — 1st Ed

Name: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Pretending to See the Future — 1st Ed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6295
Price: 100.00 GBP
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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Pretending to See the Future, Richard Houghton — 1st Edition

Publication: Huntingdon, This Day In Music Books, 2018

Formatting: 4to, pp. 448.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The volume presents exceptionally well, retaining tight, square bindings with no lean to the spine. The striking pictorial boards are bright and crisp, entirely free from the rubbing or edge-wear that often plagues matte or textured finishes. The text block is firm, with pages remaining startlingly white and free from any foxing, oxidation, or thumbing. Externally, the gloss-finished dust jacket, housed in a clear, removable archival sleeve, perfectly complements the boards, exhibiting no nicks, tears, or creasing. This preserves the geometric silver-on-black cover design in stunning clarity. A remarkably well-preserved example, tightly bound and internally immaculate.

Catalogue Note: A superb first edition of this exhaustive oral history and official 40th-anniversary tribute to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). Initially released in this substantial hardback format in 2018 before transitioning to a paperback run the following year, the true first edition has become exceedingly scarce on the open market.

The volume stands as a definitive visual and textual archive for the pioneering electronic band, featuring previously unseen full-colour photographs from the band’s own archives alongside contributions from Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, and hundreds of devoted fans.

The book’s striking geometric cover design deliberately echoes the post-punk, constructivist aesthetic pioneered by Peter Saville for the band’s early Factory Records and Dindisc releases.

Published to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Pretending to See the Future is the first official biography of the band since 1987’s Messages. Told largely in the first person, this expansive oral history seamlessly weaves intimate memories from the band’s founders, Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, with hundreds of fan anecdotes, insights from collaborators, and reflections from celebrity admirers. From their Merseyside origins and their debut single 'Electricity' on the iconic Factory label to a string of pioneering synth-pop anthems, this volume captures the essence of a band that helped define the sound of the 1980s.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Richard Houghton

Book Publisher: This Day In Music Books

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Music

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 448

Book Publication Year: 2018

Book Publication Date: December 1, 2018

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Huntingdon, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.