Sugar Tax

1991's SUGAR TAX was the first new album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark since 1986's THE PACIFIC AGE. Much had changed in the intervening five years. Most obviously, co-founder Paul Humphreys had left the band, leaving singer/keyboardist Andy McCluskey the sole constant member. Surprisingly, SUGAR TAX sounds remarkably like earlier OMD albums, leadingone to wonder how important Humphrey's role in the band hadactually been. Less overtly poppy and more atmospheric than THE PACIFIC AGE or that album's predecessor CRUSH, SUGARTAX is in many ways a return to the darker hues and sonic experiments of earlier records like DAZZLE SHIPS or ARCHITECTURE AND MORALITY. As catchy as songs such as "Then You Turn Away", or "Call My Name" are, there's not an "If You Leave" to be found here.