Yet, in the midst of all this solemnity, was a pop song which seemed curiously out of place with its broody neighbours. The death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis earlier that year had also overshadowed the songwriting process at the time – which had lent inspiration to the funereal tones of ‘Statues’. The album owes some of its inspiration, in part, to Joy Division’s second album Closer – an album that Peter Saville had played constantly and which had subsequently seeped into the writing of OMD’s darker album. From the ‘garage punk’ aesthetics that had dominated their debut album, Organisation instead featured gothic, broody tones and soundscapes.
The release of OMD’s second album Organisation in 1980 had seen a shift in OMD’s sound. ‘Enola Gay’ remains a classic OMD song, yet its evolution has taken it through some turbulent skies.
It’s one of OMD’s most iconic songs and gained them their first UK Top Ten – as well as their first international hit single. With the 75th Anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, it seems like a timely opportunity to explore the history of the song that was inspired by the tragedy.
