Out of the Blue — Electric Light Orchestra

Out of the Blue is the sound of a spaceship landing in the middle of a 1970s street party.

It is an unapologetically massive record, a double-album statement that refuses to let its ambition get in the way of a perfect hook. Every corner of the stereo field is stuffed with multi-tracked cellos, shimmering synthesizers, and vocal harmonies that sound like a celestial choir.

It is music that feels like it was recorded in high-definition decades before the technology existed, possessing a crystalline clarity that makes every snare hit and string swell feel vital.

Moments Worth Listening For

The transition from the thunder sound effects into the triumphant opening chords of Mr. Blue Sky.

The layered, operatic Turn to Stone vocal hook that feels like a mechanical choir.

The melancholic, rain-soaked atmosphere of Big Wheels before the sun breaks through.

Reviews

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Where This Album Departs

How does Out of the Blue sound next to the rest of Electric Light Orchestra's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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