Genetic Engineering (song)

Smash Hits wrote, "Well worth the wait. OMD's knack of coming up with exhilarating singles has not been affected by their year off... a great tune."[2] Jim Reid in Record Mirror said, "Madly infectious hookline propels a song absolutely dripping with 'moderne' references. A cold record, whose raison d'être lies in the application of studio technology and the manipulation of hackneyed goobledegook. Should be massive – won't touch my turntable again."[3] In Melody Maker, Paul Simper dismissed the track as "a load of old tosh".[4]

In a later piece, critic Alexis Petridis referred to "Genetic Engineering" as "a song that heavily deployed the scratchy, trebly guitar sound [OMD had] already used on Architecture and Morality's opening track, 'The New Stone Age'... alongside a children's Speak & Spell toy, a clattery rhythm track built out of handclaps and what sound like samples of a typewriter, and a particularly wracked-sounding McCluskey vocal: it was simultaneously thrilling and a little cacophonous."[5] AllMusic's Ned Raggett praised the "soaring", "enjoyable" single, asserting, "Why it wasn't a hit remains a mystery."[6] Music journalists have suggested that the song was a direct influence on Radiohead's "Fitter Happier", which appears on that band's 1997 album OK Computer.[6][7][8] Theon Weber in Stylus argued that the Radiohead track is "deeply indebted" to "Genetic Engineering".[7]

Frontman Andy McCluskey has noted that the song is not an attack on genetic engineering, as many – including radio presenter Dave Lee Travis – have assumed. McCluskey stated, "I was very positive about the subject." "People didn't listen to the lyrics... I think they automatically assumed it would be anti."[9]

Covers of "Genetic Engineering" were released by the indie bands Another Sunny Day and Eggs.[10]

The song "4-Neu" was featured on the B-side of both the 7" and 12" versions. It was not included on the Dazzle Ships album and remained exclusive to this release until its inclusion on Navigation: The OMD B-Sides (2001), and then on the remastered special edition of Dazzle Ships in 2008. The song continues the band's tradition of including more experimental tracks as B-sides to singles. Its title is a tribute to German krautrock band Neu!, who were an important influence on McCluskey and keyboardist Paul Humphreys prior to OMD.[11] "4-Neu" was never performed live until the special performance of Dazzle Ships at The Museum of Liverpool in November 2014 and at the Dazzle Ships / Architecture & Morality live performances in London and Germany in May 2016.[12]

A promotional video for "Genetic Engineering" was directed by Steve Barron and is included on the Messages: Greatest Hits CD/DVD release (2008).

The video features a number of genetics-related books, some of which McCluskey later borrowed. "Not my favourite video" he said, although it features a "couple of interesting moments, with Mally and Martin as the Kray brothers!" The Rolls-Royce used in the clip was owned by comedian Mel Smith.[19] The girl featured is the actress Joann Kenny.

Apart from the extended '312mm version' the band also recorded the song for a John Peel radio session in 1983. This version was made available on Peel Sessions 1979–1983 (2000).

OMD played the song live on The Tube during its first series in February 1983.

The song was performed live during the Dazzle Ships promotional tour but rarely since then, until more recent performances in 2014 and 2016.[20]