Compulsory Games, by Battery Operated Orchestra

Compulsory Games

by Battery Operated Orchestra

supported by

Zacklur If you like classic electronic music and catchy synthpop tunes with top-notch production and attention to all the details, you will love BOO. Favorite track: Nightclub Mishap.

bongosodij I think they are very talented and good-hearted people. Love several tracks but this one was easiest for me to jam along to. Favorite track: Killing Girl.

Ryan Wilson Electro sucker-tash pop at its finest! Favorite track: Compulsory Games.

Technomadic I have had this album for about 3 weeks now and although it initially impressed me, I have listened to it many more times since then and it has just grown and grown on me..
I absolutely love it now and would definitely say(even with 5-6 weeks left until the end of the year) it's by far the best album of the year for me... catchy, charming and sublime all in one beautiful journey
Give it a listen(for free) and maybe a couple more before buying it..
Favorite track: Cut Off The Head.

more...

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Designed by BOO and made with care by their own hands you can be sure of quality and exceptional design in this beautiful CD. The 24 page booklet enhances the music with artwork and lyrics for every song.

"We believe the album artwork is an important part of our music, which is why we take so much care with our packaging."

The first 100 copies come with a limited edition plastic 'leatherette' sleeve.

As this is a handmade item, please take care to not leave in bright sunlight, it may cause the inks to fade.

You can watch the process of making this wonderful item here (it's the same net as Yesterday Tomorrow and You):
youtu.be/1ts33Thno38

Includes unlimited streaming of Compulsory Games via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

£17 GBP or more
Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£8 GBP or more
Subscription

Subscribe now to receive all the new music Battery Operated Orchestra creates, including this release and 3 back-catalog releases, delivered instantly to you via the Bandcamp app for iOS and Android. You’ll also get access to subscriber-only exclusives. Learn more.

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1.	Cut Off The Head 04:01	lyrics	buy track
Walk with me We’ll go slow The powerlines are hissing in the snow Standing in the cutting where dead track lines run grey We cross to where the river overflowed Something broke in the starlit place The veins that brought it life leaking poison We retrace those sinking steps and stand with our mouths open Something’s pouring in A something slides away Cut off the head Cut off the head Cut off the head Cut off the head Walk with me in cities built on blood Stone lions and stone dragons want to pound us down to mud Heat seek the source Sub-surface rivers pool Where clay and fat and poison rags Standing born to rule Cut off the head Cut off the head Cut off the head Cut off the head Walk with me We’ll go slow The powerlines are hissing in the snow Arc light flash Lights our way Across from where the river overflowed Something broke in this starlit place The infrastructure of the past just rots and melts away The veins that brought it life leaking poison in it’s place Something’s pouring in A something slides away Walk with me Walk with me
2.	Compulsory Games 03:58	lyrics	buy track
That purple sky is nothing beside the storm inside We're getting changed against our will We're choking on our swallowed pride The mud the blood the kneecaps They'll give out in the end but now we will get toughened up in icy scrums with fickle friends Compulsory games You have to play Compulsory games There's no getting away Compulsory games You have to play Compulsory games There's no getting away Monkey mind came in endless sets and set your pants on fire Swimming round the hot jets Dressed as angels plucking lyres Girls and boys excuses nooses So touching to play dumb The tears the rage the recriminations The sorrys and the revelations Compulsory games You have to play Compulsory games There's no getting away Compulsory games You have to play Compulsory games There's no getting away The fools that waste your time and changed your mind enforce the grinding grey of life Cut the harness with the knife Cut the harness with the knife Whatever happened to the sky You used to dream you used to fly Slit the fear and slit the strife Cut the harness with the knife Compulsory games You have to play Compulsory games There's no getting away Compulsory games You have to play Compulsory games There's no getting away
3.	Dead News 03:19	lyrics	buy track
Dead news Talking about dead news I see the dead news baby Lying on the floor for you I’m closing the door to you Don’t want to hear the dead news Dead news Dead news baby Creeping round the floor with you It isn’t what you want to do But it’s what you’re bloody going to do Dead news Sold to the job Walking in your dead man’s shoes Ticking all the time again Walking round your last meal in your dead man’s shoes Now it’s all over, yeah It’s all over now Yeah it’s all over, yeah It’s all over now Dead news Talking bout the dead news On the floor Dead news... Baby Dead news, do you want more Short fuse Subject to the focus groups Everybody’s nudging you In suits and out of their minds Look around it’s all over now Guess you better find a job It’s all over now It’s all over now What you gonna do with your skills? You haven’t got skills Apart from lying Lying and walking in dead shoes Dead news Talking ‘bout the dead news See the dead news baby Lying on the floor for you I’m closing the door to you Don’t want to read the dead news Dead news Dead news baby Creeping round the floor with you It isn’t what you want to do But it’s what you’re bloody going to do Dead news Dead news baby Creeping round the floor with you It isn’t what you want to do But it’s what you’re bloody going to do Dead news Dead news Talking ‘bout the dead news On the floor Dead news... Baby Dead news, do you want more
4.	Service Economy 03:02	lyrics	buy track
Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy You don’t own me just because I served you what you wanted You don’t own me just because you’re rich and you can flaunt it I may be faceless to you as you lack imagination but my creativity is beyond your articulation Give you service with a smile I will go the extra mile But when you treat me like your slave I will teach you to behave When you treat me like your slave I will teach you to behave Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy I may be faceless to you as you lack imagination but my creativity is beyond your articulation Give you service with a smile But when you treat me like your slave I will teach you to behave I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy Oh well you know you’re outnumbered And don’t you know you’re outgunned? Don’t you know you’re outnumbered? Don’t you know you’re outgunned? I give you service with a smile I will go the extra mile But when you treat me like your slave I will teach you to behave Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy Service economy I’m just making money Not your accessory I rule like Ptolemy
5.	Killing Girl 03:20	lyrics	buy track
Watch her Go slow She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow Lights off You know She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow Eyes are mirrors Strange company Are you gonna hit me Are you gonna leave Heard a rumour Is it true? I’m not the first and there have been a few She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She likes what she does and it’s so sweet to see I’ll incorporate her company She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow Some kind of logic I can’t see But when I look at her I want to believe Softly pacing Coiled spring I can’t look away I can’t leave the ring Will you tell me Is it true? I’m not the first and there have been a few She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She likes what she does and it’s so sweet to see I’ll incorporate her company She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow It’s some kind of logic That I can’t see But when I look at her I want to believe And I’ve dreamed of the day when you finally take me down I’m not making excuses I’m running myself out of town Give her a licence Make it official She deserves all her mean mean feats Give her a licence Make it official She deserves all her mean mean feats She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She likes what she does and it’s so sweet to see I’ll incorporate her company She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow She’s the killing girl with the killingest flow Some kind of logic I can’t see But when I look at her I want to believe Want to believe I want I want to believe
6.	Rainhead 04:39		buy track
7.	Nightclub Mishap 03:44	lyrics	buy track
I’m going to the dance And I’m going to take a chance Because I like to have a A big fun You can listen for my shoes but I won’t give any clues I’m a sneaky tiger on the run While you watch the horizon Feel the noise inside you Levitation ride into the sun I’ve been a digging in the dark While you whistle in the park Should have known it was you holding the Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap UV cocktail faces beaming Silent fire exits screaming Thicky vapour smells so sweet No one seems to mind the heat We’re sweating and shaking as one Johnny gets an eyeful and Patricia has a rifle She’s never gonna make it as a nun The fog is thickening and the smell turns sickening There is something floating in my rum We’re stomping and a thrashing And we all look very dashing Should have seen there was a fall to come Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap UV cocktail faces beaming Silent fire exits screaming Boulder men roll in like walls Saw you kissing in the stalls Lost under fluorescent lights Out my way tonight’s the night I’m going to the dance And I’m going to take a chance Because I like to have a A big fun You can listen for my shoes but I won’t give any clues I’m a sneaky tiger on the run While you watch the horizon Feel the noise inside you Levitation ride into the sun I’ve been a digging in the dark While you whistle in the park Should have known it was you holding the Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap UV cocktail faces beaming Silent fire exits screaming Boulder men roll in like walls Saw you kissing in the stalls Lost under fluorescent lights Out my way tonight’s the night Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap UV cocktail faces beaming Silent fire exits screaming Boulder men roll in like walls Saw you kissing in the stalls Lost under fluorescent lights Out my way tonight’s the night! Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap Nightclub mishap Fallen in a glitter trap
8.	Confession 03:36	lyrics	buy track
Never let me in ‘cause there is nothing to say Never let me out I’m in the dark anyway Outside inside it’s all the same Unless I dream the answer this is where I’ll stay It’s time confession It’s time confession This crime confession It’s time confession Ever seen that look on a kid’s face when he lies or the moment he falls over but before he cries Outside inside do I confide Am I living in a box or am I dead inside? It’s time confession It’s time confession This crime confession It’s time confession I’m looking at your face and I am counting the lines and when you look at me you look between my eyes Through this mirror there’s no divide Together we’re the whole system personified This time confession It’s lies confession This crime confession It’s lies confession This time confession It’s lies confession This crime confession It’s lies confession Outside inside it’s all the same Unless I dream the answer this is where I’ll stay It’s time confession It’s time confession This crime confession It’s time confession It’s time confession It’s time confession This crime confession It’s time confession Confession
9.	Unbecoming 03:27	lyrics	buy track
Broke down to the back of beyond Dirt bath under a blue sky Cracked glass on the face of the dial Rust waits You never said goodbye See strangers fall, those who dare Lost in the moonlight there We’re strangers all, past despair Lost in the moonlight there Unknown Unbecoming You were only simulating Out of bounds Lost and found Nature’s path is devastating Torn up shreds of tyre on the road Your feet wander uprooted Untread all the lies that you told Lost all memory of what you did Unknown Unbecoming You were only simulating Out of bounds Lost and found Nature’s path is devastating Time rolls back and forth with the road Off track Can’t shake your shadow Salt ghosts Rivers that you left behind Lie low Never returning Strangers all, past despair Lost in the moonlight there Strangers all, past despair Lost in the moonlight there Unknown Unbecoming You were only simulating Out of bounds Lost and found Nature’s path is devastating
10.	Always On 04:09	lyrics	buy track
Click click click Fingers in your mouth Numbers going South Is what it’s all about 451 gonna lick the floor Gotta be adored S’what you do it for Click click click Kindle and the fire Now your card expires Throw it on the pyre 451 snarling on the floor Gotta be adored Gotta be adored It’s always on That thing is always on Everything seen through a mirror Can’t touch reality Why would you want to be flesh it decays so easily Pixel vitality is immortality Constant stream you’ve got eyes to feed Give ‘em what they need ‘till your fingers bleed Fickle glory’s hard to quit Now you’ve made a life of it Going too fast to get off Can’t tell them you’ve had enough It’s always on That thing is always on Always hungry Always watching When you awake from this you’re gonna miss the life that you have lost Now something’s burning Always hungry Always watching When they collate all this they’ll make a second you from chicken boxes and dog meat Click click click Numbers in your mouth Fingers going South S’what it’s all about 451 gonna lick the floor Gotta be adored S’what you do it for Everything seen through a mirror Can’t touch reality Why would you want to be Fickle glory’s hard to quit Now you’ve made a life of it Going too fast to get off Can’t tell them you’ve had enough It’s always on That thing is always on Death to the future Death to the past Things worth having aren’t meant to last Death the future Death to the past Always hungry Always watching When you awake from this you’re gonna miss the life that you have lost Now something’s burning Always hungry Always watching When they collate all this they’ll make a second you from chicken boxes and dog meat
11.	Lullaby 04:21	lyrics	buy track
It’s growing dark already The moon is blood The door is locked against the night Sleeping in the attic The windows and the shutters and the bars shut tight It’s too late to run away from yourself It’s too late to run away from yourself I want a lullaby I want a lullaby Promise broken promises You live forever in the light You know it’s for your safety You’ve spent our whole life running from the night It’s too late to run away from yourself It’s too late to run away from yourself I want a lullaby I want a lullaby from you I want a lullaby I want a lullaby from you It’s too late to run away from yourself It’s too late to run away from yourself It’s too late to run away from yourself It’s too late to run away from yourself
12.	All That Rises Must Converge 07:29		buy track

about

BOO’s fifth album is their most powerful work yet. Twelve thumping electronic pop tracks that lead us confidently from sweaty night club, to newsroom, to wild desert and to the dark flooded edge of town. Exploring our complicity with power and throwing a wry smile at the games we’re forced to play every day.

Sonically, it’s massive. By turns dark and deep, then in a flash, soaring and joyful. BOO’s battalion of analogue synthesizers generate a through-line of pulsing, forward momentum. The album twists through darkness and light, ending in a kind of redemptive apotheosis.

It's a game of life. Let's play.

The CD is handmade by the band themselves including a 24 page booklet, full of abstract and evocative linocut imagery that wouldn’t look out of place in a 1950s brutalist high-rise.

"Highlights dazzle consistently throughout" - Obscure Sound

"Restores faith in British synth-pop" - Louder Than War

"Packed full of thumping electronica" - York Calling

"An accomplished collection of vital electropop" - Blitzed Magazine

"If you sound this fresh, vital and relevant on your fifth album, you're doing really, really well" - Fresh On The Net

credits

released October 31, 2023

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about

Battery Operated Orchestra Newhaven, UK

Chris + Brigitte make inter-dimensional indie synthpop.

“Highly charged electronica with incredibly addictive melodies” -Louder Than War

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