I suppose I could pretend I’ve gone this long without mentioning Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark‘s new album, English Electric, because the band shockingly left “Dreaming” off the setlist when I saw them perform in San Francisco last month.

But English Electric was released ahead of the start to their U.S. tour, as was first single, “Metroland,” so such a protest is wholly without merit. Plus, glaring sin of omission aside — “Dreaming” is their second biggest U.S. hit — OMD delivered one of the best live performances I’ve seen this year. The delay lays squarely with me, so allow me to make a small bit of noise here and now.

I found much to love about OMD’s 2010 “comeback” album, History Of Modern, the first to feature the classic lineup of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes, and Martin Cooper since 1986’s The Pacific Age. It sounded as if no time had passed at all. And now on the truly brilliant English Electric, the synthpop pioneers have amazingly managed to surpass that set, as best evidenced by the aforementioned “Metroland.”

“Metroland” is available as a digital bundle with remixes by Manhattan Clique, Metroland (appropriately enough), Jonteknik, and Roger Erickson, plus the B-side, “The Great White Silence.”

Purchase Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – “Metroland” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.

“Dresden,” another stellar song from English Electric, will serve as the album’s second single later this month. Out May 28, remixes by John Foxx and The Maths (hear here), Mike Jolly, Bounce Darkside, and Zebra and Shake (hear here) are accompanied by another new B-side, “Time Burns.”