CULTCHA Clash Outer National Record Review: Cabaret Voltaire - Shadow Of Fear (2020 Mute Records)

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Record Review:

Cabaret Voltaire - Shadow Of Fear (2020 Mute)

Cabaret Voltaire - Shadow Of Fear (Mute)

This one has been out for several months now but I'm just getting around to writing about it. Get it digitally from CabaretVoltaire.Bandcamp.com/album/shadow-of-fear

And on LP or CD from Mute mute.com/mute/new-album-shadow-of-fear-out-now 



 Originating from Sheffield, England in 1973, Cabaret Voltaire have been hugely influential in the world of electronic music. Their early days were experiments with guitar, vocals, electronics and loops, with influences as disparate as King Tubby, Captain Beefheart, Miles Davis and Can, as well as the Dada movement and William S. Burroughs' "cut-up" techniques. Although relatively obscure, along with Throbbing Gristle and their Industrial Records label, and other contemporaries, like Clock DVA, they laid the groundwork for the sounds of dance music for the next several decades to come. 

In the early eighties Christopher Watson parted ways with the group (to eventually form The Hafler Trio), leaving Richard H. Kirk and Stephen Mallinder to produce a string of genre-defining albums and singles throughout the eighties and early nineties.

This is the first Cabaret Voltaire studio LP release since 1994's The Conversation (Apollo), on which founding member, Richard H. Kirk was the sole member of the group, the same is true for this one.
Without Mallinder, who took care of the vocals, the tunes are instrumental except for vocal samples, usually stark and foreboding soundbites of a dystopian, authoritarian state. The tracks were put together by Kirk, originally for live performances but adapted for an LP format. This album sounds 100% like a C.V. album, to me...

The variety of rhythms drive every track to the last beat, nothing boring about this one. From the digital dancehall vibe of the opening track, "Be Free" to the layered horns and funk groove of the nod to Marvin Gaye, "What's Goin' On," I can play the album all the way through without an urge to skip one tune.

Electronic Sound Magazine released an accompanying 7" single featuring Daniel Miller edits of "Vasto" and "The Power (Of Their Knowledge)" which is limited but worth grabbing if you can get your hands on one.

The Mute  EP, Shadow Of Funk, will be out later this month as a companion piece featuring three more new songs, including "Billion Dollar," check it out below.

 

Selecta J-Cut

CULTCHA Clash Outer National
https://www.cultchaclash.com

Boom! Tune of the Day

Also check out Vinyl Encounters of the... Rewind!

Vinyl Encounters of the... Rewind!

Vinyl Encounters of the...Rewind! I.F.D.A. VIII

Vinyl Encounters of the...Rewind!

The Mixes: Industrial Funk / Dub Abstractions VIII - Sheffield In The House!

Mixed & Written by Selecta J-Cut

Industrial Funk / Dub Abstractions VIII -Sheffield In The House!

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Global-Community-Radio

This is the eighth edition in the  reboot of Vinyl Encounters of the...Rewind! (see original video episodes Here). This time I'll be breaking down another of my all-vinyl mixes, Industrial Funk / Dub Abstractions VIII - Sheffield In The House!, which I compiled and mixed in 2015. (Hear the latest mix in the series,  I.F./D.A. X, here)

As the title implies, this time the mix is composed entirely of artists hailing from Sheffield, England. Included are Cabaret Voltaire and songs their affiliated Doublevision, Clock DVA and frontman Adi Newton project, The Anti-Group, Peter Hope, The Box, Hula, Chakk and member Mark Brydon's label, Fon Records (Fuck Off Nazis) and more. I did not include recordings from Sheffield's Warp Records, nor anything from Mark Brydon's Moloko, which both came in to prominence in the 1990's... these notable exceptions will probably be the spotlight of another mix at a future date.

Again, I will make this disclaimer, the title of this series is my own description, some artists may take the label "Industrial" as a pejorative, or a purist would say that Industrial is exclusively Throbbing Gristle and music that was released on their Industrial Records (both Clock DVA and Cabaret Voltaire did work on Industrial). I'm not attempting to classify or categorize any of the artists included here, I'm using the term as a personal interpretation as more of a reaction to the music industry itself than any actual distinct "sound."

Many of the artists included in this series are active now, links have been included (highlighted) where possible, as it is our goal at CULTCHA Clash Outer National to educate and entertain.

T.A.G.C. - Meontological Research Recording 2
Teste Tones

I started this one off with "Teste Tones" from Meontological Research Recordings 2 - Teste Tones, the 1988 T.A.G.C. (The Anti Group).

The Anti Group - ShT

The following tune is another from The Anti Group, from their 1986 Sweatbox album, ShT.

Stephen Mallinder - Pow Wow

Next, is Cabaret Voltaire's Stephen Mallinder with "Pressure Drop," from Pow Wow Plus, the 1985 Doublevision reissue of his 1982 Mini-Album, Pow Wow. Graphic artist Neville Brody did the album artwork for this, as well as designs for releases by Cabaret Voltaire, 23 Skidoo, Clock DVA and many others (see Brody: The Graphic Language Of Neville Brody).

Sedition - The Mighty Device

The following tune is the Richard H. Kirk produced, "Headmix," a funky break from The Mighty Device by Sedition, released in 1986 on Fon Records.

Peter Hope & Richard H. Kirk -
Surgeons / N.O. Remixes

"N.O. (Giant Dub)" is from the 1988 Native Records Surgeons / N.O. Remixes 12" single by Peter Hope & Richard H. Kirk and was originally on their 1987 LP, Hoodoo Talk.

Hula - Murmur

"Tear-Up" is quintessential Trip-Hop from Hula's second LP, 1984's Red Rhino Records album, Murmur.

Cabaret Voltaire -
Fools Game / Gut Level

"Fools Game (Sluggin Fer Jesus Part 3)" is from the 1983 Cabaret Voltaire 12" on Les Disques Du Crepuscule, Fools Game / Gut Level and was later released on Eight Crepuscule Tracks. The cover artwork from the single is by N.Y. graffiti artist, Futura 2000.

Hula - 1000 Hours

The big beat of "Big Heat" is from Hula's 1986 double-album, 1000 Hours.

Workforce - Skin Scraped Back

"Skin Scraped Back" is off of Workforce's 1986 Doublevision 12" single, Skin Scraped Back.

Chain - Banging On The House / Chains

The next song is "Chains" by Chain (a collaboration between Peter Hope and Mark Estdale), from the 1985 Native Records single, Banging On The House / Chains.

Chakk - Out Of The Flesh

"Out Of The Flesh" is from Chakk's debut single from 1984 on Doublevision, Out Of The Flesh.

Hula - Get The Habit

Hula return with "Get The Habit," from their 1986 single, Get The Habit.

Cabaret Voltaire - 2 x 45

"Breathe Deep" is on Cabaret Voltaire's 1982 Rough Trade release, 2 x 45.

Peter Hope & Richard H. Kirk -
Leather Hands

Following that is another from Peter Hope & Richard H. Kirk, "Leather Hands (Crash Mix)" is from their 1985 12" single, Leather Hands.

Chakk - 10 Days In An Elevator

"Stare Me Out (Crash Mix)" is on Chakk's 1986 LP, 10 Days In An Elevator.

Richard H. Kirk - Black Jesus Voice

Electro-funky, "Street Gang" is on the Richard H. Kirk LP from 1986, Black Jesus Voice.

Acid Horse - No Name, No Slogan

Next is "No Name, No Slogan," by Acid Horse, the western-themed electro collaboration with members of Ministry and Cabaret Voltaire, it was released on the 1989 Wax Trax! Records 12", No Name, No Slogan.

Cabaret Voltaire - James Brown

"James Brown" is by Cabaret Voltaire and was released in 1984 on the James Brown 12", as well as on their Micro-Phonies LP.

Clock DVA -Thirst

"4 Hours" is off of Clock DVA's 1981 LP, Thirst, featured here from the 1985 Doublevision reissue.

The Box - Muscle In

The next tune is "Spade Work" from the 1984 EP, Muscle In by The Box.

Clock DVA - Resistance

"Resistance" is from the 1983 LP, Advantage, by Clock DVA (with bassist, Dean Dennis). This recording is from the Resistance 12" single.

Clock DVA - 4 Hours

After that is another from Clock DVA's Thirst, "Sensorium," which was also remixed on the 1981 4 Hours single.

The Box - Old Style Drop Down

The final tune of the mix is "Old Style Drop Down" and it's from the 1983 single by The Box, Old Style Drop Down.








That concludes both the mix and this edition of Vinyl Encounters of the...Rewind! 
I hope that it's been enjoyable, thanks for checking it out and look out for the next one at www.cultchaclash.com.

Selecta J-Cut

Cultcha-Clash-Outer-National-Global-Community-Radio 

CULTCHA Clash Outer National
https://www.cultchaclash.com