Cabaret Voltaire - The Crackdown w/Doublevision EP
Ripped from a vinyl album with bonus four track EP released on Some Bizzare/Virgin Records (CV 1/CDV 1) in 1983 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. I should have ripped this many moons back but the multiple format reissue boxsets made me defer. Now seems a good time to visit likely their finest hour - naming a particular album as an artist's best is purely subjective, but I would comfortably state the albums which followed were just not as important.
The Crackdown did represent a shift in direction as The Cabs left Rough Trade for a licensed deal with Some Bizzare. Pounding sequenced electronica replaced multi-layered distortion and experimentation, Mal's voice needed less treatment, as did his bass guitar. This was a stripped back almost danceable soundtrack to post-industrialism, where Cabaret Voltaire left all their peers in their wake. Ask me to name a favourite track and it would likely be Animation where the Cabs find a groove, but the title track and the morphed-disco of Just Fascination will find favour with many as well. My copy came with the limited 12" EP labelled as four tracks from the Doublevision video.
A1 24-24
A2 In The Shadows
A3 Talking Time
A4 Animation
B1 Over And Over
B2 Just Fascination
B3 Why Kill Time (When You Can Kill Yourself)
B4 Haiti
B5 Crackdown
C1 Diskono
C2 Doublevision
D1 Moscow
D2 Badge Of Evil
I'd like to thank all my contributors, and also those who have donated with requests or otherwise. If you'd like to contribute or donate there is a crowd funding top right on the blog menu.
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https://mega.nz/#!OAgXjZyY!zqWTsLMLQD8fkTi1U5CMH7HOdoljOHAqBBOHK1jKg64
Oh, this is powerful stuff!! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteFucking amazing. I just sent you a little something in appreciation ;-)
ReplyDeleteA great album; this and Micro Phonies are a high point in their career.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic, thank you! Any chance you have Microphonies?? Thanks for an amazing resource.
ReplyDeleteI do have Micro-Phonies. Watch this space
DeleteThe Cabs seminal 80's trilogy: The Crackdown, Microphones and The Covenant, The Sword and The Arm of The Lord - never surpassed. Thanks for the high-def goodies.
ReplyDeleteEffing brilliant! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you've been sharing your Cabs. It's not like I don't already have them all, but it's quite nice hearing far superior rips to mine of years ago. Yes, Crackdown, Michrophonies, and the ...The Arm of the Lord are my favorite triplet. They straddle the great change in style. (I know, when The Arm of the Lord came out, I was like WTF, but years later I'm still lovin' it.) I definitely feel a $$ contribution is in order now, for sure. Feel free to keep posting CV stuff and thanks for all your hard work since the inception of this blog. I've been a long time follower.
ReplyDeleteCertainly the best of their danceable period. One can hardly expect them to come twice with such an 'ouevre'.
ReplyDeleteSomeone has 'Hai' in FLAC ???
Thanks & best
gh
I have it on vinyl. I could make you a FLAC, but check with the 'blogmeister' first, as his version would be superior.
DeleteI don't have a copy of Hai, so please feel free to go ahead. I could make a future blog post from your rip
DeleteOK, trying to get my ancient equipment to behave properly to get a recording going...
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