The Crackdown

For the action film, see Death Wish 4: The Crackdown.
The Crackdown
Studio album by Cabaret Voltaire
Released August 1983
Recorded December 1982 at Trident Studios, London, England
Genre Electro-industrial, post-punk, synthpop, EBM
Label Some Bizzare, Virgin
Producer Cabaret Voltaire, Flood
Cabaret Voltaire chronology

2x45
(1982)		 The Crackdown
(1983)		 Micro-Phonies
(1984)

The Crackdown is the fifth studio album by English industrial band Cabaret Voltaire. It was released in August 1983, jointly through record labels Some Bizarre and Virgin Records.

Background

The Crackdown shows Cabaret Voltaire beginning to move away from their industrial roots and leaning towards a more new wave-type sound. This is Cabaret Voltaire's first album after Chris Watson's departure.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Richard H. Kirk and Stephen Mallinder. 

Side A
No. Title Length
1. "24-24"   5:55
2. "In the Shadows"   4:36
3. "Talking Time"   5:25
4. "Animation"   5:33
Side B
No. Title Length
1. "Over and Over"   4:30
2. "Just Fascination"   4:04
3. "Why Kill Time (When You Can Kill Yourself)"   3:56
4. "Haiti"   3:20
5. "Crackdown"   6:31
Bonus 12": Doublevision EP
No. Title Length
1. "Diskono"   5:49
2. "Double Vision"   4:15
3. "Moscow"   5:28
4. "Badge of Evil"   4:53
Note: Some discographies and CD releases of the album swap the titles of the last two tracks of the Doublevision EP.

Release

The original LP came with a bonus 12" of four tracks, comprising the EP Doublevision.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [1]

AllMusic wrote, "One of Cabaret Voltaire's strongest albums, The Crackdown features the band working a number of menacing electronic textures into a basic dance/funk rhythm; the result is one of their most distinctive, challenging records."[1]

Personnel

Cabaret Voltaire
  • Stephen Mallinder – vocals, bass guitar, trumpet, grand piano, production
  • Richard H. Kirk – synthesiser, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, shakuhachi, grand piano, production
  • Alan Fish – drums, percussion, production
Additional personnel
  • Dave Ball – keyboards, drum programming and tape operation on tracks A3 and B4
Technical
  • Flood – production, engineering
  • George Peckham – mastering
  • Ken Prust – sleeve typography
  • Neville Brody – sleeve typography
  • Phil Barnes – sleeve illustration

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Crackdown – Cabaret Voltaire : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2013.

External links