The Crackdown

The Crackdown is the fifth studio album by English electronic band Cabaret Voltaire, released in August 1983 jointly through record labels Some Bizzare and Virgin. It was produced by the band themselves and Flood.

The Crackdown
Studio album by Cabaret Voltaire
Released	18 August 1983
Recorded	December 1982
Studio	Trident Studios, London, England
Length	43:33
Label	Some Bizzare Virgin
Producer	Cabaret Voltaire Flood
Cabaret Voltaire chronology
Hai! (Live in Japan) (1982) The Crackdown (1983) Johnny Yesno: The Original Soundtrack From the Motion Picture (1983)

Background and recording

The Crackdown was Cabaret Voltaire's first full studio album following founding member Chris Watson's departure, and their first release for Virgin Records via Some Bizzare. This album marks a turning point in the band's discography, straddling their early experimental work with their later more conventional electronic dance-funk output. It was recorded and mixed at Trident Studios, London, England in late 1982.

Content

AllMusic wrote that the album "features the band working a number of menacing electronic textures into a basic dance/funk rhythm".

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	[2]

AllMusic described The Crackdown as "one of Cabaret Voltaire's strongest albums" and "one of their most distinctive, challenging records."[1]

It was ranked at number 11 in NME's "Albums of the Year" list for 1983.[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written 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.

Personnel

Cabaret Voltaire

• Stephen Mallinder – vocals, bass guitar, trumpet, grand piano
• Richard H. Kirk – synthesiser, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, & shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), grand piano
• Alan Fish – drums, percussion

Additional Personnel

• David Ball - keyboards and drum programming

Production

• Executive Producer: Stevo Pearce (for Some Bizzare)
• Arranged by Cabaret Voltaire
• Produced by Flood and Cabaret Voltaire
• Engineered and mixed by Flood
• Tape Operation on "Animation" and "Crackdown" by David Ball
• Single remix by John Luongo
• Mastered by George Peckham
• Sleeve Typography by Ken Prust and Neville Brody
• Sleeve Illustration by Phil Barnes

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Crackdown – Cabaret Voltaire | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
2. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 128. Retrieved 23 November 2018. cabaret voltaire body and soul.
3. "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

External links

• The Crackdown at Discogs (list of releases)