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The Voice of America (album)

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The Voice of America
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1980
RecordedMarch–April 1980
StudioWestern Works, Sheffield, England
GenreIndustrial, experimental, post-punk
LabelRough Trade[1]
ProducerCabaret Voltaire
Cabaret Voltaire chronology
Three Mantras
(1980)
The Voice of America
(1980)
Red Mecca
(1981)

The Voice of America is the third studio album by English band Cabaret Voltaire.[2] It was released in July 1980, through record label Rough Trade.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Muzik[5]
New Musical Express6/10[6]
Record Mirror[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]
Select2/5[9]
Sounds[10]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[11]
Uncut[12]

Trouser Press wrote that "the new material shows much greater focus and cleaner production than the older, with the mantra technique rising in place of the former chaotic electro-noise."[13] AllMusic called it "not as spectacular as what would follow, but not without its own set of thrills."[3]

SF Weekly wrote that "the music keeps moving outward, emitting boomerang-like signals that are only coming back to us today: The Moog-y skronk of 'Partially Submerged', part Krautrock and part free-jazz, anticipates Cologne's unfettered improv glitches, Radiohead's sprawling rock, and Aphex Twin's Dramamine ambiance."[14]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder, Chris Watson

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."The Voice of America/Damage Is Done"6:16
2."Partially Submerged"3:45
3."Kneel to the Boss"3:52
4."Premonition"5:03
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."This Is Entertainment"5:51
2."If the Shadows Could March? (1974)"0:55
3."Stay Out of It"2:38
4."Obsession"5:06
5."News from Nowhere"2:21
6."Messages Received"3:16

Samples

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"Stay Out Of It" samples three phrases from the Outer Limits episode "Demon with a Glass Hand": "the third part of your brain... you know where it is?", "don't kill me, please... please..." and "the hand... tell me what to do".[citation needed]

The opening of the album is taken from newsreel footage of policemen being given instructions how to cope with Beatles fans before a Beatles concert in 1966.[citation needed]

Personnel

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Cabaret Voltaire
Technical

Trivia

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The run-out area etchings on side one include the question "WHERE IS THE THIRD MANTRA?" which is a reference to their earlier release Three Mantras.

References

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  1. ^ Young, Rob (19 March 2006). Rough Trade. Black Dog Publishing. ISBN 9781904772477 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Cabaret Voltaire | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "The Voice of America – Cabaret Voltaire : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 115.
  5. ^ Bell, Duncan (June 2003). "Cabaret Voltaire: Mix Up / Voice of America / Red Mecca / 2x45". Muzik. No. 97. p. 79.
  6. ^ Page, Betty (14 July 1990). "Mecca city two". New Musical Express. p. 35.
  7. ^ Westwood, Chris (2 August 1980). "Cabaret Voltaire: The Voice of America". Record Mirror. p. 13.
  8. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 104.
  9. ^ Finlay, Leo (July 1990). "Praying To Mecca". Select. p. 122.
  10. ^ McCullough, Dave (2 August 1980). "Mourning glory". Sounds. p. 34.
  11. ^ Sinker, Mark (1995). "Cabaret Voltaire". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 67–68. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  12. ^ Carlin, Marcello (February 2003). "Doom with a view". Uncut. No. 69. p. 93.
  13. ^ Grant, Stephen; Sheridan, David. "trouserpress.com :: Cabaret Voltaire". trouserpress.com. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Cabaret Voltaire". SF Weekly. 27 March 2002.
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