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.

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

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

Reception

described The Crackdown as "one of Cabaret Voltaire's strongest albums" and "one of their most distinctive, challenging records."
It was ranked at number 11 in NME's "Albums of the Year" list for 1983.

Track listing

Release

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

Personnel

Cabaret Voltaire