Cabaret Voltaire is an English group formed in Sheffield in 1973 and originally composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk and Chris Watson. Group whose name would be inspired by the Zurich nightclub where the Dada movement was born.
After a few diverse and varied experiments that went unnoticed to say the least, the group decided to set up their own recording studio called Western Works. Studio that will not only serve them but serve other emerging bands like...The Human League and New Order, just that !
Qualitative efforts that will eventually pay off since the group is noticed in 1978 by the label Rough Trade Records. Label which allows them to release a first mini album "Extended play", a mini album which unfortunately will go unnoticed.
This does not discourage them and they return a year later with this time a complete album "Mix-up", album which will know a nice success of esteem in 1979. Ditto for "The voice of America" in 1980 and "Red mecca" in 1981. Paradoxically, none of the three will manage to produce a hit worthy of the name...
They will have to wait two more years and the year 1983 to land their first big hit with the title "Yashar", a title taken from their album "2x45" released the previous year. A year 1983 which also coincides with the arrival within the Some Bizarre label.
Label with which they released the album "The crackdown" the same year, an album which will experience a significant level of success, in particular thanks to the title "Just fascination". First title to be ranked in the so-called classic Charts and which will above all allow them to move up a gear on the career side.
A higher speed that they will not be able to maintain for very long because the albums "Micro-phonies" and "The covenant, the sword, and the arm of the lord", released respectively in 1984 and 1985, will experience a level of less successful than their predecessor...
Other albums will be released later but none will be able to raise the bar. This will not prevent the group from landing several small 'hits' thereafter with the high point "Keep on" in 1990, single which will remain as the highest ranked of all their discography...
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others…) :
Nag nag nag 1979
Silent command 1979
Western mantra 1980
Seconds to late 1980
Jazz the glass 1981
Eddie’s out 1981
Fool's game 1983
Crackdown 1983
Yashar 1983
Just fascination 1983
The dream ticket 1983
James Brown 1984
Sensoria 1984
I want you 1985
Drinking gasoline 1985
Don’t argue 1987
Here to go 1987
Hypnotised 1989
Keep on 1990
Easy life 1990
What is real 1991
Back to Brazilia 1992
Radical chic 1993
The message (An original Hollywood theme) 1994
Vasto 2020
Dekadrone 2021
BN9drone 2021
Billion dollar 2021
Clips :
1979...some beginnings to the limit of the inaudible. It is clear that this is not how the group risks attracting the general public, that's clear...
1979... the sound improves a little bit, enough in any case to allow them to get their first success in the Charts. Independent charts of course...not a big public...you shouldn't dream all the same
1980...no major changes to be expected for the moment in terms of sound at first sight. The group is experimental and does not seek more laurels than that, it's obvious...
1980...the whole year 1980 will take place in the same dark climate, to say the least. A perilous bias that very quickly risks irreparably marginalizing them...
1981...no miracle to be expected for the moment. It will therefore be necessary to be satisfied with the union minimum concerning them and this for a few more years at first sight...
1981...in the same vein of course. The group is losing precious time compared to the competition and may never be able to get back in the race. Ah, but yes by the way, they are not really in the race yet...
1983...one really wonders what could push them to produce such obscure music...? Because in the experimental, by putting a little good will, some manage to do things more than correct...
1983...is there any hope of seeing them evolve one day or another ? There are only them to answer this question for the least existentialist...
1983...it would seem that at first glance they are beginning to ask themselves the right questions. Be careful, they just start, so don't go too fast anyway, especially when you see where they come from...
1983... when we no longer believed in it, the group will finally succeed in producing a title worthy of the name. With a first success in the so-called Traditional Charts. At last !
1983... well, we shouldn't rejoice too quickly, the sound, just like the style, are still quite far from the musical standards accepted by the general public. But there is still better, we will not deny it...
1984... it is certain that the group will never finish N°1 of the traditional Charts but what he proposes from now on can allow him to exist at a level already a little more worthy. Hoping that he continues to evolve in the right direction of course...
1984...unquestionably one of their most successful titles, at least in their very particular style. On the other hand, now that we know them, we know that we can't really have better...
1985...the group will never do like everyone else and will never bend to the dictates of the star system and the traditional Charts. This will not prevent him from producing a number of titles that are impressive to say the least...
1985...we can't blame them for looking for atypical sounds but at some point too much originality kills originality. And there is necessarily a price to pay for this refusal of conformity...
1987...their only moment in their career when they finally agreed to do a bit like everyone else. And as if by chance, the success will spread as if by a miracle to both sides of the Atlantic...
1987...a year 1987 which will undoubtedly remain as their best Vintage in terms of success in the Charts. Like what, they just lacked the will because for the rest they had everything they needed to break through at the highest level...
1989... they will still have had a very decent career across the Channel, but it is above all at the International that they will have been conspicuous by their absence. Afterwards, everyone manages his career as he sees fit...
1990...the last 'good' year. It is clear that the adventure will continue thereafter but the group will fall back into its failings from the beginning of their career unfortunately...
1990...so you have to take advantage of this last title because the sequel will turn out to be much more obscure. After years of searching and finally finding the right sound, they will set off again on musical paths that are tortuous to say the least...
1991...not much to do with what we heard before. The group decides to redo in the experimental and especially not to really stick to the musical standards of the moment. Extremely risky bet...
1992...the group will purely and simply disappear from the radars on the Charts side, something predictable given what they now offer. What possessed them to go back like that...?
1993...they will continue to release albums but most of them will 'get through' as they say. Already the competition is plethoric but playing it without words is to say the least suicidal at the start of the 90s...
1994... only the basic fans will find their way around because for the rest, it's gloomy plain. The younger generation does not even know that the group still exists, or even exists at all...
2020...we thought that the case had been definitively folded in the middle of the 90s but here they are again at the beginning of the 2020s. To do what, good question...
2021... the group is now doing pure and hard instrumentals. Not sure it was worth coming back to offer only this kind of music...
2021... sensitive ears abstain. Only an initiated public can still be receptive to this type of music. Afterwards, everyone is free to choose as they say...
2021... they in any case continue to believe in it, rightly or wrongly, that's something else. It remains to be seen now if a comeback is still possible. Didn't win all that...
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