Red Mecca

Red Mecca
Studio album by Cabaret Voltaire
Released	September 1981
Recorded	May 1981 at Western Works, Sheffield, England
Genre	Industrial, post-punk
Length	40:11
Label	Rough Trade
Producer	Cabaret Voltaire
Cabaret Voltaire chronology
Three Mantras (1980) Red Mecca (1981) 2X45 (1982)

Red Mecca is the third studio album by English band Cabaret Voltaire. It was released in September 1981, through record label Rough Trade.

Background

In November 1979 Cabaret Voltaire toured the United States, and became strongly interested in the rise of the Christian right and its use of television, especially the fund-raising broadcasts of TV evangelist Eugene Scott. They compared this to the rise of Islamism, devoting a side to each strand of religious politics on their 1980 mini-album Three Mantras. Red Mecca was a culmination of this interest. According to Richard H. Kirk: "The whole Afghanistan situation was kicking off, Iran had the American hostages [...] we were taking notice [...] it's not called [Red Mecca] by coincidence. We weren't referencing the fucking Mecca Ballroom in Nottingham!"^[1]

Red Mecca was recorded at Western Works, Sheffield in May 1981.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Martin C. Strong	7/10[3]
Rolling Stone Album Guide (1992)	[4]
Spin's Alternative Album Guide	9/10[5]

NME named the Red Mecca the 9th best album of 1981.^[6] AllMusic praised the album, writing "Unlike a fair portion of CV's studio output, Red Mecca features no failed experiments or anything that could be merely cast off as 'interesting'. It's a taught [sic], dense, horrific slab lacking a lull."^[2]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Cabaret Voltaire (Chris Watson, Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder). 

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Touch of Evil"	3:11
2.	"Sly Doubt"	4:59
3.	"Landslide"	2:08
4.	"A Thousand Ways"	10:35

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Red Mask"	6:54
2.	"Split Second Feeling"	3:47
3.	"Black Mask"	3:19
4.	"Spread the Virus"	3:40
5.	"A Touch of Evil (Reprise)"	1:32

Release

Red Mecca reached No. 1 on the UK Independent chart.^[7]

Personnel

Cabaret Voltaire

• Christopher R. Watson – organ, tape, production, recording, sleeve design
• Richard H. Kirk – synthesizer, guitar, clarinet, horns, strings, production, recording, sleeve design
• Stephen Mallinder – vocals, bass guitar, bongos, production, recording, sleeve design

Additional personnel

• Nik Allday – drums
• Porky – mastering
• Neville Brody – sleeve design

References

1. Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip it Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. Faber and Faber. pp. 171–172.
2. Kellman, Andy. "Red Mecca – Cabaret Voltaire : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
3. Acclaimed Music
4. Acclaimed Music
5. Acclaimed Music
6. Acclaimed Music
7. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1989. Cherry Red. p. 311.

External links

• Red Mecca at Discogs (list of releases)