The Crackdown

The Crackdown
Studio album by Cabaret Voltaire
Released	August 1983
Recorded	December 1982 at Trident Studios, London, England
Genre	Electro-industrial, post-punk, synthpop, EBM
Label	Some Bizzare, Virgin
Producer	Cabaret Voltaire, Flood
Cabaret Voltaire chronology
2x45 (1982) The Crackdown (1983) Micro-Phonies (1984)

The Crackdown is the fifth studio album by English industrial band Cabaret Voltaire. It was released in August 1983, jointly through record labels Some Bizarre and Virgin Records.

Background

The Crackdown shows Cabaret Voltaire beginning to move away from their industrial roots and leaning towards a more new wave-type sound. This is Cabaret Voltaire's first album after Chris Watson's departure.

Track listing

All songs written and composed 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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

AllMusic wrote, "One of Cabaret Voltaire's strongest albums, The Crackdown features the band working a number of menacing electronic textures into a basic dance/funk rhythm; the result is one of their most distinctive, challenging records."^[1]

Personnel

Cabaret Voltaire Stephen Mallinder – vocals, bass guitar, trumpet, grand piano, production Richard H. Kirk – synthesiser, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, shakuhachi, grand piano, production Alan Fish – drums, percussion, production

Additional personnel Dave Ball – keyboards, drum programming and tape operation on tracks A3 and B4

Technical Flood – production, engineering George Peckham – mastering Ken Prust – sleeve typography Neville Brody – sleeve typography Phil Barnes – sleeve illustration

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Crackdown – Cabaret Voltaire : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2013.

External links

• The Crackdown at Discogs (list of releases)