IDM Mailing Archive

At 10:17 AM 10/25/95, Chris.Hilker wrote:

quoted 6 lines Oh pshaw. The reason people hate the vocals on 'Groovy...' is because

>Oh pshaw. The reason people hate the vocals on 'Groovy...' is because >Mal tries to *sing* which is not something he should ever do. He's no >Sinatra, and it shows. 'Colours,' from about the same period, fares much >better in the vocal-integration department, largely because someone must >have pointed out to Mal that he can't carry a tune! >

I agree, Mallinder's voice adds a lot to CV (in my opinion) until he tries to actually sing. Then again, my favorite CV is from back around "Code" and "Micro-phonies" so go figure. -H-

On Wed, 25 Oct 1995, Howard Berkey wrote:

quoted 2 lines Then again, my favorite CV is from back around "Code" and "Micro-phonies&qu

> Then again, my favorite CV is from back around "Code" and "Micro-phonies" > so go figure.

I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any good? What kind of sounds, is it bleepy stuff(Warp?) or just abstract electronics w/ vocals??? I think the only CV track from way back I still love is 'Kino'. Altern8 did a remix of this 12'' which also included 'I Want You', has anyone heard that one?? Derek Jordan

Derek Jordan sez:

quoted 7 lines I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any

> > I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any > good? What kind of sounds, is it bleepy stuff(Warp?) or just abstract > electronics w/ vocals??? I think the only CV track from way back I still > love is 'Kino'. Altern8 did a remix of this 12'' which also included 'I > Want You', has anyone heard that one?? >

I would recommend getting MICRO-PHONIES on CD because it contains the original 12" mix of "Sensoria," IMHO the Cabs' finest moment. The album is very danceable and funky, not quite as bleepy as some of the later stuff. It does have Mal's ominous whispering vocals thoughout, though. They don't bother me, but I guess they bother some people. The whole WESTERN RE-WORKS remix project was very disappointing, including the Altern8 remix. *None* of the remixes are better than the originals. I consider this to be the lowest point in their career, a cheap shot at making a few bucks from their former glory. Perhaps if they'd gotten a few more outside remixers, it would have been more unique. As it stands, though, it's just a pointless rehash. -- Mark Turner mturner@netcom.com

quoted 7 lines The whole WESTERN RE-WORKS remix project was very disappointing,

>The whole WESTERN RE-WORKS remix project was very disappointing, >including the Altern8 remix. *None* of the remixes are better >than the originals. I consider this to be the lowest point in their >career, a cheap shot at making a few bucks from their former glory. >Perhaps if they'd gotten a few more outside remixers, it would >have been more unique. As it stands, though, it's just a pointless >rehash.

I disagree. I think it could be their great lost bleep album, if not for the pointless samples of their old Virgin material dubbed over every track. I can certainly see how a fan of their midperiod Virgin releases would dislike it, and I'm not a huge fan of it either, but in some ways I think it was necessary insofar as it made a clean break with the past - 'Groovy' and 'Technology' made for an effective one-two punch alienating their former audience from them. C. -- cspot@hyperreal.com (Chris.Hilker) "I feel like I'm being electrocuted."

quoted 2 lines 'Groovy' and 'Technology' made for an effective one-two punch alienati

> 'Groovy' and 'Technology' made for an effective one-two punch alienating > their former audience from them.

_Technology_ does contain a small handful of brilliance. Stripped of the link back to the earlier Virgin material, it would have been a stronger release. I do not consider it to be part of their normal development, nor do I believe it was intended to be. The reasons for its existence are a mystery to me; perhaps some contractual obligation? The element of their audience who would have been alienated by these releases are those unable or unwilling to follow them into the new territory they explored there, and thereafter. Some were actually dismayed at the "commercial" sound of _The Crackdown_, certainly one of the least commercial records ever to be accused of being a sell-out. The development of their sound always seemed to me to progress logically from their previous work. Their early sound prefigured the IDM/Bleep scene; then they integrated these influences and continued to push the envelope after a couple of hesitant steps near the start of the decade.

On Thu, 26 Oct 1995, Derek Jordan wrote:

quoted 4 lines I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any

> I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any > good? What kind of sounds, is it bleepy stuff(Warp?) or just abstract > electronics w/ vocals??? I think the only CV track from way back I still > love is 'Kino'.

_Drinking Gasoline_ (which includes "Kino") was released on the tail of _Microphonies_. The production on the latter is a bit more polished. The sound pre-figures Warp to a degree, but I'd describe it as computerized electro/hip-hop/industrial. The CD adds the 12" version of "Sensoria", which mixes elements of the album version and the track "Do Right". The CD also contains an otherwise unreleased mix of another album track. I personally prefer _The Crackdown_ which is funky in a more abstract, organic way. Of all CV's releases, I might have to say, though, that _Microphonies_ may be one of the best choices for a fan of CV/Kirk's recent work who is not familiar with their earlier sounds.

quoted 2 lines Altern8 did a remix of this 12'' which also included 'I

> Altern8 did a remix of this 12'' which also included 'I > Want You', has anyone heard that one??

This was out c. 1991 to accompany _Technology: Western Re-Works_. The whole project was ill-conceived and possibly even disastrous. Most of the flavor and all of the charm of the original tracks is eliminated. This record, IMO, is for completists only. Too bad the 3 albums on Virgin are not so easily available.

On Thu, 26 Oct 1995, Derek Jordan wrote:

quoted 9 lines On Wed, 25 Oct 1995, Howard Berkey wrote:

> On Wed, 25 Oct 1995, Howard Berkey wrote: > > Then again, my favorite CV is from back around "Code" and "Micro-phonies" > > so go figure. > > I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any > good? What kind of sounds, is it bleepy stuff(Warp?) or just abstract > electronics w/ vocals??? I think the only CV track from way back I still > love is 'Kino'. Altern8 did a remix of this 12'' which also included 'I > Want You', has anyone heard that one??

last night I mixed the sensoria 12" version right after 'The Snow' by coil and before 'The Robots' by kraftwerk. let's call it electro ok? snow

Ofter I see people putting down Cabaret Voltaire's excellent music because of the vocals. The CD people most love to hate seems to be 'Groovy, laidback and nasty', followed by 'Body and Soul'. Bollocks. These are good records, and I enjoy the simplicity of the lyrics. Much like NewOrder when they sing what appears to be complete rubbish ('I think you are a pig/you should be in a zoo'). Although I think that RHKirk's solo stuff is fantastic, but there's no need to dismiss Cabaret Voltaire's work just because Mal's singing on it. /S/ "Do right. Go to church. Always work" - Sensoria End of Message

quoted 4 lines Ofter I see people putting down Cabaret Voltaire's excellent

>Ofter I see people putting down Cabaret Voltaire's excellent >music because of the vocals. The CD people most love to hate >seems to be 'Groovy, laidback and nasty', followed by 'Body and >Soul'.

Oh pshaw. The reason people hate the vocals on 'Groovy...' is because Mal tries to *sing* which is not something he should ever do. He's no Sinatra, and it shows. 'Colours,' from about the same period, fares much better in the vocal-integration department, largely because someone must have pointed out to Mal that he can't carry a tune! C. -- cspot@hyperreal.com (Chris.Hilker) "I feel like I'm being electrocuted."

quoted 5 lines seems to be 'Groovy, laidback and nasty', followed by 'Body and

> >seems to be 'Groovy, laidback and nasty', followed by 'Body and > >Soul'. > > Oh pshaw. The reason people hate the vocals on 'Groovy...' is because > Mal tries to *sing* which is not something he should ever do. He's no

I was rather taken aback when I first heard _Groovy_. Like many records made for major labels using outside producers, this record turned out to be something different than the artist's original idea. cf. the EP which accompanied some copies of the vinyl; Western Works mixes on 7"/12". _Groovy_ has gotten better with the distance of time. I still imagine what a collaboration between Adrian Sherwood and Cabaret Voltaire would have sounded like if it had been an ONUSound recording instead of an EMI release. Imagine _The Arm of the Lord_ run through Sherwoods mangling machine... would've been glorious.

"Groovy" is the only CV work my wife can stand. It also stands up to repeated listenings. I still rank #2 behind _Code_ Paul Rafanello

Think I can understand the angle you are approaching this from. _Groovy_ is an awkward transitional point between the Industrial phase and the IDM phase. _Code_ is a polished closing point for the industrial hip-hop-ish phase. The production with Adrian Sherwood was surprisingly clean (might say too clean). The stregths of both are in sound manipulation and distortion. Again, cf. 12" mixes. EMI. The material is more approachable in many ways, but with the loss of some personality. On Wed, 25 Oct 1995 intone@warwick.net wrote:

quoted 6 lines "Groovy" is the only CV work my wife can stand. It also stands up to

> "Groovy" is the only CV work my wife can stand. It also stands up to > repeated listenings. I still rank #2 behind _Code_ > > Paul Rafanello > >

quoted 7 lines Ofter I see people putting down Cabaret Voltaire's excellent

> Ofter I see people putting down Cabaret Voltaire's excellent > music because of the vocals. The CD people most love to hate > seems to be 'Groovy, laidback and nasty', followed by 'Body and > Soul'. > Bollocks. These are good records, and I enjoy the simplicity of > the lyrics. Much like NewOrder when they sing what appears to be > complete rubbish ('I think you are a pig/you should be in a zoo').

Lyrics aside (never pay attention to them anyway :-) I agree with you. There are some rather facile numbers on "Groovy..." but there are some classics too--like "Hypnotised", "Minute by Minute"... Sure, Mal's no virtuoso but his singing on the album is bland at worst. And what singing is there on "Body & Soul"--from what I remember it's mostly treated whisperings/mumblings. Quite fun, if you ask me :-) Plus, the album's got a hell of a groove. Minimalist techno-clonk at its best. Most of the fun in those days was guessing what direction CV was going to take. My jaw almost hung open the first time the first time I heard "Groovy"--the Tackheadisms of "Code" were still ringing in my ears.

quoted 3 lines Although I think that RHKirk's solo stuff is fantastic, but there's

> Although I think that RHKirk's solo stuff is fantastic, but there's > no need to dismiss Cabaret Voltaire's work just because Mal's singing on > it.

Hey, I think Mal's out-of-breath-funky style on "Microphonies" and "The Covenant..." sounded just great--it went with the music extremely well. AD

Derek Jordan wrote:

quoted 5 lines I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any

>I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any >good? What kind of sounds, is it bleepy stuff(Warp?) or just abstract >electronics w/ vocals??? I think the only CV track from way back I still >love is 'Kino'. Altern8 did a remix of this 12'' which also included 'I >Want You', has anyone heard that one??

I'm sure other people will respond here, but "Micro-phonies" is chronologically, from about the same period as "Kino" (and the rest of the "Drinking Gasoline" stuff) ~ 1983 or so. It's the same sort of thing -- long, repetitive, almost mantra-like tracks with shrill, paranoiac sounds and beats that sort of fall into the industro/hip-hop vein. And Mallinder doing more chanting/ranting than "singing." I personally dig it. -- dave walker, detroit art services _ marmoset@conch.aa.msen.com born freeke <A HREF="http://www.msen.com/~marmoset/">Dave Walker</A>

At 9:18 AM 10/26/95, Derek Jordan wrote:

quoted 10 lines On Wed, 25 Oct 1995, Howard Berkey wrote:

>On Wed, 25 Oct 1995, Howard Berkey wrote: >> Then again, my favorite CV is from back around "Code" and "Micro-phonies" >> so go figure. > >I've been thinking about getting Micro-Phonies on vinyl. Is it any >good? What kind of sounds, is it bleepy stuff(Warp?) or just abstract >electronics w/ vocals??? I think the only CV track from way back I still >love is 'Kino'. Altern8 did a remix of this 12'' which also included 'I >Want You', has anyone heard that one?? >

I bought Micro-phonies on CD simply because I wanted a copy of "Sensoria" on CD. I'm completely happy with the rest of the disc as well. Damn, this is prompting me to pull it out and give it a few listens... Sensoria is a classic, if you were going to clubs in the '80s that played industrial dance music you've probably heard it. Nice bass with classic CV lyrics and synth work. I wouldn't really liken it to much Warp stuff, though. If you don't like Mallinder, don't get it. "Jiggle up, Jiggle down..." Ahhhh the memories. :-) Later, -H-