Cabaret Voltaire - Vasto - Mute / Intone
It's been a quarter of a century since the name Cabaret Voltaire appeared on any forthcoming new music listings but, right here in these so-called 'unprecedented times', is a taster from a new album due for release in the autumn. Issued on Mute in November, Shadow of Fear is a Richard H. Kirk album in all but name but on the strength of Vasto bears little resemblance to his solo work as RHK or Sandoz, or indeed Cabaret Voltaire's last album The Conversation. This is distorted brutalist industrial territory, a techno behemoth that recalls the CV Doublevision era with its trademark Middle Eastern vocal samples, progressive synths and head-melting motorik beats. As uncompromising as ever, Kirk's ability to tap into the psyche and mood of events is uncanny, despite this new material being prepped before the lockdown. Pre-order the album here