The Voice of America (album)

The Voice of America is the third studio album by English band Cabaret Voltaire. It was released in July 1980, through record label Rough Trade.

Critical reception
Trouser Press wrote that "the new material shows much greater focus and cleaner production than the older, with the mantra technique rising in place of the former chaotic electro-noise." AllMusic called it "not as spectacular as what would follow, but not without its own set of thrills."

SF Weekly wrote that "the music keeps moving outward, emitting boomerang-like signals that are only coming back to us today: The Moog-y skronk of 'Partially Submerged', part Krautrock and part free-jazz, anticipates Cologne's unfettered improv glitches, Radiohead's sprawling rock, and Aphex Twin's Dramamine ambiance."

Samples
"Stay Out Of It" samples three phrases from the Outer Limits episode "Demon with a Glass Hand": "the third part of your brain... you know where it is?", "don't kill me, please... please..." and "the hand... tell me what to do".

The opening of the album is taken from newsreel footage of policemen being given instructions how to cope with Beatles fans before a Beatles concert in 1966.

Personnel

 * Cabaret Voltaire
 * Richard H. Kirk – guitar, wind instruments
 * Stephen Mallinder – vocals, bass guitar, electronic percussion
 * Chris Watson – synthesizers, tapes
 * Haydn Boyes Weston – drums


 * Technical


 * Cabaret Voltaire – recording, production
 * Porky – mastering

Trivia
The run-out area etchings on side one include the question "WHERE IS THE THIRD MANTRA?" which is a reference to their earlier release Three Mantras.