Richard H. Kirk, the sole member of Cabaret Voltaire, is back after a long six year hiatus with Dasein. It spares no one, takes no prisoners and does so shamelessly. And thank god for that.
Richard H. Kirk, the sole member of Cabaret Voltaire, is back after a long six year hiatus with Dasein. It spares no one, takes no prisoners and does so shamelessly. And thank god for that. Fans have seen periods of feast and famine where a new release appeared seemingly every month. Sometimes a song was good, sometimes a few were but rarely was it as strong as his late 90’s and early 00’s releases.
Well fear no more.
Desein uses sounds that will be familiar to both fans of CV as well as those more familiar with his solo material over the past 20 years. It’s really a followup to his bizarre, seminal solo albums Black Jesus Voice, Ugly Spirits and the almost unlistenable Time High Fiction.
“Let’s Jack” feature Kirk’s voice heavily treated as he screams, rants and raps over heavy, distorted drums, wheezy synths and 303 bass. “Lear Jet” bangs in with thudding drums, Kirk’s long silent guitar playing and more reverb drenched vocals. “Nuclear Cloud” is this reviewer’s vote for club anger with the pulsing synths, heavy beating drums and screeching sampled vocals. “Do It Now” is a solid funk meditation where Kirk’s sampling and arrangements sidle up nicely with his odd lyrics and voice; his guitar playing, while naive, definitely conjures up 1970’s funk of which he is openly and deeply fond of. “Invasion Pretext” is another funk banger loaded with guitars, booming loops, synth basses and the solid northern funk Kirk is a master at.
It’s good to hear an idol back in form after so many hit or miss releases. One hopes this is a sign of good things to come from our man in Sheffield.
Dasein is available on Intone.
