Shadow of Fear (album)

Shadow of Fear
Studio album by
Cabaret Voltaire
Released20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)
StudioWestern Works (Sheffield)
Genres
Length58:15
LabelMute
ProducerRichard H. Kirk
Cabaret Voltaire chronology
The Conversation
(1994)		 Shadow of Fear
(2020)		 Shadow of Funk
(2021)
Singles from Shadow of Fear
  1. "Vasto"
    Released: 19 August 2020

Shadow of Fear is a studio album by Cabaret Voltaire, a project of English musician Richard H. Kirk. It was released on 20 November 2020 through Mute Records. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[1]

Background

Shadow of Fear was recorded and mixed at Western Works, which is the same studio that Cabaret Voltaire has used throughout their history.[2] The album is Cabaret Voltaire's first release with Richard H. Kirk as the sole member of the band.[3][4] It is Cabaret Voltaire's first studio album since The Conversation (1994).[5]

"Vasto" was released on 19 August 2020, as a single from the album.[6] The album was released on 20 November 2020 through Mute Records.[7]

Shadow of Fear is the first installment in a series of four Cabaret Voltaire releases, followed by the Shadow of Funk EP (2021), as well as two drone albums, Dekadrone (2021) and BN9Drone (2021).[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[9]
The Arts DeskStarStarStarStarStar[10]
Flood Magazine7/10[11]
The GuardianStarStarStarStar[12]
MusicOMHStarStarStarStar[13]
Pitchfork6.8/10[14]
Uncut8/10[15]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Shadow of Fear received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 from 8 critic scores.[1]

Guy Oddy of The Arts Desk described Shadow of Fear as "a fine album of raw and disorientating electronica, dub and motorik sounds with bags of punk attitude and a dancefloor heavy vibe."[10] Paul Simpson of AllMusic stated, "Even though Kirk used a restrained setup of vintage equipment to make Shadow of Fear, his vibrant energy and 'don't look back' attitude keep the album sounding fresh and forward-thinking."[9] Robert Ham of Pitchfork wrote, "While not as pulverizing as the group's early recordings nor as sleek as the techno and house-inspired work found on 1993's International Language, it blends the various eras of the group into a mostly satisfying whole."[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Richard H. Kirk.

Shadow of Fear track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Be Free"6:24
2."The Power (Of Their Knowledge)"6:30
3."Night of the Jackal"6:37
4."Microscopic Flesh Fragment"6:02
5."Papa Nine Zero Delta United"7:43
6."Universal Energy"10:58
7."Vasto"7:40
8."What's Goin' On"6:24
Total length:58:15

Charts

Chart performance for Shadow of Fear
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[16]72
UK Dance Albums (Official Charts)[17]2
UK Album Downloads (Official Charts)[18]63
UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[19]20

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Shadow of Fear by Cabaret Voltaire". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  2. ↑ Eede, Christian (19 August 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire To Release First Album In Over 20 Years". The Quietus. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  3. ↑ Leas, Ryan (19 August 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire Announce First New Album in 26 Years". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Schatz, Lake (19 August 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire Announce First Album in 26 Years, Share New Single "Vasto": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Minsker, Evan (19 August 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire Announce First Album in 26 Years, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Skinner, Tom (19 August 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire announce first album in 26 years, 'Shadow Of Fear'". NME. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Pearis, Bill (19 August 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire announce first album in 26 years, share "Vasto"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Eede, Christian (28 January 2021). "Cabaret Voltaire To Release New EP, 'Shadow Of Funk'". The Quietus. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 Simpson, Paul. "Cabaret Voltaire – Shadow of Fear". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  10. 1 2 Oddy, Guy (16 November 2020). "Album: Cabaret Voltaire - Shadow of Fear". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Amorosi, A.D. (3 December 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire, "Shadow of Fear"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (19 November 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire: Shadow of Fear review – a fittingly dystopian fantasy from Sheffield's industrial pioneers". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Wylde, Nicoletta (23 November 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire – Shadow Of Fear". MusicOMH. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  14. 1 2 Ham, Robert (30 November 2020). "Cabaret Voltaire: Shadow of Fear". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Sharp, Johnny (December 2020). "New Albums". Uncut. No. 283. p. 31.
  16. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 27/11/2020 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Official Dance Albums Chart on 27/11/2020 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 27/11/2020 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 27/11/2020 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
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