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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One for the archives, 18 Jan 2003
I presume that Factory Records video arm, the now defunct IKON Video, originally conceived these films. Perhaps these were slated for release sometime in the dim and distant mid-80s, but never came to pass. I don't know, maybe someone can correct me. Anyone, in true Factory Records style this a pretty low-tech affair. The two performances here were captured on cheap video cameras (as were many gigs at the Hacienda). Its not bad, its certainly not as bad as the Joy Division video 'Here are the Young Men' which IKON released. Someone has re-mastered as best as possible but don't expect 21st century picture quality. CV are playing in low lights, so you only get flickering glimpses of the action on stage, fortunately video images from CV's archives are cut-in to the live action, but still you'll find yourself watching a pretty blank screen at times. It works because the music sounds superb. These are excellent quality stereo audio recordings and at both gigs (from 83 and 86), CV are really on form. These are streets ahead of any of the three Live LPs already released by the band. CV sound punchy and energetic throughout. This DVD captures the Cabs live at two interesting stages of their long and confusing 30 year career. The first from 1983 is musically the most interesting as it finds them promoting their debut LP for Virgin (The Crackdown), on which they took a startling clean, electro-pop direction in great contrast to their dark, intense early LPS on Rough Trade...but you can hear them still struggling to make that transition...and it sounds fantastic! The second set from 1986 finds them newly arrived at EMI, and previewing songs they would later polish up with Adrian Sherwood on the excellent 'Code' LP in 1986. There are also several un-released tracks including the stunning 'Piledriver' and many songs appear in a radically different form to their released versions. Lots of fun for any CV fan! As it stands, this is a splendid document of what a CV gig would have been like in the 80s, but given the unspectacular visuals, perhaps the CD soundtrack of the same name would be a better purchase for some. Fortunately, The DVD does include three excellent promo videos as a bonus which are worth the price of the DVD alone. No Escape (taken from a long deleted Factory Records VHS) has the band looking very out of place, performing in the Derbyshire countryside and is unique footage of the band (miming) with founder member Chris Watson. Sluggin For Jesus is mesmirising prime CV stuff, which could have easily sat on their stunning 'Doublevision' film, and finally you get Peter Care's brilliant promo for Yashar with the band hanging around a derelict Sheffield railway station in 1980...spinning and rotating violently around in a wonderfully industrial way. Evocative stuff and an essential bit of pop video history. And of course as you should expect from Cabaret Voltaire there is stunning design artwork (by the Designers Republic), and interesting liner-notes from flame-keeper Richard.H.Kirk. Its A huge treat for fans, an intriguing glimpse into the world of CV which may turn some casual fans into Cabaret Voltaire fanatics...or put them off for good.
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![Double Vision Presents: Cabaret Voltaire [DVD] [1984] [US Import]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61ZDG4475RL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
~ Cabaret Voltaire
~ Cabaret Voltaire
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