Now that techno is both a dance genre and a central part of the "intellectual pop" landscape, Sheffield electronica renegades Cabaret Voltaire are routinely described as a massive influence on the rave era. Oddly, this excellent compilation of their early work accidentally reveals that they were more followers than followed. Formed in pre-punk 1973 by Richard H Kirk, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson and named after a Dadaist club, it is true that they were experimenting with early synths, loops, cut-ups and political paranoia before most other arty types. But the good stuff starts with 1979's "Nag Nag Nag", which was simply 1977 punk rock played on machines. By the time we've reached 1980's "Obsession" (which blatantly rips off Metal Box by Public Image Ltd), we get the idea. This isn't just a primer for the Cabs; it's a handy summing-up of post-punk, an enthusiastic meld of PiL, The Fall, Gang of Four, The Pop Group, dub, Suicide and the pre-pop Human League. So... deep, meaningful and influential? No. Mutant art-pop fun? Definitely. And what's wrong with that? --Garry Mulholland
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