If you’re looking for someone to put together a killer mix, you could hardly do better than Stephen Mallinder, pioneer of industrial music and co-founder of Cabaret Voltaire. Although then again, it’s a little strange to seek out a dance mix from a man who once adhered to the forbidding watchword “We will not allow any dancing.” But Mallinder is surely comfortable with ironies of that sort.
Two years ago Mallinder put together a mix called “Before Electricity” for FilthyBroke Recordings, based in Providence, Rhode Island, and just this week he dropped what they’re calling “Part Two,” which has the title “Wonk.”
In 1976 Cabaret Voltaire put out a truly limited edition cassette called, er, Limited Edition that had a run of 25. “Wonk” has already gotten wider distribution than that, having been played by 171 people (including me).
Mallinder has been involved with many outfits over the years, including Acid Horse, Hey, Rube!, and Ku-Ling Bros. His most recent project is Wrangler, which includes Ben Edward of John Foxx and the Maths and Phil Winter of Tunng. They put out an album this year called Sparked: Modular Remix Project.
Put “Wonk” on at your next party and then when people ask who’s responsible for those arresting beats, just say casually, “Oh yeah, that’s Stephen Mallinder, you know, of Cabaret Voltaire. He dropped this mix the other week…..”
Here’s Mallinder’s “Before Electricity” mix from two years ago as well:
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
‘TV Wipeout’: Cabaret Voltaire’s rigorously post-punk 1984 video compilation resurfaces
‘We use the music as an exorcism’: Cabaret Voltaire takes over ‘Night Flight,’ 1985