Today’s video of the day is Cabaret Voltaire – "Yashar" released in 1983.
"Yashar" is one of Cabaret Voltaire’s most influential singles, released in May 1983 on Factory Benelux and Factory Records. The song first appeared on their 1982 album 2×45, a pivotal release marking the end of the band’s early industrial phase. Written by Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder, and Chris Watson, “Yashar” reflects the group’s transition from abrasive experimentation to a more rhythmic, dance-oriented sound. The single reached No. 6 on the UK Indie Chart and became a cult favorite in underground clubs across Europe and the U.S.
The 1983 remix by John Robie, known for his work on “Planet Rock,” pushed Cabaret Voltaire further into electro territory. Robie’s version added crisp synths, robotic percussion, and a hypnotic groove aimed at the New York dance scene. The track famously samples the line, “The 70 billion people of Earth — where are they hiding?” from The Outer Limits episode “Demon with a Glass Hand.” This eerie voice sample, combined with pulsing electronic beats, gave “Yashar” a futuristic feel that set it apart from the band’s earlier work.
“Yashar” stands as a bridge between Cabaret Voltaire’s harsh industrial beginnings and their later exploration of electro and house rhythms on albums like Micro-Phonies and The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord. It captured their shift toward a sound that would influence future electronic and dance artists. The song’s video, filled with abstract visuals and cold war imagery, matched its mechanical energy and urban paranoia. Today, “Yashar” remains a cornerstone of 1980s electronic music — a bold fusion of art, technology, and rhythm that helped define the evolution of industrial dance.
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