Cabaret Voltaire's Eighties album 'Code' to get expanded reissue

Mute Records will release a remastered reissue of CODE, Cabaret Voltaire’s eighth studio album from 1987, which has been out of print for many years. Due Oct. 9, it will feature new sleeve notes and be available on limited edition “CODIFIED” marble vinyl and as a deluxe triple CD set featuring two bonus discs of remastered remixes from the time, plus unreleased remixes discovered in the archive.

Producer, writer and musician John Robie’s dub remix of ‘Thank You America’, originally earmarked as the third single from the original release, is out now. 

Listen to ‘Thank You America (John Robie’s Dub Mix)’

CODE marked the point that Richard H Kirk and Stephen ‘Mal’ Mallinder signed to EMI exposing them to a world of bigger budgets, but no compromise on their unique vision. The album's two singles - ‘Don’t Argue’ and ‘Here To Go’ - broke the UK Official Singles Chart, and as a double-sided singel in the US - went to #16 on the Dance Chart. 

Explains Mal in the new sleeve notes, “This album captures a very interesting moment in time where we were moving into a technological world. Probably more than anything else Richard and I made together, CODE was a political record that we didn't have to directly articulate as political, mostly because of what was going on in the background at that time.”

Ever prescient, CODE tapped into an increasingly uneasy relationship with technology, computers and programming that was creeping into all aspects of life, unpicking the codes of control to expose them – a preoccupation that would continue in Cabaret Voltaire’s work.

Featuring guest musicians – the saxophonist Simeon Lister, bassist Mark Brydon (Chakk) and Bill Nelson (Be-Bop Deluxe), the album was recorded at The Cabs’ Western Works studio in Sheffield, with Adrian Sherwood joining for pre-production before the sessions moved to Red Bus in London for mixing. The album was remastered by Denis Blackman (who has mastered or remastered every Cabaret Voltaire album for over 20 years), and work on the CODE reissue began 2019 with Richard H. Kirk - before his untimely death - and was completed using his notes in consultation with Stephen Mallinder and Kirk’s estate.

Originally active between 1973-1994, Cabaret Voltaire were formed by Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson. After Watson’s departure in 1981, Richard H. Kirk and Stephen Mallinder continued until 1994 until - with Kirk as the sole remaining member – Cabaret Voltaire’s 2014 performance at Berlin’s Atonal festival. An interconnected series of releases - Shadow of Fear, BN9Drone and Dekadrone - followed in 2020 and 2021 before Kirk’s untimely passing in autumn 2021.

In 2025 Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson marked the 50th anniversary of Cabaret Voltaire’s first performance with one last tour. The tour continues in 2026 with the final US and UK performances set for autumn – full details below.

Pre-order the album

CODE (VINYL) TRACKLIST:

1 Don't Argue
2 Sex, Money, Freaks
3 Thank You America
4 Here To Go
5 Trouble (Won't Stop)
6 White Car
7 No One Here
8 Life Slips By
9 Code

(CD) TRACKLIST: 

DISC 1

1 Don't Argue
2 Sex, Money, Freaks
3 Thank You America
4 Here To Go
5 Trouble (Won't Stop)
6 White Car
7 No One Here
8 Life Slips By
9 Code

DISC 2

1 Hey Hey
2 Thank You America (John Robie Dub Mix)
3 Don't Argue (Hate and Destroy Mix)
4 Here To Go (Eleven Eleven Mix)
5 Sex, Money, Freaks (Kevorkian 12" Mix)
6 Code (12" Mix)
7 Thank You America (Dub Single Mix)
8 Don’t Argue – Who’s Arguing
9 Here To Go (Extended Mix)
10 Thank You America (Short Single Mix)
11 Don't Argue (7" Version)
12 Here To Go (Single Version)

DISC 3

1 Don't Argue (John Robie Extended Version)
2 Here To Go (Kevorkian Extended Mix)
3 Thank You America (Kevorkian Bonus Beats)
4 Sex, Money, Freaks (Kevorkian Dub)
5 Thank You America (Alternate Mix)
6 Don't Argue (Dance Dub)
7 Here To Go (Adrian Sherwood Live Drum Jacknife Remix)
8 Thank You America (Alternate Mix 2)
9 Don't Argue (Dance)
10 Here To Go (Space Dub)
11 Don't Argue (Single Mix)
12 Here To Go (Little Dub)

Tour dates: 

11 September – Dallas, TX (US), Granada Theater^
15 September – Chicago, IL (US), Metro^
16 September – Chicago, IL (US), Metro^
18 September – Toronto, ON (US), Phoenix Concert Theatre^
19 September – Montreal, QC (US), Sat^
21 September – Boston, MA (US), The Wilbur^
25 September – New York, NY (US), Knockdown Center^
26 September – Philadelphia, PA (US), Underground Arts^
7 October – Dublin, The Academy
8 October – Belfast, Limelight
10 October – Birmingham, Town Hall*
11 October – Liverpool, Arts Club* - LOW TICKETS
13 October – Nottingham, The Palais*
14 October – Cardiff, The Globe**
15 October – Bath, Forum**
17 October – Newcastle, Boiler Shop*
18 October – Glasgow, Barrowland*
19 October – Manchester, Albert Hall*
21 October – Brighton, Chalk*
22 October – London, Roundhouse* - LOW TICKETS
25 October – Sheffield, Octagon* - LOW TICKETS

With support from: ^ I Speak Machine / * Gazelle Twin / ** Fader