Three Mantras

Three Mantras is the second studio album by English band Cabaret Voltaire. It was released in May 1980 by Rough Trade.

Three Mantras
Studio album by Cabaret Voltaire
Released	May 1980
Recorded	January 1980
Studio	Western Works, Sheffield
Genre	Industrial, post-punk
Length	40:50
Label	Rough Trade
Producer	Cabaret Voltaire
Cabaret Voltaire chronology
Live at the Y.M.C.A. 27-10-79 (1980) Three Mantras (1980) The Voice of America (1980)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]
New Musical Express	6/10[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]
Select	3/5[5]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	8/10[6]
Uncut	[7]

Background and reception

Record Mirror originally publicised Three Mantras as, '..what's been described as "the world's longest single"..', evidently referring to a press release supplied by the group's label, Rough Trade.^[8] The album was packaged in an intentionally confusing manner, with the 'Eastern' and 'Western' titles reversed on the cover, the same label on both sides and a sticker on early pressings apologizing for there only being two mantras (despite the title) and explaining that the album was being priced as a single to make up for it.^{[citation needed]} The reversed vocal that runs all the way through 'Eastern Mantra' is the name of another Sheffield electronic band; The Human League.

According to Trouser Press, Three Mantras is "the group's first explicit venture into non-Western musical forms". It further commented, "The record also marks a shift in technique, as musical demands take precedence over production to strange and beautiful effect."^[9]

Track listing

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Western Mantra"	20:39

Side B

No.	Title	Length
2.	"Eastern Mantra"	20:11

Personnel

Cabaret Voltaire

• Richard H. Kirk – guitar, wind instruments
• Stephen Mallinder – bass guitar, vocals, electronic percussion
• Chris Watson – synthesizers, tapes

Additional personnel

• John Clayton – percussion (on "Eastern Mantra")
• Jane – tapes, Jerusalem market recordings (on "Eastern Mantra")

Technical

• Cabaret Voltaire – recording, production
• George Peckham – mastering