Red Mecca is the third studio album by English band Cabaret Voltaire. It was released in September 1981, through record label Rough Trade. In November 1979 Cabaret Voltaire toured the United States, and became strongly interested in the rise of the Christian right and its use of television, especially the fund-raising broadcasts of TV evangelist Eugene Scott. They compared this to the rise of Islamism, devoting a side to each strand of religious politics on their 1980 mini-album Three Mantras. Red Mecca was a culmination of this interest. According to Richard H. Kirk: "The whole Afghanistan situation was kicking off, Iran had the American hostages we were taking notice it's not called by coincidence. We weren't referencing the fucking Mecca Ballroom in Nottingham!" Red Mecca was recorded at Western Works, Sheffield in May 1981. NME named the Red Mecca the ninth best album of 1981. Andy Kellman of AllMusic retrospectively praised the album, writing, "Unlike a fair portion of CV's studio output, Red Mecca features no failed experiments or anything that could be merely cast off as 'interesting'. It's a taught , dense, horrific slab lacking a lull." Personnel: Christopher R. Watson – organ, tape, production, recording, sleeve design Richard H. Kirk – synthesizer, guitar, clarinet, horns, strings, production, recording, sleeve design Stephen Mallinder – vocals, bass guitar, bongos, production, recording, sleeve design Additional personnel: Nik Allday – drum