1982's Voice of America contains two very different side-long tracks. The album title hints at political content, and side A overtly delivers. A duet between Frith and Ostertag, "Voice of America (Part 1)" places long, narrative samples in the foreground. All of the samples are credited, including "Chronology of the Chilean Coup, 1973." Extended use of political folk songs also brings programmatic meaning to the foreground. These samples are surrounded by textural improvisation, to create a flowing and extended piece. The palette is thick and slightly aggressive, without reaching the purposeful harshness of the industrial idiom. Side B employs a fuller sound, with the addition of Phil Minton's experimental vocals. Minton fits his voice nicely into the palette, and on "Voice of America (Part 2)", the textural improvisation moves into the foreground. While the liner notes again credit samples, they're employed more subtly, and draw less attention to themselves — the music has now overtaken the content, without abandoning it. Voice of America nicely manages to work with its message within an equally radical context, without losing interest in either the art or the meaning. The cover image of the melted radio reflects the distortions contained in the music, and the recording is simple, competent, and slightly primitive.
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