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                                 FRONT 242

                           -- Tyranny for you --

                          Reviewed by Lars Dybwad

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Setting  the standards in electronic body music is Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb.
They  have  both enjoyed, especially Front 242, great success in Europe with
their heavy electronic music.  Many have accused them of being nazis, and it
is  certainly  a fact that electronic body music from countries like Belgium
and  Germany  have  roots in the skinhead culture.  But nazis?  I will leave
that question unanswered.

Being  a  cult  band, like Front 242 is, can't be easy.  They have no choice
but  to  pursue  a  special style in their music to avoid losing their fans.
They  still got their curiosity value in order with this release, that's for
sure.   A computer image of a rather weird-looking person stares at you from
the  cover,  and  the  whole  sleeve  is made up of strange symbols and more
images of the same person.  So what does this tell us about Front 242?  Very
little,  except  that  they  don't  focus on their egos, they focus on their
music.

Front  242  is  really a band you won't discover unless you hear some friend
talk  about  it.   They  rarely  ever  advertise,  and even though they make
videos;  they  are  seldom shown on music networks.  They are not a band you
hear  a  single  from,  and  then  you buy the album.  It's more the case of
stumbling  across  it  in some store; and then for some reason buy it.  This
fact may be exclusive to where I live, really can't speak for all of Europe.
But my impression is that you have to look hard to find them.

Now what happens if you do find them?  Is their music any good?

Well, I think their previous releases were much better than this.  It's more
or  less  a variation on the same theme they have used all the time - and it
loses  it's  interest after a while.  'Tyranny For You' also lacks the tempo
and  the  dance appeal you have come to expect from Front.  Only a few songs
have a souped-up tempo, the rest are too busy setting the mood.  And, by all
means,  they set great moods.  Songs like 'Neurobashing' and the crazy 'Soul
Manager',  two  of the better songs on the CD, establishes a sensation right
from  the  beginning, then develops that sensation until it seems whole.  It
is really worthwhile listening to, but unfortunately all of the songs aren't
of this quality.

It  seems  Front  has  been a little bit surprised, and absorbed, with their
recent  success.   It's  been  a while since their last longplay production,
probably  a result of heavy touring around Europe.  But, as so many bands do
after  a  while, it seems Front 242 are trying to grow up.  I really hate it
when  a group tries to grow up, because it always means that the music comes
in  second  place.   Being 'artistic', and writing 'deep, meaningful lyrics'
are  more  important  for  a  band  'growing up'.  Not that Front 242 writes
sensible  lyrics,  they  never  have  and  never  will,  but their music has
definitely  become  less  interesting.   And  I can't avoid feeling that the
reason  for  this has something to do with the band slowing down - producing
music for the masses; not for their fans.

Now, one of the questions worth posing when dealing with an electronic band,
is:  Are Front 242 ruling their equipment, or vice versa?

I  can mention several bands who have come too obsessed with their equipment
to  produce melodies - they just made effects.  It seems, though, that Front
242  are  wise  enough  to avoid that trap.  Actually, looking back on their
earlier  releases,  you catch yourself in wishing that they had experimented
some  more  with  their  machines before this album came out.  It might have
made the listening experience a bit more interesting.

Worth  buying?   For me it is, but then again I am a Cyberpunk fan, and this
is  absolutely a very 'Cyber' release.  I'll admit that I don't listen to it
often,  it hasn't got that thing about it which makes you insert it into the
CD player every day.  It's electronic as hell - but that's the kind of music
you AM/FM readers do - so why not?  Put it on your list for Christmas.

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