Lock The Target, Bait The Line, Spread The Net, Catch The Man

If you woke up this morning and thought, "You know what Wednesday needs? Some Electronic Body Music from shades-wearing Belgians" then you've come to the right place. I give you Front 242.

I don't have a whole lot of their music, to be honest. Headhunter was an essential purchase in the early 1990s and, apart from a few subsequent singles, I've not kept track of them since the mid-1990s or dived into any of the nine albums Front 242 released between 1982 and 2003. They're still very much a going concern on the live circuit, having toured the USA late last year and with further gigs in Europe lined up for later this year.

Today's selection is cobbled together from the few singles I own, spanning 1986 to 1993. I've steered cleared of remixes by other artists such as The Orb and Jim Thirlwell for single and 12" versions by Front 242 themselves. 

Another left turn tomorrow.

1) Quite Unusual (12" Version) (1986)

2) Religion (7" Mix) (1993) 

3) Born To Breathe (Single Version ft. 99 Kowalski aka Kristin Kowalski) (1993)

4) Never Stop! v1.0 (7" Version) (1989)

5) Happiness - More Angels (1993)

6) Headhunter (V3.0) (1988)

7) Tragedy ▷For You◁ (Punish Your Machine Mix (Long Version)) (1990)

8) Rhythm Of Time (12) (1991)

9) Masterhit (Part I - Masterblaster) (1987)

10) Agony (Until Death) (1989)

1986: Interception EP: 1

1987: Masterhit EP: 9

1988: Headhunter EP: 6

1989: Never Stop EP: 4, 10

1990: Tragedy ▷For You◁ EP: 7

1991: Rhythm Of Time EP: 8

1993: Animal EP: 3, 5

1993: Religion EP: 2

Lock The Target, Bait The Line, Spread The Net, Catch The Man (46:51) (Box) (Mega)

2882

2882 is the number of days since I last played any of the songs in today's selection, which has been (very) roughly split into a "melody" and "dance" side. Highlights include a rare version from Mick Jones' brief sojourn as the truncated Big Audio, my favourite version of Moonlight Drive from the posthumous odds & sods album Alive She Cried, Jaz Coleman rapping with his cousin JC-001 and of course any song featuring the beautiful voice of Hope Sandoval. I'll try not to leave it so long next time.

 

Side One (21:48)

1) The Good Part: Arab Strap (2003)

2) Help Is Coming: Crowded House (1994)

3) Moonlight Drive / Horse Latitudes (Live @ Felt Forum, New York, 18 January 1970): The Doors (1970)

4) Harrow Road (Ska Mix): Big Audio (1994)

5) Row Fisherman (Dub): Wailing Souls (1979)

 

Side Two (20:45)

1) Stay One Jump Ahead (Extended Mix): Killing Joke ft. JC-001 (1988) 

2) Masterhit (Part III - LP Version): Front 242 (1987)

3) Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix): Massive Attack ft. Hope Sandoval (2010)

 

Side One (21:48)

Side Two (20:45)