A collection of 12" singles (previously released material).
Front 242: Daniel B., Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc De Meyer, Richard 23.
Audio Remasterer: Greg Calbi.
Photographers: A. Verbaert; Front 242.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Daniel Bressanutti; Jean-Luc de Meyer; Patrick Codenys; Richard 23.
As the title indicates, BACKCATALOGUE collects Front 242's early work, before they signed to American label Wax Trax! and rose to prominence as prime exponents of industrial music. Front 242 developed their industrial edge over time; when they formed in the early '80s their sound was synthesizer-heavy and danceable in the vein of bands like Depeche Mode. But even here the band shows a penchant for harder-edged sounds with shuddering percussion and sneering, drone-like vocals.
The 12" singles compiled on BACKCATALOGUE, many of which are otherwise quite rare, show a band developing and honing its innovative style. The album plays like a crossroads of contemporary music. In addition to bearing the stamp of punk and emotive, post-punk pioneers such as Joy Division, one can hear the heavy influence of early German sound conceptualists like Karlheinz Stockhausen (in the application of minimalist principles and machine sounds) and Kraftwerk (in the exploration of robotic pop-dance grooves). However, the music also sounds quite contemporary. The programming technology--with layered rhythms, trance-like vocal samples, and dense sonic textures--presages the IDM artists of the '90s. As both a history lesson and an example of early electronic dance music, this material holds up remarkably well.
