Geography [limited BOX]

2016 was a big year for 242 fans. To celebrate the band’s 35th year anniversary, their Belgium label Alfa Matrix released 3 limited edition box sets. They are beautiful and have a treasure trove of Front 242 goodies....

First up: Geography [limited BOX]

The packaging itself is very sturdy with a camouflage motif and a die cut number 2 (along with the other two sets you of course spell 242!)

Geography [Limited] (front)

Geography [Limited] (back)

Inside first is the Geography LP in black 180gr. vinyl. This edition contains the bonus track “He Runs Too Fast For Us” that was released with the limited edition Geography box set in 2004. It has a paper sleeve.

Geography LP (front)

Geography LP (back)

Geography vinyl side 1

Geography vinyl side 2

Next is the "Geography Limited" LP also in black 180 gr. vinyl. This LP contains some great pre-242 work by Daniel B. as "Prothese" and Patrick and Jean-Luc as "Underviewer". Previously these tracks were very scarce and hard to find!

Geography Limited LP (front)

Geography Limited LP (back)

Geography Limited side 1

Geography Limited side 2

There is no inner paper sleeve with this one.

Next: "Take One/See The Future" crystal transparent 7" vinyl:

Take One/See the Future 7" vinyl (front)

Take One/See the Future 7" vinyl (back)

Side A: "See the Future"

Side B: "Take One"

There is also included the Geography LP on CD, in a black and white picture sleeve card:

Geography CD (front and back covers)

Geography CD

Next in the box set are the "Bonus 242 Gems & Fan-goodies":

Perhaps the strangest item included is the "Front By Front" lanyard: (why not a Geography one??)

Front by Front Lanyard

Geography laminated "live pass":

"live pass" (front)

"live pass" (back)

Perhaps my favorite items in the set: Two archival posters on art paper, very much suitable for framing. They measure 315mm x 220mm:

The Hard Way

Another Mask!

There is also included a bonus V/A "Sounds From The Matrix 08" sampler CD. (It does not contain any 242 tracks btw):

"Sounds from the Matrix 08" CD

Sticker from the box set outer packaging

Overall, this is a fantastic set and representative of 242's early beginnings (aside from the Front by Front lanyard!?) It has the Alfa Matrix catalog number AM2241LP and is limited to 1242 units. As of this writing it is available on the Alfa Matrix website as a download only....

Take One Red Vinyl (Wax Trax!)

Here we have the Wax Trax! 7 inch "Take One" single from 2014. The contents of this single are identical to the 7 inch released in the Wax Trax! Collector Box Set (see previous post) with the notable exception that this single is on red vinyl and sports slightly different cover art. This edition was limited to 500 copies. It has the catalogue number "WAX 9197"

Here we have a "blue" cover image with red font (contrast this with the 7 inch from the box set)

The back art is identical except the caption boxes are red.

A side: "Take One" (Recorded Live September 28, 1984 - Medusas Chicago - First US Appearance)

B Side: "Im Rhythmus Bleiben" (Recorded Live April 15, 2011 - Metro Chicago - Wax Trax! Retrospectacle)

This item is still available from  Wax Trax! Mail order for the low price of $13.00! I see it go on eBay for $20.00 or more! 

Record of the Week: No Comment (Original CD)

Here we have the original versions of "No Comment" on CD, as issued on RRE (Europe) and Wax Trax! (America). "No Comment" would later be reissued with bonus content on Epic/Sony and RRE...but since I don't have it immediately in front of me, I will post it as a separate entry later!

Both versions of this release are very similar, with a few notable exceptions.
First up, the original CD release on RRE. It has the catalogue number CD MK2.
It features 6 tracks, including "S. Fr. Nomenklatura (Parts 1 & 2)" (Note 'S. Fr.' stands for "Special Forces").

The artwork for both releases is virtually identically except, for some reason, the RRE version lists the titles out of order in the liner artwork. It lists "S. Fr. Nomenklatura (Parts 1 & 2)" as second after "Commando Mix" but this is corrected on the disc itself. Of note, only on the RRE disc is the subtitle for "Deciet" given as "Deceit (Behind Your Face)".

The artwork for the RRE Disc is very plain and simple, which the Wax Trax! version makes up for. The Wax Trax! version has the catalogue WAXCD 010.

No Comment RRE Version picture sleeve front

No Comment RRE Version picture sleeve back (note track listing error)

No Comment RRE Version picture sleeve foldout

No Comment RRE Version jewel case insert

No Comment RRE Version disc

My favorite aspect of this release are the great pictures of early 242. While I don't understand the fascination with baseball gear, it does look cool. (And Richard plays the shotgun better than a guitar?)

We also get a glimpse of the mysterious Daniel B. in the lower picture, which was very rare for this era, as he continued to be portrayed as the mysterious and unseen "Member 0"

No Comment Wax Trax! Version picture sleeve front

No Comment Wax Trax! Version picture sleeve back (note correct track listing)

No Comment Wax Trax! Version picture sleeve foldout

No Comment Wax Trax! Version jewel case insert

No Comment Wax Trax! Version disc

Record of the Week: Interception CD

Continuing to look at Front 242's CD releases as "Record of the Week", here we have the EP/Single "Interception".
As is the case with most of Front's singles, two European versions are available on RRE Records/PIAS; and a slightly different version is available stateside on Wax Trax! Records.

The RRE Version comes in both the standard "slimline" 5 inch version and the 3 inch disc in cardboard sleeve. Both releases have the catalogue number RRE 3 CD.
The artwork is essentially the same, with the slimline version offering a slightly bigger image.

That image itself is striking! Although one can see it better on the 12 inch vinyl (a future post!), the painting is just brilliant in blue and reds. It is often mistaken as a photograph, which of course it isn't. Yet another one of those iconic 242 images!
The disc artwork (or lack thereof) is the same. The 3 inch disc comes with a plastic white adaptor.

Interception RRE "slimline" version front

Interception RRE "slimline" version back

Interception RRE 5 inch disc

Interception RRE cardboard 3 inch version front

Interception RRE cardboard 3 inch version back

Interception RRE 3 inch disc with adaptor

The Wax Trax! version has the same image, but on close inspection the blue hues are just more muted, undoubtedly differences in printing quality and technique.

The picture sleeve here folds out into another advertisement for the Wax Trax! catalogue.

The jewel case insert offers the back image rotated, with song titles in yellow boxes and a barcode.

The disc differs slightly with the RRE versions, offering a bigger Front 242 logo and the song titles without times, and the name of the single "Interception."

All three discs feature the same two tracks:

"Quite Unusual"

"Aggressiva"

It has the catalogue number WAX CD 016

Although these are by no means rare, the 3 inch in cardboard sleeve would be the most collectible one.

Interception Wax Trax! version front

Interception Wax Trax! version back

Interception Wax Trax! version foldout

Interception Wax Trax! jewel case insert

Interception Wax Trax! disc (image is blurry due to scanner mirror effect...sorry!)

Record of the Week: Endless Riddance CD

Here we have one of the 'big hits' that broke Front 242 in America: "Take One", found on the EP "Endless Riddance."

Up first is the RRE version. It can be collected in the regular "slimline" jewel case version as well as a 3 inch "mini disc".
The artwork on both RRE versions varies slightly.
The "slimline" version has a prominent white band bordering the Front 242 map graphic and logo on both sides. The 3 inch version comes in a cardboard sleeve, with a much tighter map and logo.

Both versions have the map design repeated on the reverse, with prominent black, yellow, and red bars, with release details. The "slimline" version mentions Play It Again Sam as a subsidiary of RRE, where the 3 inch omits this.
Both RRE versions carry the catalogue number: MK-3-CD.

Endless Riddance RRE 5 inch "slimline" version picture sleeve front

Endless Riddance RRE 5 inch "slimline" version picture sleeve reverse

Endless Riddance RRE 5 inch "slimline" version disc

Endless Riddance RRE 3 inch cardboard version picture sleeve front

Endless Riddance RRE 3 inch cardboard version picture sleeve reverse

Endless Riddance RRE 3 inch disc with plastic adapter

The American Wax Trax! version differs ever so slightly.
The picture sleeve resembles that of the RRE 3 inch version, but in much lighter washed-out gray tones. The reverse sleeve omits the black, yellow, and red bars.

The tray liner also sports only a small portion of the map, and lists credits and song details on a simple gray background.

The Wax Trax! disc closely resembles the RRE 5 inch disc, but sports a larger Front 242 logo and song titles are listed here with the bpms, rather than the track times, as is listed on the 5 and 3 inch RRE versions. It has the catalogue number: WAX CD 004

Endless Riddance Wax Trax! version picture sleeve front

Endless Riddance Wax Trax! version picture sleeve reverse

Endless Riddance Wax Trax! version tray liner

Endless Riddance Wax Trax! version picture sleeve inside

Endless Riddance Wax Trax! version disc

All three versions are fairly common, with the 3 inch with adapter being a little more harder to obtain.
All three versions feature the 3 same song cuts:

1. Take One
2. Controversy Between
3. Sample D

Finally here is a picture from the recent Wax Trax! 33 1/3 Retrospectacle. In between sets, a montage of Wax Trax! pictures flashed on screen. Here is a nice wall-to-wall "Endless Riddance!"

Wax Trax! Retrospectacle "Endless Riddance"