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!)

T-Shirt of the Week: Interception

Up next we have a most beautiful T-Shirt based on the artwork from the "Interception" 12 inch EP, and to a similar degree, the "Quite Unusual" 7 inch record (See Record of the Week: Quite Unusual)

This is undoubtedly another Front 242 bootleg T-Shirt, but it is of very high quality!
The artwork is in brilliant shades of blue, white, red, yellow, and others; it is single-sided.
It is very stunning up close and I still wear it quite often. I often get remarks about it from non-music fans and it is especially pleasing when someone recognizes it as a Front 242 shirt.

Interception T-Shirt Front

Interception T-Shirt Close-up

Interception T-Shirt Detail

Record of the Week: Quite Unusual 7" + Test Pressing

Here we have a beautiful picture sleeve of the 7" single "Quite Unusual" with the reverse being "Agressiva". This was released as a 12" maxi on vinyl and later CD as "Interception", with longer tracks and different coloured artwork.

This particular 7" is on RRE Records and has the catalogue number RRE 3. Side A is "Quite Unusual" running at 3'40". Side AA is "Agressiva" with a time of 3'59". Both cuts are from the album "Official Version."

The sleeve is beautiful...certainly suitable for framing!  Contrast the orange-ish hues here with the distinct blue tones of the 12" "Interception" sleeve. (This artwork is also featured on a bootleg T-Shirt that I will post someday).

Also following is a test pressing, similar to the one seen with the "Headhunter" 7" (See Record of the Week: Headhunter 7"). I obtained it on the secondary market and it came with the generic sleeve with handwritten notes. Interesting enough, etched in the margins of this Test Pressing and the regular release are "RRE 3" and "DR TRAUMSTEIN" on Side A(A) and "RRE 3" and "BACK TO BODY" on Side B(AA). I have no clue what that means...perhaps you do?

Front Sleeve

Reverse Sleeve

Side A

Side AA

Generic Test Pressing Sleeve

Test Pressing Side A

Test Pressing Side B