Filtered Pulse [limited BOX]

Here we have the third and final limited box set released for Front's 35th Anniversary in 2016: "Filtered Pulse"

While it too is exceptional, of the three sets released, it is my least favorite, and has fewer 242 rarities and goodies...

The box itself completes the "2 4 2" Diecut panorama, this time a striking blue in the similar camouflage motif...

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] (front)

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] (back)

First inside is the "<Filtered>" Pulse record in 180gr. Black Vinyl, it is also very striking and of course very colorful. I was always curious about this release back in the day as to the artwork design. Sometimes the logo has the bars of the "4" in  the opposite direction than the bars of the "2", sometimes not, as is the case here...

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] Gatefold LP (front)

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] Gatefold LP (back)

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] LP (inner gatefold)

The vinyl is black (Alfa Matrix also sells this release in colored vinyl; I will spotlight that someday perhaps?) Note here the logo bars of the "4" are indeed in the opposite direction from the "2" bars! (That's just me being picky I suppose....!)

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] Vinyl LP (Side A)

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] Vinyl LP (Side B)

Again we have another "Front by Front" lanyard, this time red and white on black:

"Front by Front" lanyard

Also enclosed is the CD version of "<Filtered>" Pulse:

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] CD Carton (front)

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] CD Carton (back)

"Filtered" Pulse [limited BOX] CD 

Enclosed is a laminated "Pulse" live pass:

"Pulse" live pass (front)

"Pulse" live pass (back)

There are also two beautiful glossy photo posters, each measuring 315mm x 220mm:

Another highlight is another live Front 242 recording similar in design to the one enclosed in the "No Comment/Politics of Pressure" [limited BOX]; this is from the Front by Front tour at the Ancienne Belgique concert from 1989: 

Currently Alfa Matrix is selling this CD separately so again a wonderful opportunity to snatch it up outside the box set!

Ancienne Belgique 89 live CD

And finally there is another "Sounds From The Matrix 17" V/A sample CD. Again this does not have specific Front 242 music inside...

"Sounds From The Matrix 17" CD

This set was also limited to 1242 box sets and is only available now as "Download Only" from the Alfa Matrix site. 

Overall, I love the quality and the "rare gems & fan-goodies" from these sets. Putting them together and creating the diecut "2 4 2" effect is beautiful.

I do wish we could see sets like these for "Official Version" "Front by Front" and "Tyranny <For You>" but I suspect it has more to do with other record labels use of the Front 242 catalogue than it does with Front 242 themselves.  Perhaps someday those albums will also be given the "star treatment" they deserve too....!

No Comment/Politics of Pressure [limited BOX]

The second of the 2016 Alfa Matrix releases is "No Comment/Politics of Pressure" [limited BOX].

This is perhaps my favorite of the three? The box itself is a striking orange with the diecut "4" continuing the camouflage motif...

No Comment/Politics of Pressure [limited BOX] (front)

No Comment/Politics of Pressure [limited BOX] (back)

The album is a double album with gatefold sleeve. One side is the "No Comment" album and the other is the "Politics of Pressure" EP

No Comment/Politics of Pressure Album (front)

No Comment/Politics of Pressure Album (back)

The gatefold sleeve has some wonderful behind-the-scenes pictures from the group photo shoot, including even more pictures with mysterious Daniel B. 

No Comment/Politics of Pressure Album (gatefold)

The vinyl comes with paper sleeves and the logos are repeated on both sides:

No Comment (vinyl; same art on both sides)

Politics of Pressure (vinyl; same art on both sides)

Also included is a CD version of both, including "No Shuffle V2" not on the vinyl, the art of course is a variation of the original....

No Comment/Politics of Pressure CD (front)

No Comment/Politics of Pressure CD (back)

No Comment/Politics of Pressure CD

A somewhat unusual inclusion is the live CD "Hamburg 87 Official Version". It is a great show and is now released separately on the Alfa Matrix website (so you may want to pick one up!)

Live CD "Hamburg 87 Official Version" card sleeve (front)

Live CD "Hamburg 87 Official Version" card sleeve (back)

The CD itself is rather nondescript....

Live CD "Hamburg 87 Official Version" CD

In addition, included is "the bonus EPCD" in carton sleeve (as listed on the packaging). It contains a remix of "S. Fr. Nomenklatura BBMurdermix.14" by Acurack, "Body to body V2", "In November" and "See the future" Live, "Special Forces demo" and "Take One Live Chicago"....

No Comment "the bonus EPCD" card sleeve (front)

No Comment "the bonus EPCD" card sleeve (back)

No Comment "the bonus EPCD" CD

Now for the "Bonus 242 gems & fan-goodies"....

And again we have the unusual inclusion of a "Front by Front" lanyard! This time, white and black writing on a red lanyard....

"Front by Front" white/black on red Lanyard

A "No Comment" laminated live pass, although to me it is really more of a "Commando" live pass?

"No Comment" laminated live pass (front)

"No Comment" laminated live pass (back)

"Politics of Pressure" poster. It measures 315cm x 220cm):

"Politics of Pressure" Poster

Also included are 2 "Wax Trax Serigraphy prints" These are based on the original artwork of Front 242's first concerts in the US. These measure 315mm x 220mm and are on cardstock art paper. They are larger versions that were seen in the Wax Trax box set... (and are reproduced on T-shirts now....more on that to come!)

Wax Trax print

Wax Trax poster print

Also included are 2 "photo cards" measuring 190mm x 260mm; the first are more photos of the "No Comment" photo shoot seen on the gatefold vinyl release and the other are photos from the "Quite Unusual" video....

Photo card

Photo card

Finally there is another "Sounds From the Matrix 18" V/A sampler CD and catalogue brochure. (This CD also does not contain any 242 material)

"Sounds from the Matrix 18" CD

Outside packaging sticker

This item is listed as AM2242DLPCD but is now only available as a Download from the Alfa Matrix store....

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....