Memorabilia of the Week: Magnet 242

Here we have an interesting collection of "bootleg" Front 242 pins. These are actually very professional looking and are not of the "homemade" variety.

Each of the magnets measures approximately 3 X 3 inches, with a glossy texture and very nice, brilliant colors. Each magnet sports a different album "242 sphere" cover art for the Epic/Sony Front 242 Catalogue re releases. My personal favorite seems to be the "Front By Front", as the reds and yellows really stand out!

Perfect item for your 242 locker or refrigerator!

Front 242 Magnets

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!)

Poster of the Week: Moment of Terror

Here we have another of those iconic Front 242 posters, this time from the FRONT X FRONT era, and is titled "Moment of Terror".

This quote was used on much of the album and T-Shirt artwork during this time in 242 history.
I have written in the past about these items and the source of the quote:
http://target242.blogspot.com/2010/07/t-shirt-of-week-moment-of-terror-1989.html

The poster features classic 242 concert images, surrounded by the FRONT X FRONT era 242 logo, this time in blue (most of the time it is in red).

You can still find this poster on secondary markets, but it is sometimes hard to find in mint condition, as the glossy black is not very forgiving when it comes to pinholes and folds.

Moment of Terror poster

Detail

Detail

Detail

Compilation of the Week: New Life 13 Years of Electronic Lust

Here we have an interesting compilation from 1996, with a virtual "who's who" of early industrial and electronic body music...

"New Life 13 Years of Electronic Lust" is not really a compilation or sampler per se, but what I gather "New Life" is billed as "The Ultimate Sound Magazine". So this is a CD representative of the music and artists featured therein.

Issued on the COP International label, it has the catalogue number COP 020.
The liner notes state that this collection was compiled by Uwe Rothhaemel.

The Front 242 track presented here is "Quite Unusual."
While it is easily one of my favorite Front 242 tracks, I'm not so sure that it is the most representative of Front 242's body of work. But I guess "Headhunter" or "Welcome to Paradise" should not be on every compilation!

In addition to 242, some of my other favorite artists are featured on this CD.
Laibach has the outstanding "Geburt Einer Nation" and other standouts include tracks by Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, Die Krupps and Nitzer Ebb.

Track List:

1. Laibach:  "Geburt Einer Nation"
2. Front 242:  "Quite Unusual"
3. Chris & Cosey:  "Driving Blind"
4. Moev:  "Wanting"
5. Skinny Puppy:  "The Choke"
6. Click Click:  "I Rage, I Melt"
7. Die Krupps:  "Machineries of Joy"
8. Mussolini Headkick:  "Your god is dead"
9. Numb:  "Hanging Key"
10. Psyche:  "Brain Collapse"
11. The Klinik:  "Cold as Ice"
12. Frontline Assembly:  "Landslide"
13. Cassandra Complex:  "One Million Happy Costumers" (Note this really should be "One Millionth Happy Customer")
14. Nitzer Ebb:  "Let Beauty Loose"
15. Severed Heads:  "New Life"

New Life picture sleeve (Front)

New Life picture sleeve (Reverse)

New Life picture sleeve liner notes

New Life Trayliner

New Life disc

T-Shirt of the Week: Wax Trax! Retrospectacle

As most 242 fans know, Front 242 headlined the fantastic Wax Trax! 33 1/3 Retrospectacle on April 15 and 17, 2011.
The shows were phenomenal and I hope to eventually post some video and pictures of this fantastic once-in-a-lifetime event!

Here we have one of the many 242 shirts for sale at the event.
This is an homage to the "Official Warfare" shirt that was for sale in the Wax Trax! catalogue for many years. It features the helicopter that can be seen on the Kommando Remix shirt still available at Transmission 242 today.

The reverse features the 242 numbers forming the word "2HI4AG2" which is a clever variation of "CHICAGO".

Patrick reported to me that perhaps some of these shirts might eventually make it for sale on the 242 site or on the Wax Trax! Retrospectacle website.

Wax Trax! Retrospectacle "2HI4AG2" shirt (front)

Wax Trax! Retrospectacle "2HI4AG2" shirt (back)

Bootleg of the Week: Re:Boot Arvika Festival CD-R

With their "rebooted" sound, Front 242 toured extensively throughout much of 1997-1998, with the Re:Boot material continuing to be presented past 2000. This material was well represented with the official Re:Boot release in all its many formats.

But with the tour, came many opportunities for fans to collect their own material. Here we have one such item. This is a fan-made CD-R recording from Front 242's appearance at the Arvika Festival in Sweden on July 11, 1997.

This appears to be from a radio show that was broadcast, as both the "Intro" and the closing track "Body To Body" feature intro/outro commentary by a broadcaster. Along the way, we have brief commentary in the form of "Mellansnack". With my Swedish friends quick to correct me, Google translates this term as "between talking" or "between chat"...

The fan made artwork is very nice, with a wonderful picture of Richard 23 on the front, in his silver trench coat that he sported on this tour, and a picture of J-L on the back.

The sound quality is excellent!

Track List:

Intro                                   1:02
Happiness                    6:43
Masterhit                    4:43
Motion                            4:15
Mellansnack 1            0:12
Moldavia                    4:33
Melt                                    3:40
Soul Manager            4:26
No Shuffle                    5:33
Im Rhythmus Bleiben    4:32
Mellansnack 2            0:09
Crapage                            4:37
Headhunter                    4:15
Welcome To Paradise    4:57
Body To Body            3:28

Re:Boot Arvika Festival CD-R Picture Sleeve

Re:Boot Arvika Festival CD-R Tray Liner

Memorabilia of the Week: More 242 Pins

I came across some new high-quality Front 242 pins in recent months on ebay.
These are not "official" by any means, but the production and execution of these "bootleg" pins is quite outstanding!

First we have 242 "jellyfish" that can be seen on Re:Boot T-shirts and the Re:Boot fan-edition album.

Next we have the classic "noir" Front 242 cover to Geography. Iconic.

One can never go wrong with the Front 242 "target" logo.

Finally, a more recent addition: the poster image from the 2005 concert at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco. My post and comment about this image is here:
http://target242.blogspot.com/2010/11/poster-of-week-dna-lounge-san-francisco.html

Once again, top-notch quality in "bootleg" form.
It's a shame that Transmission 242 doesn't sell more stuff like this...obviously I would buy it!

Recent Front 242 pins