Front 242 - Pulse
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CD Details
Artist: Front 242Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2003-05-06
Music Label: Metropolis Records
Soundtracks:
- Seq666 - P
- Seq666 - U
- Seq666 - L
- Seq666 - S
- Seq666 - E
- Together
- Triple X Girlfriend
- NoMore - NoMore
- Beyond The Scale Of Comprehension
- Song - Untitled
- Song - StarCandy
- One - With The Fire
- One - Reverse
- Matrix - OpenStatic
- Matrix - MegaHertz
- Never Lost - Faust
- Never Lost - Riley
- 7Rain Filter
- Pan - One
- Pan - Mink
Music reviews of Pulse
Music Review: Feel the pulse...
Rating: 5 Stars
It has been ten years since Front 242 graced our ears with their infectious array of beat-driven electronic experimentation. As one of the purveyors of what is now known as EBM, 242 were at the forefront of the synthesizer revolution of the '80s. By the early '90s, the band started to run into some turmoils; the two vocalists didn't agree with the new direction the instrumentalists were taking. Instead, 242 started to incorporate a more layered approach, building ambience upon their old formula coupled with abrasive guitar textures, ultimately creating a more grating sound that put the band on par with their industrial counterparts. Over the next ten years, the members of 242 would pursue other projects, as well as revamping their older material for the Re:Boot tour that ran from '97 to '02. Some didn't agree with their more techno-fied reworkings of their classics, but in this day and age of Nine Inch Nails, Prodigy, Crystal Method, and other such electronic and industrial bands who have taken the technology to new lengths, 242's old sound is now obsolete. Many fans don't seem to understand this, but the band can not exist in this day and age sounding like they did in the '80s. Not only would it sound hacknyed and rehashed, but it would be unoriginal and not in line with the band's adventurous spirit. They've always been about taking things further and pushing the limits of what is possible musically and technically. The old sound is over...it's time to move on.
So after ten years, Front 242 returns with an album of pure experimental synthesis. "Pulse" is an apt title, with the music still relying on a strong beat as the backbone. The difference now...the beats are more subdued, which may lead to some people feeling the music is too mellow for 242. I won't argue, the music does feel less harsh than much of the band's previous output, but harshness does not necessarily equal intensity. The level of sonic textures at work on this album are nothing short of impressive. Sure, to gearheads all over the world, some of it may sound derivative, like they took the presets and just recorded themselves tweaking with them to the point of being unrecognizable. Consider this...that's what much of their earlier material was in the first place as well, thus the band is returning to their roots in a sense. With so many palettes of sound going on, it's a good thing that the beats were toned down to allow the listener to hear the music as a work of music and sound, not just as something to dance to. Much of this material could easily be remixed to be danceable, or even transformed for live performances (as the band is known for altering their music to suit the live environment, I wouldn't be surprised of a song like "Triple X Girlfriend" could be made danceable in live shows). The intro track(s) "Seq666 (P.U.L.S.E.)" are 12 minutes of pure electronic bliss, perfect for the modern rave or the electronic connessieur. Songs like "Matrix (MegaHertz)," "No More No More," "One," and "Together" harken back to 242's good old mix of aggressive energy and melodic lyricism. Jean-Luc de Meyer's vocals may seem lighter than they've been in the past, but so what? The man can still deliver those dark and passionate vocals we've come to know and love. Other tracks like "Beyond the Scale of Comprehension" and "Never Lost" may sound like self-indulgent works of synthesizer tweaking, but I'll bet if they had a dance beat to them, people wouldn't be complaining.
All in all, I have to say that "Pulse" did take some getting used to. I wasn't at all prepared for Front 242 to sound like this, but over time I've come to appreciate the album for what it is, a work of pioneering electronic mastery. So there may be traces of Daniel B's and Patrick Codenys' Male or Female project in the music, but that's only natural, there's no getting around it. Any musician will tell you, no matter how many projects they have, elements of all of them will blend into each other...the people are the common thread, so it's going to happen. However, there is a distinct sense that this album is undoubtedly Front 242. Change is a good thing if you allow it to be. The Front 242 of the '80s is over...it's time for a new Front 242. The band members are older, wiser, and more experienced. How do you start from scratch? The answer is you make an album like "Pulse," to start with no preconceptions of what Front 242 are "supposed" to sound like and return to the original intention...experimentation. Front 242 was about pushing the envelope. That envelope has been pushed. It's time to find a new one, and "Pulse" pushes for that. It doesn't always succeed, but what first effort does? There are hits and misses, but that's what hindsight and improvement are for. Who knows? Maybe their next album will contain more vocal tracks, maybe not. Maybe their next album will be heavier on the beat, maybe not. Time will tell, but it is not the choice of the fans what direction 242 move in...it's the band's choice. All we can do as fans and listeners is give it the chance. It will not please everybody, but whatever does? "Pulse" is both the return and the rebirth of Front 242. Put your preconceptions aside and do as the band did...start from scratch. Don't deny the past, just remember that it is the past. It's over...it's time for the future. This is Front 242 in the now. Just give this album a chance...it is indeed worth it.
Description of Pulse
Pulse by Front 242This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
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