Daniel B. & Elko B. – 66.6 (Album – Alfa Matrix)
Genre/Influences: Experimental, EBM, Industrial, Krautrock, Psychedelic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: One year after the “Six+Six”-album, on which Front 242 core member Daniel B. revisited some ‘242’-song, he now strikes again with a second chapter in this series. Together with guitarist Elko B. he reworked three more songs of Front 242 and released one new piece. This work is a new celebration for the 66th anniversary of this Electro legend.
Content: Who better than Daniel B. can rework some of the most famous Front 242 hits? “Welcome to Paradise”, “Funkahdafi” and “Nomenclatura” got a serious sonic makeover. You easily recognize the original songs by the samplings, bass lines and even some rhythms, but the basis of the songs have been recomposed by new and extra sound. Daniel B. once said that he put noise into rhythm and that’s an aspect you easily recognize. He transformed the EBM songs into psychedelic passages, the guitar playing injecting an extra Experimental/Krautrock approach. The new track sounds a similar way and is mainly characterized by its repetitive sequences moving crescendo until reaching a sonic, noisey climax.
+ + + : I definitely prefer this new work in comparison with “Six+Six”. First there’s an interesting choice of the tracks; the original ‘242’ songs were all composed without real vocals, the samplings creating the spirit of the tracks. Daniel B. held the samplings and reworked the songs. I especially like the opening song “Welcome To Paradise”, but my favorite cut is the new track “The End Of The End” –a prophetic title? The way this song has been composed and evolving through a heavy sonic mayhem is absolutely irresistible. It finally ends into a transcendental approach.
– – – : If you’re just and only into the original EBM cuts, this is not exactly the kind of sound you’re going to like.
Conclusion: This work has to celebrate the anniversary of this visionary artist, but let’s hope he’ll go on creating new material… no time for retirement!
Best songs: “The End Of The End”, “Welcome To Paradise”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.facebook.com/DanielBProthese-498107323916078
Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix
About Daniel B. & Elko B.
Daniel B. is the stage name of Daniel Bressanutti, a founding member of Front 242, the Belgian EBM group formed in 1981. Guitarist Elko B. joined him for “Six+Six” (2020, Alfa Matrix), the first chapter of a series reworking Front 242 songs for Bressanutti’s 66th anniversary. “66.6” is the second chapter, reworking “Welcome To Paradise”, “Funkahdafi” and “Nomenclatura” and adding the new track “The End Of The End”. Alfa Matrix released the album the same month as two archival Front 242 live albums, including “91 (Live in EU)”.
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