(Photo by Mothmeister) In a message posted on their Facebook yesterday evening at 7 PM, the Belgian cult EBM act Front 242 have announced that they will hold their last concerts ever.

Here’s the statement which is being announced as a ‘Black Out’: “Today, we reach out to you, our fans, with a heavy yet hopeful heart to share the news of our final concerts. Now, we are preparing to bring down the curtain on our live performances as FRONT 242, we find ourselves navigating a sea of emotions.

For nearly four decades, we’ve journeyed together, creating unforgettable moments and sharing the profound joy of music. You’ve been more than an audience; you’ve been a part of our extended family, witnessing our evolution and sharing in our highs and lows.

The decision to step back from performing live has not been easy, but we believe it’s important to end this chapter on a high note, preserving the essence of Front 242 that you’ve grown to love. We want to leave you with memories of our band at its peak, full of energy and passion.

So, we are extending our invitation to you: join us for one last adventure. Let’s make these final shows a celebration of the incredible journey we’ve shared. We promise to deliver performances that capture the heart and soul of Front 242, a fitting farewell to a story we’ve written together.”

The band has announced a string of concerts, which will serve as the band’s live farewell.

EU24

• 04 Aug LOKEREN – Lokerse Feesten – B
• 10 Aug HILDESHEIM – M’Era Luna – DE

US24

• 06 Sept TAMPA – Jannus Landing – US
• 07 Sept PHILADELPHIA – Union Transfer – US
• 08 Sept CLEVELAND – Agora Theater – US
• 13 Sept LOS ANGELES – Mayan Theater – US
• 14 Sept PORTLAND – Roseland Ballroom – US
• 15 Sept SAN FRANCISCO – Great American Music Hall – US

EU24

• 12 Oct HAMBURG – Markthalle – DE
• 17 Oct UTRECHT – Tivoli Ronda – NL
• 18 Oct BERLIN – Huxley’s Neue Welt – DE
• 19 Oct OBERHAUSEN – Turbinnenhalle – DE
• 25 Oct MÜNCHEN – Backstage Werk – DE
• 26 Oct LANGEN – Neue Stadthalle – DE

US24

• 08 Nov HOUSTON – Rise Rooftop – US
• 09 Nov DALLAS – Granada Theater – US
• 10 Nov DENVER – Reelworks – US
• 15 Nov CHICAGO – Metro – US
• 16 Nov CHICAGO – Metro – US

EU24

• 29 Nov GOTHENBURG – Film Studios – SE (FutureRetro)
• 30 Nov STOCKHOLM – Berns – SE (FutureRetro)
• 06 Dec LILLE – Black Lab – FR
• 07 Dec PARIS – Le Trianon – FR
• 08 Dec LONDON – UK
• 13 Dec BARCELONA – Sala Apolo – SP
• 14 Dec MADRID – Sala La Paqui – SP
• 25 Dec CHEMNITZ – Dark Storm Festival – DE

EU25

• 10 Jan COPENHAGEN – Pumpehuset – DK
• 24 Jan BRUSSELS – Ancienne Belgique – B
• 25 Jan BRUSSELS – Ancienne Belgique – B

About Front 242

Front 242, a vanguard Belgian electronic music group, emerged in the 1980s, pioneering a genre they dubbed “electronic body music” (EBM). Their innovative approach not only defined a new sound but also left a lasting impact on electronic and industrial music genres worldwide.

Founded in 1981 in Aarschot, near Leuven, Belgium, by Daniel Bressanutti and Dirk Bergen, Front 242 set out to explore music and graphic design with emerging electronic tools. Bressanutti’s prior engagement with Prothese laid a foundational stone for what was to become a monumental journey in electronic music. The duo named the project Front 242, embedding a vision of organized popular uprising within their name, which resonates universally across languages.

Their debut single, “Principles”, released in 1981, marked the inception of their distinctive sound. The addition of Patrick Codenys and Jean-Luc De Meyer in 1982, from the group Underviewer, enriched the band’s sonic and creative depth. This formation solidified Front 242’s lineup and set the stage for their groundbreaking work.

Front 242’s first album, “Geography”, released in 1982, showcased their unique blend of sound, which was further developed in their subsequent releases. Their pioneering sound was characterized by the innovative use of synthesizers, samplers, and sequencers, creating a powerful, danceable, and at times, confrontational sound that became synonymous with EBM.

The release of “No Comment” in 1984 was a critical moment, with the album’s liner notes introducing the term electronic body music for the first time. This period also saw the band’s expansion into international markets, signing with American label Wax Trax! and embarking on tours that included supporting Ministry, marking their rising global influence.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Front 242 continued to innovate and evolve. Albums like “Tyranny (For You)” reached new heights, charting in the United States. The band’s willingness to reinvent themselves was evident in their shift towards a more techno-oriented sound with the “Re:Boot” tour, acknowledging influences like The Prodigy.

Side projects and collaborations flourished during this time, with members engaging in diverse musical endeavors that included forming bands like Revolting Cocks, C-Tec, and Cobalt 60.

The band’s last studio album was “Pulse”, released in 2003 and re-released by Alfa Matrix in an extended version. Also check the various extended reissues and Front 242 live releases.

Front 242 studio albums

• Geography (1982)
• No Comment (1984)
• Official Version (1987)
• Front by Front (1988)
• Tyranny (For You) (1991)
• 06:21:03:11 Up Evil (1993)
• 05:22:09:12 Off (1993)
• Pulse (2003)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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The last few months Daniel Bressanutti aka Daniel B. (Front 242, Morf, Prothèse) has joined the Acronym project. The project has now partnered with the Republic of Gamers to launch skyanycolour.com, an online group exhibition featuring over 50 artists and designers.

Daniel B.: “The project’s purpose is to explore humanity’s increasingly complex relationship with the future, a topic that has become even more relevant given the events of this year.”

Here’s the trailer for the project.

Over 50 artists and designers were introduced to form smaller breakout teams, each choosing their own formats. Initial works were showcased inside the recently-released Acronym X ROG ZEPHYRUS G14–ACRNM®, limited edition laptop, and form basis for the Sky Any Colour program launch. The ongoing exhibition, with new film, animation, music, graphic and photographic works will continue to be released on skyanycolour.com into the first quarter of 2021. Acronym also partnered with the incubator accelerator Hxouse, co-founded by artist, The Weeknd, creative director, La Mar Taylor and global innovator, Ahmed Ismail.

The participants in this multi-disciplinary project include Daniel Bressanutti, Ruben Fro, Sebeyu, Laura Dubuk, Aaron Beck, Evian Christ, Bisi Ezerioha, Phil Saunders, Kat Zhang, Steve Teeple, Khyzyl Saleem, Monika Bielskyte, Chris Bjerre, NOKENTY, Errolson Hugh, Stephen Platt, Rod Chong, Nicolas Kadima, David Rudnick, Ornamental Conifer, Ryan Davis, Look Mister, Michael Tello, Nathan Qi, Clouds, Ian Wang, Hans Olo, Reuben Wu, Kim Jung Gi, Corin Roddick (Purity Ring), Spencer Canon, Laith Safa (Hxouse), Whyishnave Suthagar (Hxouse), Alim Sabir (Hxouse), Eric Cheung, Sebastian Palencia, Rayul (Hxouse), Trish Roque (Hxouse), Joshua Schachter, Ben Dosage, Glare, Mike Sunday, Joyce Mao, Evian Christ, Daniel Swan, Malte Müller, Kazuhiro Aihara, Sam Madhu, Raf Rennie, Pussy Riot, Asad Malik (Jadu Hologram), Kristopher Ho, Harlan Hugh, Ed Palumbo, Liam Wong, Dobu Supply, Gat Kong and Jennifer Bin.

About Acronym, Republic of Gamers (ROG) and Hxouse

Acronym itself was founded in 1994 by Michaela Sachenbacher and Errolson Hugh as an independent design agency with a focus on the unification of style and technology in apparel. Through its eponymous brand, as well as its numerous contract design projects, Acronym has been instrumental in the emergence of a new generation of technical apparel products and users.

Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world’s best gaming hardware and software. Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, desktops, monitors, audio equipment, routers and peripherals. ROG participates in and sponsors major international gaming events and ROG gear has been used to set hundreds of overclocking records and continues to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world.

Hxouse is a next-generation incubator and accelerator that is at the forefront of fostering innovation and opportunity for creative entrepreneurs. It facilitates connections between talent and industry to build mutually-beneficial relationships between future talent and current industry titans. A not-for-profit venture co-founded by multi-platinum artist The Weeknd, creative director La Mar Taylor, and global innovator Ahmed Ismail.

Work for RMT01 gaming laptop

Daniel B. also did music and sounds for the launch of the RMT01, the world’s most powerful 14 inch gaming laptop. The machine has been radically retooled by Acronym and designed David Rudnick using magnesium and aluminum alloys, custom machining, precision etchings, specially developed paints, and two completely original typefaces.

With an 8-core AMD® Ryzen™ 9 CPU and RTX graphics, RMT01 is not only built for the most dedicated gamers, but uniquely tailored to the specs of the next generation of creative professionals. It is also equipped with eight custom-designed animations exclusive to RMT01.

Full info can be found on this website.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: EBM, Experimental, Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info:  Daniel Bressanutti aka Daniel B. is a kind of living legend. One of the core members of Front 242 (‘the man behind the mixing desk’) and still involved with numerous projects such as Male Or Female, Speed Tribe, Nothing But Noise, 99.9 and of course Daniel B./Prothese this celebrates his sixty sixth anniversary! To celebrate this event he revisited some legendary Front 242 songs plus one of the most famous Male Or Female cuts.

Content: We all know the original versions of “Happiness” and “Neurobashing” while “Seq666” (from the “Pulse”-album) is a less renowned track from Front 242. Daniel B. reworked the songs from his very own perspective, becoming a bit more experimental and ambient, but still easily recognizable and totally danceable. He even added some fragmented vocal parts on “Happiness”. “Skeleton Toy” originally released by Male Or Female is a bit more experimental. The last song “Intro.Outro” is only available at the digital- and CD format and sounds as.. an intro or outro.

+ + + : This album is an original idea –although a bit schizophrenic, but still an opportunity to rediscover some famous ‘242’-hits. “Happiness” and “Neurobashing” both are still holding on some essential elements of the original edits (like the melody line), but there’s this little extra and experimental Daniel B. touch on top. The man who’s ‘organising noise’ totally succeeded in his mission. It also is one of the most accessible releases Daniel B. has released over the past few years, most of his work being definitely more Experimental/Noise or Krautrock-driven.

– – – : When I was listening to this new work of Daniel B. I thought, ‘why not work on new Front 242?’… maybe just a very last time to remind all electronic lovers why Front 242 have been pioneers and visionary artists.

Conclusion: I get the feeling Daniel B. has seen it all and is just having fun when releasing a new work. Happy birthday Mr. Bressanutti and keep up entertaining the audience and your fans.

Best songs: “Happiness – Happy End”, Neurobashing – chzwaartzmetaal beat”

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/DanielBProthese-498107323916078

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Daniel Bressanutti aka Daniel B. from Front 242 fame Will soon celebrate his 66th anniversary. For the occasion he recorded the “Six+Six” album. The album travels via a 46+ minute long sonic journey through the artist’s prolific career revisiting a selection of songs he wrote for Front 242 or Male Or Female by re-recording them.

That album is available now digitally (download from Bandcamp) and on CD edition (available here).

The tracks were chosen to best fit the set-up of a new upbeat live-DJ concept of Daniel B./Prothèse which already received excellent reviews at its inauguration in Belgium in February 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of all other festival dates and instead these songs are now being officially released in studio format. On the album you”ll find old-time personal favorites like “Happiness”, “Neurobashing”, “Seq666” and MorF’s club hit “Skeleton Toy”. You’ll also get the bonus track “Intro.Outro”.

“Six+Six” is also released in a very limited vinyl format edition (only 200 copies in total – in 2 different colours) on Daniel B.’s own label brand.

You can also stream it on Spotify and related platforms.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, krautrock, ambient.

Background/Info: Daniel Bressanutti (Daniel B) became a real prolific artist during the past few years. He released an impressive number of productions as Nothing But Noise (with his old compares Dirk Berghen) and also under his own name (associated with his early project Prothese).

Content: The title of this double album also reveals the inspiration and/or sound approach featured on “HöllEKtroKraut​ / HellEctroKraut”. It rather sounds as a very personal interpretation of the German ‘krautrock’ by Daniel B. He revisited this music style with his typical and very personal sound. Each disc features 5 songs on, which you’ll rapidly recognize some of the artist’s trademarks. He reveals a great sound arsenal, which mixes experimentalism with industrial sound treatments, astral spheres (reminding to Nothing But Noise) to certain early Kraftwerk-touch.

+ + + : Daniel B will always be linked to Front 242, which is quite normal as he always has been the great instigator and sound architect behind the legendary EBM formation. But his solo-work especially reveals the passion he has for sound creation and noise. He has this magic touch to create something ambient –or krautrock-like by mixing noises together. The experiment slowly becomes more accessible revealing a cinematographic appeal. The tracks have been composed with a slow progression, sometimes supported with noticeable strings. I like the dark- and raw approach, which is part of this artist.

– – – : I would make the same comment as on some Nothing But Noise cuts; a few tracks and passages are a little bit too long creating monotonous passages. Daniel.B.Prothese remains an extreme experiment, which has nothing to do with Front 242 although you’ll recognize the sound DNA of the master…

Conclusion: Daniel B clearly still has a lot of ideas and music to share with his fans. He brings krautrock alive or simply revisited the genre his very own way.

Best songs: “Le Grand Malheur”, “Kraut & Roll”, “Deathless 50 4”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/DanielBProthese-498107323916078

Label: www.facebook.com/Db2fluctuation-2196964670330106

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Genre/Influences: Experimental, electronics, ambient.

Background/Info: Old mates Daniel Bressanutti and Dirk Bergen are back on track unleashing this new work featuring 3 tracks. “Mutanten Maschine” has been originally released on cassette format on Wool-E-Tapes. The band also self-released the album on USB-stick and now brings a CD-version limited to 200 copies. The CD format features one extra song.

Content: Nothing But Noise sounds like an electronic sound laboratory. It covers different influences and is mainly characterized by the deep, vibrating and low sound frequencies, which are like a trademark for Daniel B (and still noticeable in the Front 242 releases).

“Mutanten Maschine” sounds a bit in the line of the album “From Berlin To Brussel”. It’s dark and astral-like, sometimes a little less repetitive and also featuring dreamy-like passages. The songs remain totally instrumental-like; no vocals or spoken samplings featured. Notice by the way the third track is an alternative version from one of the original versions.

+ + + : The deep bass sound remains one of the most noticeable aspects of the work. It sounds a bit like the Daniel B trademark, but Nothing But Noise is much more than this. There’s a nice twist between different sound inputs (mainly analogue-like). It also is a work with a visual appeal.

– – – : The slow progression from the tracks sometimes creates monotonous passages.

Conclusion: Nothing But Noise remains an abyssal sound experience. It has something evasive, but still creating a suffocating effect through its dark approach.

Best songs: “Mutanten Maschine 1”, “Rückmutation”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.nothingbutnoise.one / www.facebook.com/NothingButNoiseProject

Label: www.wool–e–shop.be / www.facebook.com/woolediscs

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

The recently released “Eleven Grinding Songs”, the debut album by Lederman / De Meyer is one of the best EBM releases which have been released this year so far. Lederman / De Meyer is the brand new project between 2 electronic music legends Jean-Marc Lederman and Jean-Luc De Meyer.

“Eleven Grinding Songs” is released in 4 versions. Besides the regular CD album (available here), there is also the 2CD set (with an 11-track bonus disc with 4 exclusive additional songs plus 7 remixes or alternative versions) (available here) and a deluxe download (available here) plus also a black vinyl edition (including a carton sleeve CD edition with the same track-list) (available here).

Side-Line decided to go to the roots of the project together with Jean-Marc Lederman. In today’s article we talk with Jean-Marc Lederman about the synthesisers in the early days of EBM.

SL: Things were very different than they are now when one sees the equipment available for musicians back in the early 80’s.

JM: It’s very simple: most synths were monophonic and had no memories or presets back then if you exclude the more expensive synths like Oberheim or Prophets .

These machines couldn’t easily talk to each other unless you used techniques that one had to invent or try such was the infancy of electronic music. As an example, Daniel Miller used to lay on a track a slow square pulse that would later on trig the equipment: needless to say the results were on a on-by-one basis, some equipment not liking being triggered by outside machinery.

SL: The arrival of cheaper Japanese synthesizers…

JM: …would indeed provide a welcome alternative to musicians and alternative electronic music started to be happening round 1978/1979 by musicians embracing the punk attitude of DIY: Cabaret Voltaire, Human League, Throbbing Gristle, The Normal etc…were soon going to be the guiding lights of people into new sounds and new attitude towards music and art.

One decisive instrument was the Korg MS 20 (1978) who, under the genius hands of Chris Haas, was sculpting the sound of a band destined to start the entire EBM genre: Deutsch Amerikanischen Freundschaft, later called DAF.

SL: And in Belgium?

JM: In Belgium, Daniel Bressanutti, working in a music shop in Brussels, Hill’s Music, which was instrumental in the development of punk in Brussels, was already making musical experiments and Front 242 would release its first record in 1981.

1983 would see two very important stepping stones in electronic music as it was that year when MIDI ( a language linking synthesizers together) was released and it was also the release of the Yamaha DX7, a very powerful midi polyphonic synthesizers with strong dynamic possibilities) which would be like honey of the busy bees of EBM. The final icing on the electronic music scene would happen in 1985 with the availability of the Atari ST computer, bringing easier sequencing possibilities to the musicians.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, industrial, abstract-electronics.

Background/Info: Daniel Bressanutti aka Daniel B. is a kind of living legend from the electronic scene. We of course all know him as one of the Front 242 core members, but we sometimes forget before he set up the EBM cult-act he was experimenting with electronics as Prothèse. Since a few couple of years the early project has been reactivated and several productions saw the light of day. This new opus is available in different formats; vinyl, CD and limited DCD box while Wool-E Tapes released a limited cassette format.

Content: The early work of Daniel B. as Prothèse was really experimental and even into noises. The approach behind this new cryptic title hasn’t really changed, but the tracks became more accessible. The artist clearly experiments with noises, turning the knobs, filtering bleeps, adding tons of effects and adding some rhythmics. The sound treatments are pretty dark and industrial-like. But a few cuts also reveal a mysterious atmosphere while other passages reveal some EBM sequences.

+ + + : Prothèse has been never that accessible although it remains an extreme sonic travel. The main characteristic and strength of the album remain the impressive sound production resulting in overwhelming sound layers and heavy, blasting tones. It sounds a bit like improvisation; there’s no real structure and yet it sounds cohesive. I was impressed by some bass lines (sometimes on the edge of EBM), the dark atmospheric layers, the industrial noises and the cadence, which makes this sonic mayhem more accessible. The bonus disc featuring 8 extra cuts is absolutely essential as the best cuts of the album are right there.

– – – : Even if Prothèse has been never that accessible it however remains an extreme electronic creation, which will not necessarily please the Front 242-fans. This is something completely different and probably revealing a more personal side of Daniel B.

Conclusion: Prothèse sounds a bit like the secret laboratory of sonic alchemist Daniel B. He decomposed and recomposed sounds and noises having accomplished one of his major works under the Prothèse moniker.

Best songs: “9Blakskull9”, “Elec+rOharmonie<>Kraf+”, “EchOlO+ung 3”, “EchOlO+ung 2”, “EchOlO+ung 1<>PhaseEin”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/DanielBProthese-498107323916078

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Out next month, but available for ordering right here, is the Nothing But Noise album “eXistence oscillation Past”. Nothing But Noise is the duo consiting of Daniel Bressanutti (Front 242) and Dirk Bergen (ex-Front 242) and they bring ambient, soundscape music.

“eXistence oscillation Past” is part one of a 2 cd release and Chapter 1 in an ongoing series called “Belgian NeuMusik”, dedicated to all future Belgian instrumental ambient electronic music & soundscapes. The album consists of 5 long ambient soundscape pieces. The material will be presented live at the B-Wave Festival in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium on November 12 2016.

The duo already released 2 sold out cassettes in their “Music for muted TV” series and in 2012 “Not Bleeding Red”, a double CD/Vinyl album came out via Wool-E records. So be fast to get this one and order your copy right now.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com