Geography (2004) [Re-mastered]

This album represents an era where a small international community of musicians were pushing the boundaries of synthesis beyond conventional usage. Alongside Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream and the Art of Noise was Front 242. Geography is marked by a harder edge than the other groups. Daniel Bressanutti fell in love with the Roland System 100, and it features prominently on this album. It also was used on the recent album, Pulse. Other synths include the Korg MS20, Yamaha CS15, Roland Sequencer 104 and PPG Wave. If you are a fan of bands such as Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, and KMFDM, chances are good you've already heard this album. Even so, 242 digitally remastered Geography from the original analog masters. The quality is vastly improved and clarified. For the 242 neophytes who may have only heard Headhunter, remember that this album was released in 1981. So refrain from bashing the selection of drum kits or boxy sounding vocals. It is part of the charm. Some of the highlights: Kampfbereit, a very sullen German vocal and bassline, He Runs Too Fast For Us, a track that was unreleased on Sony/Epic's reissue of Geography. It indeed, is very fast. Operating Tracks has a nice energetic pace and array of lead synths. The second disc is a bunch of tracks by Daniel B as Prothese (pre-242). They are interesting, and you can hear the origins of 242's sound. A few remixes and instrumental Geography tracks are at the end of the second disc, if you wanted to sing Kampfbereit in Karaoke. I'd also recommend listening to Front by Front, No Comment, Tyranny For You, Up Evil and Pulse. In that order, which is chronological, you will hear an amazing evolution of style that retains a remarkable vision throughout.

This is truly a groundbreaking album with many a beats to jam to......when it snows that is...