The first of two releases for
Front 242 in 1993,
06:21:03:11 Up Evil (aka F*ck Up Evil) found the foursome rebounding from the somewhat sterile
Tyranny (For You) with a varied, vicious assault.
Incorporating guitar noise more readily than ever before, but most often chopped up and heavily treated for the band's own particular purposes,
06:21:03:11 Up Evil contains some of the band's most virulent, explosive songs.
All titles are one-word long, simple, and straightforward, with names like "Flag," "Mutilate," and "Crapage." There's almost a straight-up rock feel to a number of tracks as well, as the drumming on "Waste" and the quite anthemic "Melt" shows.
It's hardly
Front 242's grunge move, though --
Jean-Luc de Meyer and the generally little-heard
Richard 23 may have a more openly emotional rasp and rage in their voices, especially
de Meyer, but the relentless beat of industrial/electronic body music lives on.
Leadoff single "Religion" continues the group's winning vein on that front, feedback roars and a huge beat setting an edgy pace before a body slam of a chorus kicks in,
de Meyer raging over the top, "Let me burn you down!" The winning secret of the album is that a fair number of songs also demonstrate a careful subtlety, as with the sly mood-setting of "Skin," with its chopped-up electro/hip-hop beats providing the propulsion behind desperate whispers and ominous synth buzzes.
The immediately following "Motion" provides an even more upfront blend of styles, with a quiet start and gentle singing suddenly shifting into a pounding call-to-arms percussion attack, all while
de Meyer chants, "progress, progress!" again and again.
Other successes in this vein include the strange prettiness of "Stratoscape," featuring a low, purring bassline and crisp beats offset against soft keyboard sparkles and chimes, and "Fuel," which includes minimal ambient buzz, more upfront dance/beat chaos, and varying combinations of the two.
Tracklist
1.
"Crapage" - 4:57
2.
"Waste" - 4:12
3.
"Skin" - 3:34
4.
"Motion" - 3:50
5.
"Religion" - 4:05
6.
"Stratoscape" - 4:34
7.
"Hymn" - 3:26
8.
"Fuel" - 4:46
9.
"Melt" - 3:30
10.
"Flag" - 5:08
11.
"Mutilate" - 4:10
12.
"(S)Crapage" - 6:11
13.
"Religion" (Pussy Whipped Mix) - 6:06
All tracks are written by Front 242.
Credits
- Graphics – Art & Strategy
- Lyrics By [Additional Lyrics] – Jean-Luc De Meyer
- Mixed By – Andy Wallace
- Producer, Featuring [Performed By], Composed By [Music] – Daniel B., Patrick Codenys
- Recorded By [Vocals Recording And Direction] – Cassell Webb, Craig Leon
- Vocals – Jean-Luc De Meyer, Richard JK.
- Written-By – Bressanutti D., De Meyer J-L, Pauly J-M, Codenys P., Pauly P.
- Written-By [Vocals], Composed By [Vocals] – Jean-Marc Pauly, Pierre Pauly
Production
- Daniel Bressanutti – Producer
- Patrick Codenys – Producer
- Jean-Luc de Meyer – Vocals
- Craig Leon – Director, Engineer
- Rob Sutton – Engineer
- J. G. Thirlwell – Producer, Remixing
- Andy Wallace – Mixing
- Cassell Webb – Director, Vocals (background), Engineer
Companies, etc.
Notes
Release Date: May 25, 1993
Genre: Electro-industrial
Duration: 58:29
Label - Red Rhino Europe / Epic
