Front 242 - Geography

 Geography ~ Front 242
Geography being Front 242's debute album started an entirely new form of electronic music, i.e., they started ebm, or electronic body music. Previous to this release electronic music did not not have the hard edge that Front 242 showcased with tracks such as U-men, Operating tracks, and many other fine examples. As with any debute album, yes this one also has a problem and that is the sometimes over simplified lyrics, something that improves over time. The new art for the cover is vastly superior to the one with the face and I have no idea what the band was thinking. This is a very important release and it is groundbreaking in the sense that they created a new form of electronic music, i.e., ebm. May 16, 2005

 Hey! U-Men
For those who want a quick compillation of 242 without the "Single" scene this is a good start,"Backcatalogue" being the other.For the curious wanting to delve deeper-"Official Version" and "Front By Front" are worth a listen. March 12, 2005

 Their debut album
Somewhat ignored by many music journalists. This album has been dismissed as sounding too like other groups at that time (1981).

Of course it did. The band had just started and were only starting out. Finding their feet, they wanted to do at least what other electronic groups at that time were doing, and on that mission they succeeded.

But their sound at that time really sounded like very little else, so I am unsure as to what some music journalists were really whinging about.

Though there were similarities to Kraftwerk, New Order, etc, the sound the group was putting out didn't really reflect that. They had a sound of their own already. Very sparse (electronic) percussion, keyboard lines and minimal bass formed most songs, which were an exploration in sound rather than a conventional song.

But there is much to admire on this album, for any fan of 80's electronic music, I'd ask you to take a look at this album. January 18, 2004

 Bom bom bom duh duh dee a
This is a great CD but again you'll have to be patient with this CD . It's sounds more like Depeche Mode than what they would later do . But the songs do win you over in time except for GVDT which is immediate . You can't help but groove along to it and it's naive robotic charms . Recommended November 5, 2002

 Tragicly underrated for you...
While I know that I am in the minority here, I must say that Geography (with exception of Backcatologue) contains my favorite 242 material. This is a very sharp record. With 242's earliest work, they managed to predict what we all now know as IDM. While Geography may pale a bit when listened back to back with Richard Devine, the sounds 242 use are unmistakably similar to those employed todays most cutting edge electronic artists. The structures are interesting, and many of the beats are dislocated. A very nice ballance between vocal and instrumental tracks is found here. The songs are atmospheric and timeless. The lyrics are brilliantly existential and the sparse vocals mesh perfectly with the inorganic music. I highly recomend this cd to any Autechre fan, or anyone with an intrest in bleakness and sterility. November 20, 2001

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