Front 242 - Mut@ge Mix@ge

Greatest remix album...ever

This is one of the best remix albums I have ever come across. I am a big Front242 fan to start with, so I'm probably a little biased, but if you are an industrial or techno fan then you will definitely enjoy this album. The remixes are mostly by other bands like Prodigy, Underworld, and The Orb. My favorite tracks are the mixes of Happiness( which itself is a remix of Modern Angel) and Religion. This is a great dance cd, and I have had many mind altering ours of enjoyment with it. For those of you who are familiar with Front242, I will say that this is more techno than industrial so it doesn't have their usual sound. This also contains just about all the tracks that are on their "Mixed by Fear" cd. So just get this one and save some money. The insert also has some very nice CG artwork. A great package all around. January 5, 2008

Absolute must-own for any EBM fan

I usually try not to write gushing reviews. But, after a slow start, this album has grown on me to such a degree that one is necessary. I think 242 remixes tend to work well to begin with - the originals are both iconic and rich enough to deserve multiple treatments. (I was probably one of the few who thought that Headhunter 2000 did not go overboard remixing one song 20 times). Still, even by such standards, this disc is a knockout. Where else can you find Underworld, Orb, Prodigy and Front 242 on the same album?

As you might expect, the trance influence - something not found in 242 themselves until recently - is felt in many of these tracks. But that seems only to highlight the intensity of those tracks which are not so laid-back.

The Underworld remix of Happiness is one such, and one of the most astounding, propulsive, creative tracks I have ever heard. The funk-guitar sample towards the end is an incredible finish to an ever shifting track which nonetheless never looses its focus. (This one song was enough to make me go out and buy almost the entire Underworld discography, which had somehow escaped my attention. I'm still working through it, but I haven't yet found anything I like quite as much as this track.) The Orb remix of Rythm of Time features mini-gun samples in the beat, another inspired use that really works.

And, for easy comparison (or nostalgia), you also get the originals of Fear and Junkdrome rounding out a full 72 minutes of goodness.

Pick this one up while you still can! August 23, 2006

Strong remix package of EBM masters

It took me ages to find this. I had seen and heard Underworld's dance remix of 'Happiness' on TV years ago and tried to find it. I was told it was on this collection but of course no one had ever heard of it. Eventually I managed to track it down. It was well worth it just for the 'Happiness' remix, but added to that is Underworld's excellent dub remix of the same track.

The Orb throw in a couple of ambient remixes which are unsettling rather than ambient! Their 'Victor the Cleaner' mix of 'Rhythm of Time' is not ambient at all! All pounding kickdrums and swirling whails, this one would make even Front 242 a bit nervy!

As would The Prodigy's remix of 'Religion'. They don't do many remixes but as a fan of Front 242, The Prodigy's Liam Howlett made an exception and did two mixes of the affore-mentioned track. The first one being a pounding, dancefloor-clearing track, the second, a more melodic, breakbeat-style mix.

Add a few late 1980's Rico Conning mixes and two mixes by the group themselves 'Break Me' and 'Dancesoundtrackmusic', then you have an altogether superb remix package. Just don't expect anything on here to sound like Front 242's style, that's the whole idea of the CD, to let other artists re-interpret the band's music. January 18, 2004

One of my favourite electronic albums

I have to confess, this was actually the first Front 242 album I bought, and so far the only other one I own is Front By Front (which kick so much arse it's not funny), so please don't immediately dismiss this review if your a long-time F242 fan...

Anyway, the music itself is pretty damned good, regardless of how similar or otherwise it sounds to F242's usual EBM/industrial-dance sound. Most of it isn't really EBM at all, but varies from very hectic, danceable techno to more laid-back electronica to outright ambient - remarkably, there are tracks on this CD suitable for every occaision from candlelit dinner for two (!) or Sunday-morning lie-in to the hardest, sweatiest, most amphetamine-fuelled rave imaginable (no prizes for guessing that the Prodigy were responsible for a couple of these remixes!)

Standout tracks include Rico Conning's "Bunkerclub" mix of "Gripped by Fear", easily one of the most beautiful and atmospheric pieces of industrial/electronica I have ever heard (and I like Aphex Twin...), the long (10 mins+), complex "Dancesoundtrackmusic", the Prodigy's "Trance You Down" remix of "Religion" and The Orb's utterly awesome "Victor The Cleaner" mix of "Rhythm of Time", which sounds like pure MDMA distilled into musical form.

Anyway, I think I've rambled on long enough now, so check this CD out, whether you're an established Front 242 fan (in which case, approach with an open mind) or new to the band (in which case look out for their other stuff too!). March 24, 2003

IMHO- 3 stars

This disk has some rare gems and some not so great tracks, like most remix compilations. Included are remixes from earlier albums, Tyrrany for You and the two disk release of 05:22:09:12 Off [F**k Off] and 06:21:03:11 Up Evil. Anyway, on this one, the good outway the bad, so if you are a fan, these tracks are a more mature glimspe of 242's material. March 21, 2002

More reviews at Amazon.com ...