05:22:09:12 Off

• Artist: Front 242
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 02, 1993
• Genre: Rock

Review

A combination remix collection and wholly separate album, 05:22:09:12 Off (aka Evil Off) is a semi-sequel to 06:21:03:11 Up Evil, appearing about six months after the release of the first disc. Not only is it a fine companion piece to the earlier disc, it easily stands on its own, finding the band thoroughly engaged in some of its most extreme, experimental music ever. A fair amount of the record is given over to darker plunges, with grinding industrial noise and moody, rumbling sonics used as the basis for many a composition, while other songs explicitly flirt with hardcore techno via hyperactive rhythms. More than a few compositions -- the rhythms on "GenEcide" being a great example -- sound like they're forecasting a lot of subsequent avant techno work on Warp Records and elsewhere. Another radical departure involves the use of female vocals throughout; no direct credits are given for the singer or singers, unfortunately, but contemporary interviews referred to a New York-based trio that would be appearing on the album. Combined with Daniel Bressanutti and Patrick Codenys' thrilling reinvention of their sound throughout -- little here sounds like the "typical" Front 242 familiar from Front by Front or the like -- the vocals make 05:22:09:12 Off a fascinating listen. The key tracks are "Animal" and "Angel," both of which crop up in a variety of different forms throughout 05:22:09:12 Off. "Animal" itself appears in three radically different versions at the start of the disc, ranging from understated minimalism to crisp but oddly distanced rhythms, as well at least one other take later on. "Angel," meanwhile, surfaces as both "Modern Angel," with the female singer delivering her lines with sheer threat and command over the acid-touched forward crunch of the music, and the appropriately titled "Speed Angel." Three songs reappear from 06:21:03:11 Up Evil in remix form, including a fair take on "Melt" and a wonderful mix of "Crapage" called "Junkdrome." ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Animal Cage	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(3:00)
Animal Gate		Front 242	(3:02)
Animal Guide		Front 242	(2:44)
Modern Angel	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(4:12)
Junkdrome	Front 242, Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc de Meyer, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(7:35)
Serial Killers Don't Kill Their Girlfriend	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(5:58)
Skin Fur Coat	Front 242, Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc de Meyer, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(3:59)
GenEcide (Lyrics)	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(6:53)
Crushed	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(6:13)
Offend	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(1:38)
Animal Zoo	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(4:02)
Serial Killers Don't Kill Their Boyfriend	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(3:09)
Happiness More Angels	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(6:38)
Crushed Obscene	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(4:11)
Melt Again	Front 242, Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc de Meyer, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(5:06)
Speed Angels	Patrick Codenys, Eran Westwood, Britt Daniel	Front 242	(2:52)

Credits

Front 242 (Main Performer), Bob Ludwig (Mastering), Patrick Codenys (Producer), Patrick Codenys (Mixing), Daniel Bressanutti (Producer), Daniel Bressanutti (Mixing), Eran Westwood (Producer), Eran Westwood (Mixing), John Dubs (Producer)

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