Taken from a radio broadcast of a Dutch concert, Live Code captures the touring lineup of Front 242 going through a set drawing heavily on Fuck Up Evil material, but with a fair share of the earlier classics as well. In later years, the band dismissed this record in favor of Re:Boot, but regardless of the contractual obligations behind its existence, Live Code still makes a good treat for Front 242 fans. Kicking off with a nicely fried take on "Der Verfluchte Engel," Live Code exhibits a distinctly 1993 atmosphere for the group -- older songs are supercharged with both the freeflowing aggression of Fuck Up Evil and hints of the fractured experiments of Evil Off. Codenys, as was his general practice, sat out performing on stage in favor of manning the mixing desk, while the other three, supplemented by a guest percussionist, fired things up and tore down the house. De Meyer and 23 in particular pump up the vocal aggro throughout, proving to be a great vocal tag team as well as rabble rousers. No new songs appear and it's not the best starting place for new listeners to the band, partially because the sheer thickness of the studio sonics are unavailable, but Live Code still provides plenty of aural entertainment. The more rock-tinged efforts from Fuck Up Evil have an appropriately blunt kick here, such as the heads-down charge of "Motion" and a corruscating rip through "Religion," which closes the set. Three Front Vy Front-era highlights also are deserved standouts here, starting with an invigorating call and response rage through "In Rhythmus Bleiben." Even more powerful, though, is the traditional pairing of "Headhunter" and "Welcome to Paradise," together turning into a monster take with electric guitar snarls and lyric changes (the "man" in "Headhunter" is now being sold "to make us rich and famous") working a brilliant transformation. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
Live Code (otherwise known as Live Code 6007042 02528 in North America or Live Code 5413356 424225 in Europe, depending on the UPC-EAN) is a live album by Front 242, released in 1994. This album would later contrast the band's 1998 experimental live album Re-Boot: Live '98.
Production
The album was recorded live for VPRO Radio 3 on October 25th, 1993 at MC Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands. The live-recording was produced by Flip van der Enden and engineered by Herman Geerling.
The album was produced by Daniel Bressanutti and Patrick Codenys and mastered by Bob Ludwig.
