Released
1991
Label
Red Rhino Europe
Epic
Reviewed by
Michael C.Lund
Contact
Transmission 242
BP 1613
B1000 Brussels
Visit
Last Edit/Update
01 February, 1998
Front
242
TYRANNY FOR YOU
Track Listing
1. Sacrifice
2. Rhythm of Time
3. Moldavia
4. Trigger 2 (Anatomy of a Shot)
5. Gripped by Fear
6. Tragedy For You
7. The Untold
8. Neurobashing
9. Leitmotiv 136
10. Soul Manager
11. "Untitled 1"*
12. "Untitled 2"*
* Hidden tracks
At the release of Tyranny For You, the members of Front 242
expressed that to them the 90s represented a return to values. This sentiment shines
through in the music of this album in several ways. First, while the sound is still
dominated by the fast and heavy percussion elements of the past, a number of the songs
feature melodic arrangements of a neo-classical orientation. Secondly, as is apparent from
several of the song titles, the themes explored are also of a more classical/historical
nature. And, finally, the vocals are closer to actual 'song' than on any of their previous
releases.
The new turn in Front 242's
musical interests is most apparent on the grandiose opening track "Sacrifice,"
the melancholically beautiful "Gripped by Fear," "The Untold" and the
short piece "Leitmotiv 136." "Moldavia" and "Neurobashing"
are the most dynamic tracks on the album, and sound like nineties reinterpretations of
"Take One" (from 1983's Endless Riddance EP). The two single releases --
"Rhythm of Time" and "Tragedy for You" -- are the most structured and
dance-oriented songs, and also the the tracks most reminiscent of the sound on Front
242's previous album -- Front By Front.
"Soul Manager" is a chaotic maelstorm of percussion and samples, and plays like
a statement on the moral climate of the Western world today. Echoing through the barrage
of other sounds are such demonic whisperings as: "I am the guide of the
lost" and "I am here to save you" -- the meaning, if any, remains
ambiguous.
A minute or two after the end of
"Soul Manager," the album reveals a pair of hidden tracks. The first is an even
more frantic reprise of "Soul Manager" itself, with additional 'commando yells'
and snippets of classical arrangements thrown into the chaos engine. Afterwards follows a
remix of "Trigger" -- one of the less distinguished tracks on the CD -- a rather
odd choice of track to include an additional version of, since the album otherwise is of a
consistently very high quality.
Copyright Last Sigh
