released: 1999
» track: Headhunter 2000 mixed substanz-t
Label: Metropolis Records
Track Listing:
Disc One
1. Front Line Assembly
2. Aqualite
3. Haujobb
4. Beefcake
5. Xingu Hill
6. Talla 2XLC
7. Doug Laurent
8. Noisex
9. Substanz T
Disc Two
1. Apoptygma Berserk
2. Leaether Strip
3. Funker Vogt
4. Empirion
5. Galan Pixs
6. Resistance D
7. Suspicious
8. Space Frog
reviews:
This is a pretty diverse set of remixes even though each band remixed the same song, "Headhunter" V1.0 + V3.0 from the Front by Front 1988-1989 release (Epic), and on "Never Stop!" (Wax Trax) 1989. All the bands who remix "Headhunter" on this release do a very good job at it. Some are spooky, some are minimal, some are a bit hard to decipher that the mix is actually "Headhunter". "Front Line Assembly" goes to a "You're attention please, .. security breech..." opening sample with their post-space-aeronautic rendition of the song. "Aqualite" doesn't leave much for the imagination yet does a fairly good job of improv on the track. The "Haujobb" remix is pretty much minimalist in drum/base and a snappy beat of course, and Meyer's "Beefcake" (Hymen Records) side project mix is really a tasty treat with some German sampling and a rather disjointed-electro session of his genius synth work. "Xingu Hill" is yet another excellent mix, adding a more hard core approach to the sound, driving, choppy and totally electo-mash-out at its finest. "Doug Laurent" and "Talla 2XLC" mixes would go over welll at a rave, and "Noisex' is yet another more mimimalist approach to the release with his bass beats, clicks and scruffly treated vocals. "Substanz T." Mix is a bit on the quiet side, slushy and smooooth drum/bass electronica, nice nice. That was Disk One.
Disk Two includes yet more great bands reworking the song beginning with "Apoptygma Berzerk" Mix which is really quite good, but again leaves not much for the imagination in terms of originality in a mix. Claus Larsen's "Leatherstrip" Mix is a bit slowed down and has a rather bassy beat to it! Ooooooh you go Claus! "Funker Vogt" Mix also uses some great beats, but again, sounds too much like the original to me...
The "Embrion" Mix is a bit different with synth beats not so close to the original song, a bit more driving force behind it and sprialing effects whereas "Galen Pixs" Mix is sassy and saucy, drum and bassy...nice track. "Resistance D" is thee single most original piece on this remix CD using drum/bass sounds that beat their way through the tempo of "Headhunter" original song, void of any lyrics in this track with the exception towards the end where they run through the "Bait the line" and "Catch the Man!" sequence once. This track "cooks" for over six minutes in length.
The final two tracks on the second disk "Suspicious" Mix and "Space Frog" are also quite original with enough changes in sequences and vocals, plus addtional sampling (Scream I -- the film in "Space Frog" Mix) and bassy dance beats in the "Suspicious" Mix (which is very good by the way), to warrant a pleasant time in listening to them.
This CD is a definite must for fans of Front 242 and is a great collection of music from some of the best electronic EBM-ish bands of our time.
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