Interview by Aaron Johnston, 1996

B6, Cyber-Tec: "Divide by 242"

It is 1996 and all that remains of the old-guard industrial music conglomerate is a gaggle of weathered old men and a few desperate attempts at commercial fortitude. Front Line Assembly have tried everything possible to rise above being club exclusives and shot back to square one with Off-Beat Records in the process. Skinny Puppy lay claim to one corpse, a nomadic Ogre and a record label that is a stone's throw shy of enthusiastic in regards to releasing the group's final album. Ministry seem more adept at banging heads than tapping keyboards and KMFDM committed suicide by re-introducing Raymond Watts on vocals. The once infamous T.K.K. traded in their blood red Gothic industrialism for a little rave green and Nitzer Ebb picked up guitars on their way to alternative glory. To quote Eric Powell of 16 Volt, "The Wax Trax era is dead."

Still, what list of 1980's industrial pioneers would be complete without Front 242? The front foursome who practically invented "EBM" are certainly more than deserving of mention. With regards to the death toll, aside from the Angels Vs. Animals and Live Code import releases, nothing has been heard from the whole group in almost three years. When you break that group into sections, a different story unfolds. Richard 23, the 242 studio percussionist turned spastic stage jogger resurfaced in 1995 with a rap/metal/industrial ode to a fallen champion, Free Tyson Free. Later that year, Jean-Luc DeMeyer, the sturdy voice behind the Front, was spotted outside camp 242 doing vocals for a new techno project by Jonathan Sharp and Ged Denton called Cyber-Tec. With regards to his involvement in the new group, DeMeyer explains, "I didn't want to influence the music and production, I was only there when the original mixes were made, and let the musicians take their own direction. I asked for only a few minor adjustments, and my only demand was that I had no distortion on my vocals."

The product DeMeyer speaks of is the self-titled Cyber-Tec EP released on Fifth Colvmn late last year. The sound of Cyber-Tec can be split between two distinct realms of familiarity. Musically, the project is dead-on techno with an industrial edge similar to the more recent Fuck Up Evil and Evil Off Front 242 releases. Vocally, the group conjures steadfast memories of classic Front 242 in all of the most triumphant, rich and gallant ways. With remixes by K-Nitrate, Birmingham 6, Cubanate and Tim Woodward, the EP goes from harsh pulp devouring stomps to spacial passages that trip well beyond the realms of simple ecstasy.

With such a hands-off enlistment, wonders abound over DeMeyer's future with the group, "We will record our first full album this year. Jonathan Sharp has since left the group and Mark Heal of Cubanate has joined to help with the music. I like to use the term 'deep industrial' to describe the new album, because it shows a wide range of atmospheres from industrial to almost ambient. We have 14 songs so far and the rough versions are extremely rich and dense, by far the most inspirational music I have ever worked on and easily the best creation I have ever been involved with."

Taking such pride in a single release is a strong statement for a man responsible for over twenty releases in his life-time. But, as DeMeyer reveals, it's most certainly not the only thing cooking over his fires, "I'm working on two other projects at the moment. The first is what I consider to be my real new band, Cobalt 60. It's a fast, hard and melodic combination of techno rhythms and sampled guitars somewhere between techno-Ramones and a sped-up Suicide. We're currently talking to a few labels who have shown interest. The second is the next Birmingham 6 album which will be recorded this April for which I wrote lyrics and will sing on several tracks. I feel B6 have solid material and should rapidly emerge as one of the most exciting new techno-industrial talents. I also wrote lyrics for two songs with TCHAK!, Richard's new project. One of them has incredible commercial potential and, if produced the right way, could become an international hit-single."

As far as life outside of 242 goes, DeMeyer shows few signs of home sickness, "Since 242 stopped, I have written more than 40 songs in one and a half years! I've never been that busy in my life. It's immensely enjoyable to work without any pressure from record companies, and I'm very lucky to have met the people I'm working with today." As for the fate of Front 242, DeMeyer speaks words some do not wish to hear, "We have no intention of working together in 1996 because we are all quite pleased with our side-projects. If one day we do, the four of us will be present."

by Aaron Johnston

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