Various Artists - This Is Electronic Body Music

This Is Electronic Body Music (1988) is a seminal compilation album, often released as a 2-CD set, that showcases the late 80s industrial/EBM scene, particularly focusing on Belgian and UK artists like Front 242, A Split-Second, and The Cassandra Complex. It is regarded as a quintessential, "stomping" introduction to the genre, featuring dark, danceable, and gritty electronic tracks. The album bridges early industrial, dark synth-pop, and the emerging New Beat scene, characterized by pounding, mechanical beats and dark, often cryptic, lyrics. Key inclusions feature Front 242 (with a 1988 remix of "Body to Body"), A Split-Second, The Cassandra Complex, and The Weathermen.  It is noted for its high-energy, "darker form of techno". It includes a mix of influential, rhythmic tracks and more experimental industrial sounds. It serves as a vital historical document of the 80s indie club scene, providing a snapshot of the music that defined EBM before it evolved into more commercial or aggressive forms in the 90s. A highly recommended, essential compilation for fans of 80s alternative, industrial, and electronic body music.

Swell sampler of the EBM/industrial scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, with a primary focus on Belgium and United Kingdom artists but Canada and Slovenia get individual nods as well. The erotically-charged Front 242 track really stands out and was a then-new remix of one of their earliest songs, though it's since been added as a bonus track to the 1991 RRE and 1992 Epic CD reissues of No Comment. I also really like the tracks from A Split-Second (dig those programmed drums), The Cassandra Complex, Skinny Puppy and the unexpectedly lounge-influenced track from Chris and Cosey (which sounds more in line with the cover artwork for Throbbing Gristle's Greatest Hits than any of the TG selections on that compilation). I've read more than one person grumble a bit that C&C appeared on this at all due to them being an odd choice for an EBM-focused LP, but I'm glad this wild card was included since "Exotika" is groovy and Cosey Fanni Tutti's vocals beam serotonin right into my brain. All of the tracks here are pretty decent and there's a lot to explore, though sometimes I have to be in the right mood to enjoy the Weathermen's "Poison" due to its semi-obnoxiousness. (Naturally, that ended up being the most popular track at the time... ah well, it's not a bad track.) This collection still holds up and somehow manages to sound a bit stronger with each spin.

Ripped to MP3

1. Front 242 - Body to Body (1988 Mix)

2. The Neon Judgement - Chinese Black

3. Click Click - Sweet Stuff

4. à;GRUMH... - Ha People

5. Parade Ground - Strange World

6. The Cassandra Complex - One Millionth Happy Customer

7. A Split-Second - On Command

8. Chris and Cosey - Exotika

9. Borghesia - No Hope, No Fear

10. The Weathermen - Poison

11. Skinny Puppy - Assimilate 

12. Front 242 - Headhunter V1

13. Front 242 - Welcome To Paradise V1