because there is still so much stuff to find (..."is anybody out there?")
This time we (almost) entirely look at releases that the artists did on other labels.
Note: No Ai has been used in writing these reviews!
Spiritual Combat - Hellrazor EP (R & S Records - RS 92017)
One of the most mysterious, most esoteric, most arcane releases by pcp and acardipane.
Not because it is obscure - we know that is was done by the mover.
But it's quite "off" the other projects by pcp...
The entire A side belongs to breakbeats, not techno or hardcore hits.
Flipside is Mover style.
The A side begs the question if you prefer to play it at 45 or 33 1/3 rpm.
The entire tracks are made up of disjunct, strange sounds. Cosmic stuff. Voices calling you from nowhere. Alien talk talk.
But not just head-centered. Stuff that sounds heavy, heavy, on the dancefloor, on the speakers.
https://www.discogs.com/release/6128-Spiritual-Combat-Hellrazor-EP
Ace The Space - 9 Is A Classic (Remixes) (Dance Pool - DAN 658975 2)
A group of 9 remixes of this very classic. (the original is included as a 10th bonus track).
stand-out mixes for me are the 303 nation and human resource remix.
extra bold gabba. thunderous tracks. and the hoovers get mental on top of that.
still, to these days, i consider these to be amongst the hardest techno tracks.
and i guess they did hit even harder back then on release day in 1993.
https://www.discogs.com/release/58853-Ace-The-Space-9-Is-A-Classic-Remixes
Lunatic Asylum - The Meltdown Mixes - A.L.S.O. Remixed By The Mover (Dance Pool - DAN 659704 2)
"a.l.s.o." stands for "A Lunatic Space Odyssey". Which, according to the man, was a tale of raver's, ecstacy, and lupines. don't ask!
Apparently, this release was the first contact between PCP and Lunatic Asylum aka Dr Macabre.
A fruitful semi-decade of collaborations followed, including the #1 slow-gabba arena smasher "poltergeist"!
So, what happens when two music master minds meet?
I think this release sits inbetween the style of Marc and that of Macabre. A double boost!
none of the remixes sounds like the other.
make sure to check "Planet Phuture's Irradiation: Boccachio Past". after the intro it turns into a "cold rush" style dancefloor devastor.
and "Ruff Traxx Mix". one of the most notorious, and best pcp productions ever. just a bass, a drum, and a vocal.
running in a loop for 3 3/4 minutes.
you might think this is foolish - but check this one on the dancefloor!
https://www.discogs.com/release/109675-Lunatic-Asylum-The-Meltdown-Mixes-ALSO-Remixed-By-The-Mover
Colors Of Amsterdam (Yellow)
Another lesser known work by Acardipane.
Mover / Mask (Behind the line!) style; very close to Alien Christ, but without the suburban knight tune.
Very early, but also quite interesting work by Marc!
https://www.discogs.com/release/242416-Marc-Acardipane-Colors-Of-Amsterdam
DJ. Jacques O. - Rave Can Can (BMG - 74321 23967 2)
One of the more sneaky releases by Marc Acardipane. He did this one using the "Jacques O." moniker, and I assume the O stands for "Offenbach".
In all three mixes, the melody is based on the well known composition Galop infernal, which is even better known as "Can Can".
The original mix is actually Dance Ecstasy type Rave-Hardcore. A bit "minimal", but powerful.
The Party Tribe Remix is more fleshed-out, including hoovers, pianos, and other sweet sounds.
The ATB remix is the "most" cheesy one, very dancefloor-friendly.
The Single mix is similar to the Exto Rave mix, just a bit shorter.
There is also a "funny" music video to this release, which seems to draw from cult classic movies like The Godfather, Goodfellas, and / or Pulp Fiction.
https://www.discogs.com/master/149496-DJ-Jacques-O-Rave-Can-Can
Ace The Space - 1 Gun - 2 Gun - 3 Gun - Roar! (Dance Pool - DAN 659526 2)
in my head, this release forms an ace the spacy "trilogy", together with "9 is a classic" and "go voodoo".
as i think there is a formula that links them: bold / zany rapping, and hardcore rave sounds.
a dangerous and very effective formula, for sure!
as a bonus, there is the original version of "go voodoo" (which is different from the track on de 2001), and "your special attraction" included.
https://www.discogs.com/master/31297-Ace-The-Space-1-Gun-2-Gun-3-Gun-Roar
DJ Jacques O. - Kiss Me (Coconut - 74321 32405 2)
I assume this is the second releases by "Jacko" aka Marc Acardipane.
Has quite libidinal lyrics, but the more explicit parts are hidden behind a "bleep".
All tracks are more or less in the style of euro-house or dancefloor, club music.
https://www.discogs.com/release/768727-DJ-Jacques-O-Kiss-Me
Miro - Purple Moon (Mindstar - MS 14)
"Purple Moon" made quite the rotation in the 90s.
This licensed release includes a "downpitch original". Which is just that, no tricks or surprises (I suppose the DJs could have pitched it down by themselves... actually?)
The two "remixes" of purple moon and understand don't just sound like a remix, but as if the whole tracks have been re-built from scratch, more or less.
the speed is slower, the bass hits harder (and deeper). the arrangement is quite complex, and there are lots of nice filter sweeps and fx on the synths...
i guess it's up to your appetite which version you prefer.
the originals sound more hardcore and raw. these sound more refined, classy, and dance-heavy.
and i guess i prefer all four of these tracks! (five, if you add the downpitch).
https://www.discogs.com/release/137138-Miro-Purple-Moon
Marshall Masters feat. Da TMC - Double Platinum
pcp did a lot of great releases, and these releases have their fans.
but they also did some "full-length compilation album" CDs, like prolos have more fun, or this one right here. and i think even marc said that these types of release brought in quite a bit money.
i think some of the fans do not care much about this, because for them it's CDs with tracks that they already know / have on vinyl, plus some "fillers".
but, in my humble opinion, these strange "PCP CD" releases are true techno opera albums, with a concept, vision that links them.
even though it might be a "corny concept", as in the smash? or tschabos CDs.
but the "filler" tracks are usually quite good.
and this is very true for this release, too.
so much exclusive CD only tracks, that sound exquisite, and that you can't get hold of on vinyl!
https://www.discogs.com/release/164900-Marshall-Masters-feat-Da-TMC-Double-Platinum