But now, let's rock!PCP 001 - Mescalinum United – Into Mekong CenterThe very first PCP release. The one that started it all.
Some have described it as "still being in an EBM sound", but I don't think it sounds like that at all.
A bit of Electro, maybe - but in the end this release has its own style.
Rating: 067 / 100
PCP 002 - Freebase Factory – Born To GoA rap release on PCP, and not even a Hardcore / Techno crossover, but genuine hip hop.
Maybe not what you expected, but I like it!
62 / 100
PCP 003 - Cyborg Unknown – Year 2001Again, this is a very unexpected release, "even for PCP"!
I've never heard anything like it by any other artist or label.
A crossing of Detroit, EBM, Techno, 80s Electro-Funk, with enchanting vocoderized rapping.
And it gives off a super-futuristic atmosphere, that makes you want to watch movies like "brainstorm" project or "lawnmover man" (sic!) again.
2001 / 100
PCP 005 Trip Commando – Trip CommandoVery trippy "1990 era" club Techno. Not bad!
59 / 100
PCP 005 - The Mover – Frontal Sickness Part 1Do I need to review this? One of the important releases of Techno ever, and if you have not dived into it yet, go for it!
This is the very beginning of Doomcore. Hard hitting Techno beats and an almost minimalist use of some of the darkest synth lines you ever heard.
99 / 100
PCP 006 - Mescalinum United – Reflections Of 2017
Yes yes, this is the release with the "first ever Hardcore track" on it! The flip side is great as well.
2017 / 100
PCP 007 - Pandemonium - Boris Boris (Radio Edit)
There's the story that PCP threw copies of this EP in the garbage can after the release!
No matter if it's true or not, it would not have deserved it.
A radical detour from the other PCP styles, this sounds almost like a take on the popular German project "Enigma":
Monks chanting, slow breakbeats, mystic / esoteric sounds...
I'm digging it!
Rating 58 / 100
PCP 008 - Whalekommittee – Save The Whales
Of all the unusual PCP releases, this is even a bit more unusual.
A mixture of ambient, breakbeats, early club beats... almost like an "underwater enigma".
And it gives off a great oceanic atmosphere.
69 / 100
PCP 009 - Alien Christ – Of Suns And Moons
All three tracks on here are inspired by Suburban Knight - The Art of Stalking.
PCP goes for Detroit Techno sounds, and they nailed it.
90 / 100
PCP 010 - T-Bone Castro – Radical Padrone (The Remixes)
I think this could be best described as PCP's take on 1991 club sound techno.
Very nice, and quite "hardcore" already!
57 / 100
PCP 011 Al Rakhun Feat. Bunker Youth – To The Audience
002 was already a rap EP, and this is a bona fide rap album, on PCP!
I'm not that much into hip hop, but this is a nice release with a true PCP touch on this kind of music.
49 / 100
PCP 012 - T-Bone Castro / Ace The Space – 4-Track E.P. / Ace In The Hole
I love the "weird" mixture on this EP. Something between Belgium Techno, UK Artcore and Gangsta Funk.
The laid-back, almost rap-like quality of these tracks would make them fit well to a harvey keitel movie.
63 / 100
PCP 013 Raw Power Organisation – 1991 (And I Just Begun)
Nomen est omen, because in 1991, PCP really had just begun. Heavy Techno mixed with rapping and UK Artcore style breaks and synth hits. Why did they not make the #1 spot in the European Charts with this? The EP would have deserved it.
A true cult-hit and a massive sign of the things to come.
78 / 100
PCP 014 - Ramin – Vol. I - Essence Of Ecstasy EP
Ramin was a frequent visitor on PCP, and I like to describe this EP as "Pcp style early 90s club techno".
39 / 100
PCP 015 - Free Base International – The FBI Futureworld E.P.
This EP sounds a bit like the follow-up to Raw Power Organisation: MCing, powerful mentasm and t99 sounds - a very rough techno anthem that comes in 5 mixes.
But the true gem is the A1 track "The Factory Of Free Base".
It's what could be described as fusion of rap with the style of PCP.
Apocalyptic, phuturistic lyricism, synths, beats... legendary, and one of a kind!
91 / 100
PCP 007 - Alien Christ – The Art Of Shredding
The second outing by Alien Christ. Funky, phuturistic, detroit techno! Underground Resistance would love this.
81 / 100
PCP 008 The Mover – Frontal Sickness Part 2
An absolute cult release. Every track is a killer on here. My two picks would be: "Astral Demons", one of the most haunting techno tracks ever, and "Illuminated", a cinematic ambient piece that was once described as "Terminator Techno".
89 / 100
PCP 009 - The Possessed – Black Blood
Very peculiar release. Breakbeat tracks in a PCP style. Ultra-dark and ultra-menacing synths.
And an epic, almost "prog-rock" like ambient / muslim-chant / breakcore creation on the flip side.
"Und es sind welche unter uns, ohne Seele..."
79/100
PCP 010 - Program 1 - Louder Than A Bomb EP
Was one of the hardest at the times of its release. Killer bassdrums. "Betrayer" is a special pick.
71/100
PCP 931 - Alien Christ – III.
I think PCD ("Planet Core Distribution") once described it as "Outer Space Trance" in the catalogue; depending on your definition of "Trance", this descriptions fits!
Rating 78 / 100
PCP 932 - The Mover – The Final Sickness
One of the most sought-after releases - at least until it's digital re-release.
An album that could be seen as a follow-up to the "frontal sickness" releases (and a precursor to "frontal frustration").
It features Marc's The Mover aka at its hardest and dirtiest;
Distorted drums, howling synth, shrieking percussion and noises;An onslaught of sounds, dismal and tenebrous.
Rating: 99 / 100
PCP 933 - Mescalinum United – Vs. Evil (A New Level)
Very out of the ordinary release for mescalinum united. Just one groove on this vinyl has any sound in it, and it's a techno-electro affair, which has a few hints of early Egpytian Lover or Hashim (when american electro funk still was doomy as hell).
Recommended!
Rating 78 / 100
PCP 934 - The Mover / Alien Christ – Waves Of Life / The Eagle Has Landed
"Waves Of Life" was / is a sleeper club hit and widely known far beyond the "hardcore" circles - and deservingly so.
"The Eagle has landed" is another re-visit to the "Art of Stalking" theme, and quite good at that.
Some time in the future!
Rating: 68 / 100
PCP 935 / PCP 194 - Planet Core Productions – Phuture
The very first PCP compilation. And it is quite unconventional, as, even though it is a "compilation", almost all tracks are exclusive for this release. Plus the majority of the tracks are quite experimental, even for PCP's standards.
It features so many classics and cult tracks - like "MF Skulls", a live-taped drum-only Energiehal performance.
Or "acid bitch", an almost trancey acid-hardcore track with a haunting choir (and a double-speed bassdrum).
"Nervous Flight" lists one of my favorite production credits ever - and I quote: "Produced by someone sometimes somewhere -sowhat-"
Rating 94 / 100
PCP 936 - Mescalinum United – Symphonies Of Steel Part 1
One of the most infernal Techno records ever!
Wave after wave of distortion and shrill, disturbing noises... every gain is turned to 12 here.
Includes the classic track "Light Bringer"... this universe is mine... i am god here!
Rating 82 / 100
PCP 069 - The Phuture Project – Light Bringer (Escape From 2017)
Almost like a mini-compilation; as even though all tracks are marc in disguise (as expected!), they have a very distinct sound (also as expected!)
Escape From 2017 (The Theme) is a hardcore track that was once described as sounding like "a cyborg whale dying on a futuristic battlefield", Freez-E-Style - Radar is cold rush-esque Doomcore track; and, finally, "Time Traveller" is in Mover style, with a melody that almost feels like a flashback to 80s industrial / no wave experiments.
Rating 666 / 100
PCP 961 - The Mover – Signs Of '96
The signs Of 96! Isn't this the most legendary Mover release ever?
While most people go for "Over Land & Sea", I think the flip side, "Underwater Operations", is even a bit better.
But, let's face it, both track blow all the competition out of the water (pun intended).
100 / 100 (a perfect release)
PCP 962 - Mescalinum United – Symphonies Of Steel - The Second Level
A quite remarkable release. PCP are known for their "drum only" tracks, and Jupiter Union almost fits in that category; as the bassdrum is very prominent here, and also very distorted and threatening. Only at the 3 minute mark, a gloomy melody is introduced.
And the flip side is very special, too: a beatless ambient track that is at the most dreary and chilling you can get; a 12:26 minute trip which makes you feel as you are flying to jupiter by yourself.
Rating: 97 / 100
PCP 971 - Mescalinum United – Symphonies Of Steel Part 3
Rumored to be the last track ever to be released by PCP. I think there *were* some releases after that, though.
Either way, it's a worthy ending. Wailing synths create a hellish inferno, before Industrial Slowcore beats come in, only to steadily increase up beyond Speedcore territory. And then it is happening again,
When you go out, you gotta go out with a bang, right?
Rating: 94 / 100
