Originally published as a chapter in the The unofficial Planet Core Productions guidebook:
https://pcplegendsintheirlife.blogspot.com/2024/07/planet-core-productions-guidebook.html
Note: the rating means "compared to other PCP releases".
Thus, if a record has "only" 49 or 31 percent here, this does not mean it's bad; compared with other Hardcore or Techno EPs they would be 88 or 94 or higher; the percentage just "seems lower" for the sake of rating these PCP records in a way that seems sensible, and to have a bit of comparison with the other releases.DE 2001 / 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 over 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" or "lawnmower man" again.
Rating: 2001 / 100
DE 2003 / 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
DE 2004 / PCP 012 - T-Bone Castro / Ace The Space - 4-Track E.P. / Ace In The HoleI 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
DE 2005 / PCP 014 - Ramin - Vol. I - Essence Of Ecstasy EPRamin was a frequent visitor on PCP, and I like to describe this EP as "Pcp style early 90s club techno".
39 / 100
DE 2006 - T-Bone Castro - It's Me, T-Bone Fuckin' Castro"Urban Partyzan" was one of the hardest tracks from that era. Super-distorted, mid-tempo noizecore
The flipside tracks show their electro / techno influences.
Cool, chill, laid-back dance (but tough none-the-less)
79 / 100
DE 2007 - 303 Nation - 6 TrackerThis is it! The holy grail of techno music. Right here.
Technically, it's an acid record - but the sounds are much more than that.
With minimal instrumentation, the 303 nation manages to generate an ultra-immersive environment reminiscent of outer space colonies.
I never heard something like that before, and I never heard it again.
100 / 100 (a perfect release)
DE 2008 - Nasty Django - Ey Fukkas! EPMy favorite release by Nasty Django. Ranging from Techno to mid-tempo Gabber. Cool sounds and gritty attitude.
74 / 100
DE 2009 - Ace The Space - 9 Is A Classic9 is a classic has become a classic itself. It deserved it - ultra-manic mentasm-driving techno-core.
Pay attention to the flipside:
"Your special attraction" is an underrated breakbeat gem.
85 / 100
DE 2010 - Insider - Destiny E.P."Destiny" is a headstrong techno track driven by an arpeggiated sawtooth-synth.
"True" is a similarly forceful exposition.
32 / 100
DE 2011 - Test / Strong Heads - The Antwerp AnthemsCould we call this "frequency-techno"?
A side is a bit of a precursor to later pcp releases like "master of the universe"
B side is an ear-ache inducing stomper.
43 / 100
DE 2012 - Ramin - Vol.2 - BrainticketThe track "brainticket" is a true classic.
I sense a strong influence by EBM, and other proto-techno sounds, on the b side tracks.
52 / 100
DE 2013 - Ace The Space - 9 mm Remixesseveral akas of marc, and Lenny dee, remix the track.
especially noteworthy are the "ultimate rave remix", which more or less became the "official version" of this track (the version most used by marc himself during performances) and mr. didesiderio's remix - which adds an early euro-american hardcore edge with a lot of spunk to it.
73 / 100
DE 2014 - Various - A Dance Ecstasy 2001 Compilationa compilation of tracks taken from early dance ecstasy 2001 releases, plus one track from the PCP EP on R&S records.
92 / 100
DE 2015 - Headshop - 4 Sale!Can we invent a new genre? Cause I would like to classify this release as "PCP trance". "Universe" is a marvelous, marvelous track that makes you feel as you are flying through it.
Flipside is sweet as well.
89 / 100
DE 2016 - T-Bone Castro – Sex Drive EP"Return to planet e" is a heavenly "pcp trance" track and my pick here.
B side is more nasty and gritty (in a good way).
91 / 100
DE 2017 - Nasty Django - King Of FFM Lesson #1So many great classics on one ep. Right at the true beginning of gabber.
Bold!
76 / 100
DE 2018 - Nasty Django - 3 P Rules!
"Strange" and under-rated release. Apart from the hardcore sounds, there is also some "pcp trance" on this EP.
78 / 100
DE 2019 - Magnetic 2 - Extraterrestial EP
Absolute cult release. The top track is "phuture piano" here; a techno track with what could best be described as 'the sounds of a piano played by an alien recorded through a wormhole'.
The b side has irradiated rave techno.
79 / 100
DE 2020 - 6 - Pack - Drunken Piece Of Shit
With a title like that, you would probably expect a mean and aggression fueled gabber EP. And well, that's what it is, too; yet it somehow manages to intertwine moments of sweet cosmic serenity into some of these tracks.
47 / 100
DE 2021 - Headshop - Universe (Remixes)
"More of the same"? Yes - but the remixes add enough deviation to it.
Especially check the lunatic mix
88 / 100
DE 2022 - VA - FFM EP
Another early collection of later-to-become classics!
"Go voodoo" is mid-tempo party-gabber.
"Futuristic Kickdown" is alien techno doom.
"Barcelona" is sweetest acid-trance.
And "Base dj" blows everything and everyone away.
89 / 100
DE 2023 - Nasty Django & DJ Cirillo – Mentasm Mafia
Marc forms a mafia with italian dj cirillo for this oldschool gabber ep.
Most would probably go for "deal wit' beats", but i also like "cocorico": a skillfully executed tempo acceleration track.
72 / 100
DE 2024 - Steve Shit – Shitkickers E.P.
right at the beginning of miro's gabber journey.
snotty, ruffian, hardcore.
61 / 100
DE 2025 - The Mover & Lunatic Asylum – Frequency Surfers
two maestros of hardcore techno join forces.
it's actually two versions of the same track; and as the names imply, the latter is a slower edit of the former.
the track itself is a surrealist acid / trance / doom crossbreed.
94 / 100
DE 2026 - Trip Commando – Temple Tunes Volume 1
the first release in the "temple tunes" mini-series of EPs.
i find it hard to give it justice using words: the tracks definitely have a sacred / religious / new age feel to them, and i mean this in the most positive way.
the foundation, of course, are hard hitting techno beats.
90 / 100
DE 2027 - Masters Of Rave – Are You With Me (She Likes To Pump It)
this would have deserved to be a chart-hit!
enormous production values, rapping, vocoders, sexy lyrics... it got everything!
also included are multiple remixes / edits in different techno styles.
58 / 100
DE 2028 - DJ Jamo - Spice
another very a-typical release for pcp, as this is essentially mid 90s hard trance at its best!
68 / 100
DE 2029 - Rave Creator – A New Mind
"a new mind" evolved to be a standard amongst the tracks that are part of marc's repertoire during his live performances.
these are still two "basic" versions of the track, but great nevertheless.
on an interesting side note: judging from the release and all other available info, it's not clear which one was the true, original version of the track. or maybe there was no such version at all!
82 / 100
DE 2030 - Ace The Space - 9 Is A Classic '95 - The Zombie Remixes
another release with remixes of this "classic" (pun intended) track.
this time, a gabber / trancecore vibe get's added to the track.
64 / 100
DE 2031 Sexdrive Ent. - No.2
after the "sex drive" EP, we get served with further entertainment.
but, despite (or because of) the libidinal title, this is another great release of what I call "PCP style trance music".
78 / 100
DE 2032 Nasty Django – The King Is Back
the king is back indeed, as he presents us two killer tracks.
one is "hardcore motherfucker", one of the most widely known tracks from the PCP catalogue (and yes, it deserves it).
and the flipside is quite spiffy, too!
84 / 100
DE 2033 DJ Jamo & Jack Knives – The Strings Of Heaven EP
another quite exquisite hard trance ep on the dance ecstasy label!
listening suggestion: the track "seastar ii".
86 / 100
DE 2034 Steve Shit – Kickin' Da Shit Outta Ya!!
Steve shit is back, and he is accompanied by his streetcore gabber style once more.
dirty samples, hoovers, 909 - go!
89 / 100
DE 2035 Headshop – Volume 2 : The Endzone
return to the headshop. outer space trance meets ebm and acid influences.
79 / 100
DE 2036 Rave Creator – A New Mind (Remixes 1)
let the remixes begin.
this is one of the most remarkable releases on de 2001.
The "original rave mix" is a true "german style" rave / hardtrance anthem by marc, including uplifting / emotive melodies, and all. With the proper music video and marketing, i'm sure this could have made the german top 10 charts in the mid 90s.
The thai acid mix has a long, brooding build-up, then erupts into forceful acid mayhem.
93 / 100
DE 2037 Rave Creator – A New Mind (Remixes Part 2)
Another round of remixes.
Including the famous "cold rush phuture remix", a tour de force incorporating over 8 minutes of doomed rave sounds.
Plus another rave remix, this time more on the dreamy side, and a remix by the mover.
94 / 100
DE 2038 Inferno Bros. – Slaves To The Rave (The PCP & DE 2001 Mixes)
Ah, yes, now we can play!
This is one of marc's most massive tracks ever.
Intro, "female" vocals, hoovers, sub-bass, breakdowns, football stadium suitable chanting... one of the most technically complex and perfect "hardcore" productions of the 90s.
The de 2001 mix induces an energetic rush with it's more "monotonous", hypnotic approach.
99 / 100
DE 2039 Lunatic Asylum – Digital Chameleon
Guillaume Leroux aka Lunatic Asylum was a frequent collaborator (or crew member?) of pcp.
This is a magnificent release, mending (dark) trance, techno, and hardcore structures.
Listening suggestion: Chaos Effect
82 / 100
DE 2040-1 Various – Frankfurt Trax Volume 6 - Return To Zero Part 1
Frankfurt 6 was a CD compilation, released by PCP.
This 4-part series of vinyls highlights some of tracks taken from this very CD.
each part has a certain characteristic, and this is the release for "softer" electro / club sounds (with a PCP spin, mind you!).
some true PCP jewels can be found on these releases.
88 / 100
DE 2040-2 Various – Frankfurt Trax Volume 6 - Return To Zero Part 2
see above. this is the part for more "mellow" techno and ambient sounds.
89 / 100
DE 2041-1 Various – Frankfurt Trax Volume 6 - Return To Zero Part 3
this part has hardcore / gabber sounds.
90 / 100
DE 2041-2 Various – Frankfurt Trax Volume 6 - Return To Zero Part 4
and the final part has darker / harder / "terror" hardcore sounds (with the exception of the "korrekte mf's" track maybe.)
87 / 100
DE 2042 Beethoven – Greatest Works Part 1
This is another release that is "strange" amongst the at times already very strange pcp catalogue. (This is meant positively!).
It's a drum'n'bass / jungle remix of, well, beethoven's work.
72 / 100
DE 2043 Reign – Chapter II: The Zombie-Leader Is Approachin'
I can't praise this release enough! Early doomcore by miro.
Atmospheric, magnetic, eldritch.
Listening suggestion: light & dark (the 2nd dimension).
96 / 100
DE 2044 Trip Commando – Temple Tunes Vol.2
"Cross The White Line" is a massive, colossal, epic techno track that slowly builds up towards it's cinematic climax.
The flipside is remarkable as well.
84 / 100
DE 2045 Renegade Legion - Dark Forces
Guillaume Leroux under a new alias.
"Torsion", a mid-tempo industrial hardcore stomper gained some notoriety amongst the scene.
"Dark forces" is very much worth checking out, too. A techno affair of most extraordinary gloom.
72 / 100
DE 2046 Miro – Blue Sun
In my opinion, this was the point when miro began to produce in his very own style.
"Blue Sun" is an oversize 'study of melodies and bassdrums'. The epic melody gets introduced, faded away, gets twisted - for over 10 minutes - while the drums hammer on.
"Bassdrum elevation" is miro's take on the "pitch hiker" concept: a track made up purely of a distorted 909.
81 / 100
DE 2047 Planet Phuture – Temple Tunes Vol.3
The 3rd and final release in this series. A techno track with an "overlord" type arpeggio, and rougher acid / doom / techno crossbreed.
69 / 100
DE 2048 Negative Burn – Crime City 2001 A.D.
Ooh, this is remarkable!
"Gates of heaven" is what could maybe considered to be "dark ambient hardcore". Acerbic-saccharine, futuristic, tranquille. 'I haven't been human for two hundred years'.
And "Gates of hell" is a doomed gabber smasher.
89 / 100
DE 2049 Steve Shit – Shit's Gabbertales
Steve shit gets crass again. All tracks seem to be libido themed. Their style is juno fueled gabber euphoria.
Listening suggestion: having sex
66 / 100
DE 2050 VA - Most Wanted Bootleg E.P.
A collection of "rare" mixes of some pcp releases, and other tracks.
The "first rave age rough mix" later became the "official" version of slaves to the rave, I think.
Rave creator adds a magnificent spin to "stereo murder".
Steve shit gives "dominator" a bold gabber workover.
And "bim bam - beeper" is an mc-fueled dancefloor attack.
85 / 100
DE 2051 Nasty Django – H.M.F. (Rmxz)
despite the name, it's more than "just" remixes of h.m.f., but "c'mon" and "another asskicka" are included, too.
Lunacy somewhere between oldschool, techno, and gabber.
52 / 100
DE 2052 Miro – Purple Moon
one of the best releases, on all of pcp, ever. period.
lifting off from the "blue sun", purple moon is driven by an almost hard-trancy, but much darker, arpeggiated melody and oldschool drumming.
"understand" twists this pattern around a bit.
a true miro classic.
99 / 100
DE 2053 Evidence – Resist / Inspirit
this is actually miro again, using a new aka.
and, in my opinion, "inspirit" has one of his best-composed melodies.
apart from that, this release is a bit more on the "hardcore" side than the previous release (i.e. purple moon).
99 / 100 ("inspirit" is a perfect track!)
DE 2054 Reign – Time Machine
you might wish you had a time machine to get back to this era, but if you don't, you can at least listen to this record.
quite experimental for reign (aka miro again) - unusual melodies, effects, and enormous amounts of reverb.
at times more reminiscent of a dark, chanting-accompanied ceremony in a huge space cavern than a techno record (in my opinion).
well done!
86 / 100
DE 2055 Reign – Hall
did we mention "the sound of dark chanting in a large hall"? this record is an even more approximate embodiment of this idea!
but to give a more technical description, it's precious, miro style techno, with one track running for almost 11 minutes and a half. and this very "Hall (Maximum Mix)" being a secret favorite for many PCP supporters.
98 / 100
DE 2056 Rave Creator – Into Sound
the "Marshall Masters Remix" indicates the marching route, as both tracks are more evocative of their output, than earlier rave creator tracks.
anthemic!
68 / 100
DE 2057 E Man - XTC Express
should be in everyone's top ten of miro's (or pcp's) releases.
going strong with the arpeggio-type tunes again, this composition almost reminds me a video game soundtrack gone dark.
but the thundering drums make it clear you that you are at a rave.
both mixes are great. i can't applaud this release enough.
100 / 100 (a perfect release!)
DE 2058 Evidence – II
another two tracker, bordering on the emerging "newstyle hardcore" sound here.
mean, gritty and brutal bassdrums.
67 / 100
DE 2059 Vitali – Robber Dance
the last release of de 2001.
there has been some speculations about who might behind this release.
either way, it's hoover-fueled attack-the-dancefloor type gabber.
38 / 100
DE 3001-1 303 Nation – Strobe Jams I
"De 3001" seems to be a kind of sub-label exclusively for 303 nation releases.
this ep almost feels like an album, with it's variations, intros and outros.
acid, techno, breakbeats, ambient structures... and if you liked the 6 tracker ep, you will love this one.
listening suggestion: "voodoo machine", a 303 defined track that starts slow, then turns into total mayhem.
98 / 100
DE 3001-2 303 Nation – Strobe Jams II
the follow up to strobe jams i. the style is comparable to the earlier outing. includes some true classics like "a world noir" or "sky crack".
this series is truly amongst the best of releases in the world of PCP.
98 / 100
DE 3002-1 303 Nation – Strobe Jams III
and on we go. i feel this sound has a stronger Detroit / underground resistance trace.
definitely recommended
80 / 100
DE 3002-2 303 Nation – Strobe Jams IV
the earlier releases were a bit closer to my heart - except for one track on here:
"Barcelona (Model # 1)".
sweetest acid-trance (see above) that makes you feel as you are slowly floating on the mediterranean sea in dark euphoria, while the moon watches on.
61 / 100
