027. Rex The Dog - The Rex The Dog Show

In the digital age of music distribution, rarity is an elusive value. Thankfully, the digital mode of production has not as yet entirely replaced the crumbling machinery of the physical; new vinyl is being pressed. So, when one of your favourite artists puts out a release on your preferred medium in a limited edition, you really can’t afford to say no.

The Rex The Dog Show, released a few months prior on CD, makes its appearance on vinyl, delightfully restricted to a 1000 copy picture disc pressing. I have at length sung the praises of Rex The Dog: Example I, Example II. As such I’ll try and eulogize conservatively. Rex The Dog is fantastic, as is his album. There, done. Sadly though, the chiptune-esque Italian Blonde, in addition to his remix of Client’s Radio are absent. Regardless of these notable omissions there is only one fundamental message that should be taken from this 12”. This album isn’t about sitting at home. It’s about going out and hearing them on a decent size rig with accompanying visuals, played by the man himself. If this doesn’t whet the appetite nothing will. Every time I hear one of his tunes, I just want to be behind the decks, needle on the record watching the reaction as the tune drops.

With a limited pressing, might I be wise to leave this one in its sleeve for posterity? In record collecting circles, many regard the status ‘unplayed’ as the pinnacle. An entire Beatles back catalogue unplayed would probably be enough to retire on, even at my tender 24 years. This misses the point somewhat. This is collecting for collecting sake. Those who do this would be equally as content collecting any number of other miscellanea. A record collection should be there to be enjoyed, be a reflection of your own individual tastes, interests and musical explorations. Regardless how rare, how expensive or how delicate an item is, it must be played.

That doesn’t mean one should be reckless. Certainly, this will be played on rare and special occasions. Definitely, this will not be taken out to DJ with. However, one of those special moments has been captured and presented here on DMM. The problem lay in deciding which one. I could have gone anthem bashing and chosen the most well know, I could have done the decent thing and chosen an under exposed tune. In the end I just chose my favourite.

Rex The Dog - The Rex The Dog Show: Prototype
[Hundehaus : HUND001VP]
(2009)

Juno: £14.23

025. Rex The Dog - Prototype (Casio Remix)

Despite the frequent ludditisms which bleed into my posts on this blog, not everything about the digital age and record collecting is so bad. Globalisation provides us with one of the more exciting aspects. To date I’ve purchased records online from: Ireland, America, Belgium, Holland, and now Switzerland. You can see evidence of this in the photos. The fact that I’m buying a record from a British producer from someone in mainland Europe for less, postage included, than it would cost to buy and receive the same item from sellers in my own kingdom serves to highlight both the state of the economy and the ridiculously overpriced postal system we are forced to endure.

Leaving that aside for the moment, despite Prototype being my all time favourite Rex The Dog track, for this I decided to go for the B side. It’s a version which uses only the Casio CZ-320S synthesizer, without any additional production. Those of you lucky enough to own said synth can download the memory tape data stream to play with at home. While the A side will always remain a firm favourite, possibly even making it into my all time favourite records, the B side is a nice oddity. When an oddity is connected to a favourite like this, it’s almost criminal not to have it in the collection.

Rex The Dog - Prototype (Casio Remix)
[Hundehaus : HUND001S]
(2005)

Discogs: €5.00

012. Felix Da Housecat - Harlot (Justin Robertson Remix)

Felix Da Housecat is without doubt a talented producer. While his DJ skills are not entirely flawless he is by no means boring behind the decks. Sadly, his A side mix of Harlot just lets us down. Some nice elements are thrown in, but overall the final product doesn’t seem to work. Everything changes when you flip the record over and place the stylus on the B side. Justin Robertson reworks the substandard electro mumblings into a utility laden dance floor workhorse. The sleazy vocals and warm synths retain the feelings of its electro origin, but the four to the floor kick and driving percussion bring into focus the worlds of house and techno. This is where the track fundamentally shines. Robertson has delivered us one of those multi-purpose, all terrain tracks which are at once functional and danceable. For the astute DJ this track can comfortably sit at home in an electro, house or techno set.

Felix Da Housecat - Harlot (Justin Robertson Remix)
[City Rockers : ROCKERS03]
(2001)

009. GDX - Corrosion

Cover versions of the Sisters inhabit a realm of music which is best left unheard. They inexorably tend to the fantastically sub-standard. Usually, some dodgy goth band takes it upon themselves to pay homage to whom they regard as their spiritual forefather and end up producing some god awful out of tune clamour which remorselessly drains all the inherent acumen of the original, leaving nothing but a spiritually empty din in its wake. They simply miss the point.

To date this is the only cover version I’ve ever heard that is at least serviceable. Amazingly, GDX have managed to surpass the serviceable and entered the realms of common decency. What sets this aside form the pack is that they are one of the few who actually do get it. It’s not another group just trying to echo the Sisters. They have their own sound, their own take, and offer another interpretation. But, what they have captured is the sheer swagger, arrogance, ostentation, pomp and circumstance of the original.

GDX - Corrosion
[Interdimensional Transmissions : IT 18]
(2003)