042. Pants & Corset – Malice in Wonderland

Back in 2000, just as the tsunami of Trance was beginning to show the initial signs of commercial fatigue, a new and trendy working class sound was starting to gain popularity: Hard House.

As a genre in its own right, this was something of a blip on the musical radar. Emerging out of the ashes of Nu-NRG and the gay club scene, but taking inspiration from Hardcore and Rave, it chugged away uneasily while what became known as ‘Hard Dance’ slowly and painfully began to establish its self. No one really makes or listens to what people would have called Hard House any more, and fast forwarding to 2010, you realise just how temporally fixed it is.

However, despite its relatively short lived appeal, some absolutely fantastic tracks were produced in its name. Pants & Corset – Malice In Wonderland featured on a Mixmag cover CD by then up and coming superstar DJ, Fergie. The tune is actually a bootleg of Cenith X – Feel and goes to show how much a simple change of tempo and restructuring can really alter the mood and feel of a track.

Delightfully, this is limited to only 500 pressings; yet another example of that most enchanting and precious feeling in record collecting which has sadly been evaporated by changes in technology: exclusivity.

   Pants & Corset - Malice In Wonderland by dcp84

Pants & Corset – Malice In Wonderland

[White : n./a]

(2000)

Discogs: £4.49

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

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)