If the Club Poems EP was an introduction to Pig Out’s universal adoration of rave music, then their debut full-length Rave X is an exercise in total immersion. A virtual world of ‘Hypercolour’, strobe lights, dehydration and motion sickness. And if that sounds like a throwback to the 90’s to you, then you’d be spot on. Again, where their EP celebrated the nascent rave scene of that decade, everything about their LP turns the volume up on their end of the century influences.
Of course, the packaging of Rave X promises you nothing less than what is described above. A bright yellow smiley face floating in the clouds; remaining members Kit Lawrence and Marie Celeste sporting neon clothes and sharply angled haircuts; and most blatant of all a warning sign stating “This CD Contains Repetitive Beats and High Frequency & Sub-Bass”. And if I were you, I would not take that warning lightly. There are moments on the unashamed mash-up ‘Nozo’ and razor sharp ‘Anthem’ where it literally feels like Lawrence and Celeste are trying to cave your skull in. In fact, for the entirety of the 16 tracks on Rave X, all this album does is pummel you into submission.
Which leads to the conclusion that there is only one suitable context for this album to be heard in. Given that Pig Out spent the intervening years between Club Poems and Rave X playing live all over the world, including the clubbing Mecca of Berlin, they have created an album purpose built for the live environment. Rave X is such a pure dance experience that playing it on your headphones or home stereo seems completely implausible.
But it has to be said that what it does, it does immensely well. While the first two tracks, ‘Wicked’ and ‘Top Boy’ are of a modest pace (relatively speaking), from third song ‘DWM’ on in, all bets are off. It’s one steamrolling bass-line after another. Vocals are kept to a minimum throughout, which gives the album a holistic quality rather than a song based one. And if your vital organs can withstand the hour long assault, then this is certainly the way it should be heard. Just don’t say that you haven’t been warned.
