I guess this post ties in with last night's HIM show. While I would never consider HIM a goth band, per se, there definitely is the influence in the songs. When I interviewed Ville, he talked about being a fan of The Sisters of Mercy and Fields of the Nephilim, which shows in the songs. In fact, oddly enough, I picked up a copy of Dark Light a few weeks before I even knew I would be interviewing the band as a birthday present for my friend Reagan just because I figured that since she was really into Fields during our early college years, she would probably be into HIM. I haven't been able to pin her down for her thoughts on the album as she is hiding out in a library studying for the bar and probably won't re-emerge until August.
But I digress. This post isn't about HIM or Fields, its about those few sublime moments when goth dance hits end up in the hands of big-time remixers. It's not a large movement to say the least, but what is out there is pure black-velvety fun.

The Sisters of Mercy "Alice" (Dirty Funker Mix)
(song removed)

Our first goth-goes-house selection comes from Dirty Funker. This is the remixer responsible for those Nirvana remixes ("Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Lithium") that were all the rage a year or two ago. I don't really care for those, though, mostly because I still contend that Nirvana is the most overrated band to ever surface on a radio frequency. Dirty Funker, however, is also responsible for the remix of White Stripes' hit "Blue Orchid" that I've been playing at most of my gigs since last summer.
Actually, if you are around when I DJ, there is always a good chance that I'll drop this mix of "Alice" as well. It never clears the floor, even when the crowd isn't that goth. I came across the mix in an Amoeba bin two years ago and actually thought it was a proper Sisters' release. It's cover is in the same black and gold color scheme as the original "Alice" 12" single and the fonts and icons match those of a Merciful Release (The Sisters' label from which all of the pre-First, Last and Always singles stem). That said, I almost put the record back, thinking that I already had this single. Fortunately, I quickly realized the inconsistencies on the cover, namely the line that reads "Dirty Funker Mixes" and snapped up this baby.
"Alice" is, imho, one of The Sisters' top three songs (the other two being "Marian" and "Lucretia, My Reflection") and this remix highlights the desperate beauty of the original. Most of the song is in tact, with just the additions of a longer intro/outro, a mega-dance beat and a breakdown. The breakdown is the kicker, a wailing interlude that makes you wish that you still had one of your ankle-length chiffon skirts from the Indian store so that you could twirl properly.
I found this site that sells Dirty Funker's wares, but didn't see this 12" on it. My best suggestion is to look through the rock remix section at Amoeba, because I see copies there pretty often. The 12" features "Doktor Dirty Funker's Avalanche Dub" on the flipside.
As for the original version of "Alice," you can find that on Some Girls Wander by Mistake, which is a collection of the band's early singles. It's pricey, but well worth your $30, particularly if you aren't a vinyl junkie. While The Sister's 12" releases don't pop up in the used bins as often as Soft Cell or Kate Bush material, they aren't that difficult to find. Of these "Alice" and "Temple of Love" (which I always thought would make a great addition to a drum'n'bass set) turn up most frequently. Perhaps there were more copies of those printed. The initial release of "Alice," dating back to 1983, is a double-A/double-B side. "Floorshow" accompanies "Alice" on the A-side and, trust me, you want this track. "Phantom" and a cover of "1969" are on the flip.