ASAHI – CODEX

Posted by PlasmaDancer on July 17, 2014
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

Fans of Finnish/Japanese sounds have ASAHI to thank for this re-recording of his CODEX set, plus one or two additions to take it up to a full hour. One addition is Glacial – great to see how well it still stands up to other tracks, but the whole set is heavy on nostalgic, emotional freeform. Quality selection from ASAHI once again, I’m already looking forward to his next effort.

Incidentally, thanks to raqhow I now have a live recording of my CODEX set, and a couple of little slips and wonky levels aside it doesn’t sound too bad. It’s definitely not FINRG SoundCloud-worthy, but I’ll be sure to either put it online somewhere next week or do a ustream replay when time allows.

Icon & R. Cena – Inner Universe

Posted by PlasmaDancer on July 16, 2014
Posted in: Goa / Psy, Japanese, Releases. 1 comment

Inner Universe is a big current favourite of ASAHI’s, and it’s thanks to him that I discovered this one – an almost-awesome tune that now has me hoping for a genuine freeform version. Typically for Stand Alone Complex, the original track is full of hipster-friendly ‘foreign vocals’ (Russian and English, this time), but the melodies are wonderful and tailor made for melancholy sets.

This remix works well, but toning down the J-Core and handing production duties to one of the FINRG crew would be a pretty exciting prospect..

Smiling Corpse ‘Dead Happy’ Podcast, Episode 20

Posted by PlasmaDancer on July 15, 2014
Posted in: Drum & Bass, Events, Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

A little bit late with this recommendation, but anyone who hasn’t yet checked out Proteus and Dyzphazia’s SCDH podcast should definitely do so.

Something a little bit different from your standard freeform set, Proteus’ hour in particular is another great example of how to ease casual listeners into the freeform sound. I’d usually run a mile from the initial bpm, but with Proteus at the helm you’re pretty much guranteed a DJing lesson that’s worth taking in. So it proves here, with some ‘normal club’-friendly hard trance (?) and industrial leading into the Substanced-styled finale.

Recently I’ve been ranting to anyone who’ll listen about how depressing I find the drum and bass/dubstep sounds that seem to be infesting every other freeform track these days (actually my CODEX set last weekend was an attempted reaction to that). Perfect timing from Dyzphazia then, with this heavily dnb-infused set showing how to incorporate it into a quality hour of tunes. Crucially there’s plenty more going here though, with some psy-style sounds and darker tracks holding things together – the standout is surely Guld’s upcoming Gozenzeuna. I won’t pretend to be a fan of the stuff in between the darkness, but Dyzphazia has done a great job of forging an identity for the set and I can imagine it sparking off all kinds of inspiration among other DJs.

A unique and really interesting SC then, while the next one (this weekend) features Olly Addictive and Arkitech.

 

 

Proteus on Bandcamp

Posted by PlasmaDancer on July 9, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Releases. Leave a Comment

This year hasn’t been a great one so far for genuinely dark freeform/NRG, so Proteus’ move into Bandcamp has come at the perfect time. As well as some classics that everyone surely owns by now, there are newer tracks like the superb Freedom and even some previously unreleased material. It looks as though Proteus will be adding new tracks ‘regularly’ – be sure to keep an eye on this project.

Alek Szahala – Wraithverge

Posted by PlasmaDancer on July 9, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Releases. Leave a Comment

I’ve had a couple of posts in mind for over a week now, but what with CODEX and various other things there haven’t been many spare moments. Here’s the delayed first one then, to celebrate a very welcome release for Alek Szahala’s Wraithverge. Downtempo bpm or not, this is an excellent slice of darkness that everyone should check out – just don’t forget to spare a thought for all the chickens who died to bring you this one.

Honourable Mentions

Posted by PlasmaDancer on June 19, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, Swedish, UK, USA. Leave a Comment

A quick post here, to give a few recent mixes a well-deserved mention:

Cuedy – Freeformaniacs Round 15

Some trademark melodic freeform here from Cuedy – it might not match his best efforts from last year, but stick with the whole set for some predictably great connections.

 

Nemes – Freeformaniacs Round 15

A welcome return for a veteran of the Finnish scene. Nemes’ set doesn’t always mesh the old and new too comfortably, but the fabulous first half makes this one very worth checking out.

7Sins – Electronic Kingdom mix

Anyone who misses the Galrav/Orfeus style of twisted, melancholy DJ set will surely enjoy the first half of 7Sins’ mix, though there’s lots to like in the melodic second half, too.

 

 

Spirit Wolf – Evergreen

Posted by PlasmaDancer on June 11, 2014
Posted in: Releases, USA. Leave a Comment

Spirit Wolf’s impressive recent remix of Celestia has a little bit too much UK flavour for me to easily use in a set, but his short-but-sweet Evergreen is another tune that certainly deserves a TYFTH shout.

Keeping the UK-style enormous kick and bass, there’s a very strong Alek Szahala influence here in both the beautiful breakdown and main melody that mark this out as a quality track. Also nice to hear a tune that doesn’t outstay its welcome – the three and a half minute playtime flies by, but feels just about right, even if that’d keep most DJs busier than they’d like to be mid-set.

Like Celestia, Evergreen is a free download on Sprit Wolf’s soundcloud.

Shimotsukei – Lucky Lotus 4

Posted by PlasmaDancer on June 11, 2014
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

Another very nice set here, courtesy of Shimotsukei on his one year anniversary. With some nice connections and a quality selection throughout, this is one for recently-neglected fans of the ‘NRG into freeform’ style set, and anyone else in the mood for some aggression and melancholy.

I’d say the first half is the real standout, plenty of great NRG tracks with a few surprises (lovely connection from Four Beast to Brionac), before some classic Nomic and Betwixt & Between freeform. A bit of confusion between Chaos Maker and Matter of Fact mars things slightly, but this a well-considered, confident mix from Shimotsukei, especially after such a relatively short time in the genre.

Hellfury – Shin No Noir IX – Soul Abyss

Posted by PlasmaDancer on June 8, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes. Leave a Comment

Looking for a new, creative set that does a little more than you’re used to? Hellfury’s Shin No Noir is definitely worth a listen then, a fine hour of dark, thoughtful freeform that really does a heroic job of showing what the genre can currently do.

The 7-minute opening of downtempo psy shows that we’re in for something out of the ordinary, followed by TYFYH’s own Across the Ancient Universe and then into some more conventional freeform. That uncurrent of psy/goacore never quite goes away though, and is another sign of a very well-constructed set. Some connections work better than others (Zusammengehorigkeit – Guardian Spirit and Inner Universe – Simulate are especially nice) but from start to finish there’s no faulting Hellfury’s commitment to a deep, emotional atmosphere. This is the kind of set we should see more of, and so Smiling Corpse also deserve plenty of credit for featuring it on the recent Dead Happy Podcast.

01. Memphidos – Touch the Universe [Sonic Loom]
02. Qygen – Across the Ancient Universe [Thank You For The Horse]
03. Betwixt & Between – Zusammengehörigkeit [ALiCE’S EMOTiON]
04. Blender & Nomic – Guardian Spirit [CDR/Unreleased]
05. Betwixt & Between – Matter of Fact [PREget Music]
06. Icon feat. R.Cena – Inner Universe [Exit Tunes]
07. DJ Sash – Simulate (Nightforce 4-Beat Remix) [CDR/Unreleased]
08. Metropolis feat. Martina – Liquid Nights [New Essential Platinum]
09. Nomic – Chaos Maker [Selfreleased / Nomic Soundcloud Page]
10. Pain On Creation & Nomic – Make me Real [FINRG]
11. Anon – Memaze (Remix) [CDR/Unreleased]
12. Qygen feat. Leo Hartley – Mediterranean Summer [Rebuild Music]
13. Alek Szahala – Xochitln [FINRG]