Freeformatted EP005

Posted by PlasmaDancer on June 3, 2014
Posted in: Japanese, Releases, UK. 2 comments

Another brilliant EP here from Freeformatted, once again doing a fine job representing the Japanese side of things. This release is an interesting mix though, with harder-than-normal Disruptor from Transcend and Cyrax joined by some retro-themed Fuck Around from Invader and Morita yuuhei’s latest, Forced Worship.

My favourite has to be ikaruga_nex’s Sink, a top quality effort with a very strong Betwixt & Between influence – although in classic ikaruga style the post-breakdown melody threatens to become a little too J-Core, his talent for filtering and ear for darker, aggressive sections take it back into my kind of territory, really living up to the promise of the first half. All being well I’ll fit this one into the next CODEX setlist, and the other tracks will likely be getting plenty of play from DJs across the spectrum.

Twisted Freq – Paradoxical Intentions

Posted by PlasmaDancer on June 1, 2014
Posted in: Uncategorized. 1 comment

Finally some news to reassure those saddened by the recent departures from the scene, in the shape of Twisted Freq, one of the founders of the dark freeform sound. Paradoxical Intentions looks to be his latest return to production, and this short preview shows very promising signs. No news of a release yet, but some new material of the quality of his Kreatrix heyday could be just what the scene needs right now.

CODEX 3, 5th July @Shibuya R-Lounge

Posted by PlasmaDancer on May 30, 2014
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Italian, Japanese. Leave a Comment

My first gig since the last CODEX will be…the next CODEX, with yet another fabulous lineup that really can’t be beaten. I’m honoured to announce that I’ve now joined the regular roster of DJs, so the guests this time will be Guld and Italy’s BRK.

This will be the first event for me and Guld to play together since NRGetic Romancer, while it’s going to be pretty special to join up once again with BRK – the first time since 10 Years of FINRG. There’ll be plenty of darkness from the three of us (I already have some plans, with one ‘good-enough-to-build-a-set-around-it’ connection ), but with a first CODEX set from ASAHI and a return for all the regular members, every DJ is a must-see.

Full lineup below, but don’t forget to check the Facebook page for more.

 

SPECIAL GUESTS

BRK (FINRG Recordings) [IT]

GULD (NRGetic Romancer)

/_/_/ DJs/_/_/

raqhow (CODEX / Freeform Bros.)
NONAKA+CHIN (Freeform Bros)
Le Dos-on (Splash Energy/Relentless)
Plasmadancer (FINRG Recordings / NRGeticromancer)
Alabaster (Cradle to Grave)
Asahi ( Karma-業- )
/_/_/ VJs /_/_/

VJ ALE (RisingGENERATION / deeepa)
Manabirds (RisingGENERATION / iNSRiRE)

/_/_/ Photo /_/_/

Mizuho

/_/_/ What is Freeform hardcore? /_/_/

初心者におすすめできるフリーフォーム
http://togetter.com/li/461194

Freeform Hardcoreとは
http://freeformjp.tumblr.com/aboutfreeform

/_/_/ Special Thanks /_/_/

FINRG Recordings (Fin)
https://soundcloud.com/finrg-recordings

Freeformatted (UK)
https://soundcloud.com/freeformatted

Smiling corpse (UK)
https://soundcloud.com/smilingcorpse

Rebuild Music (UK)
http://www.rebuildmusic.net/

Guhroovy (JP)
http://www.guhroovy.com/

freeform forum.net / Freeformaniacs (Europe/Austrasia)
http://www.freeformforum.net/index.php
https://soundcloud.com/freeformaniacs

A Farewell to Aryx

Posted by PlasmaDancer on May 30, 2014
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Releases, UK. Leave a Comment

Along with Epyx & Cyrez’s retirement earlier this year, Aryx’s decision to stop freeform production has to be the biggest news of 2014 so far. While I’m sure we all wish him well as he heads off to pastures new, his absence will be another massive loss to the freeform.

Thank goodness for last year’s Munted! in London then, as I finally had the chance to play on the same lineup after out first meeting at 10 Years of FINRG. An unbiased observer* said that ours were the two best sets of the night, and it was an honour to be pushing our styles together in an unfamiliar outpost of the scene.

I say our styles – but while I’ve been neglecting production in order to diddle away the years on DJ sets, Aryx has done the hard work to go from a total rookie to one of the very finest freeform artists so far. His The End of All Things remix remains a stupendous track that transports me back to Lahti every time I hear it, but any artist would also kill to have tunes like Chaldea, Morokai, and Polaris on their CV.

Add in the fact that Aryx is one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet, and I’m sure I’m not the only one hoping that we’ll one day see him back in the scene. For now, let’s enjoy Byrgius, and look forward to his next (trance?) tracks in his new guise.

*aka my younger brother

 

What We Missed

Posted by PlasmaDancer on May 24, 2014
Posted in: Australia, Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes, Releases, UK. 2 comments

Whistling in the wind a bit here, but I thought it’d be worth a look back over the past few months and select a few standout moments that normally would have made it onto TYFTH. Sorry about the bullet-point format, but hopefully that’s better than nothing –  if anyone’s still reading the site and feels like adding any major ommissions in the comments, that’d be most welcome.

Pearsall’s excellent look back at freeform in 2013

Quality tracks from Aryx, Nomic, Qygen and others in Rebuild’s final compilation release

Another wonderful Freeformaniacs set from Nomic

Guld plays The Superbeast at Dark Dimension / SUKE’s dark psy at Dark Dimension

Some of the finest releases so far this year, from Freeformatted

A gallery of photos from February’s 12 Years of FINRG

A quality Freeformaniacs set from Transcend

Some highlights from January’s CODEX

Qygen’s first artist album – successfully funded on indiegogo, to be released via Smiling Corpse

 

You promised…

Posted by PlasmaDancer on May 24, 2014
Posted in: Events, Japanese. Leave a Comment

So I didn’t abandon TYFTH for a new life as a Manila jeepney driver after all – the return from the Philippines was a few months ago, yet site issues somehow conspired against me well into March (a sad indictment of my tech knowledge, but absolutely true). Since then it’s been a case of reorganising the site while dealing with work and the general Joys of Tokyo, but now things are ship-shape enough to start posting again.

Many apologies to anyone who has been checking the site for updates, and big thanks to those who’ve enquired into what the heck’s been going on. All is now well, so let’s begin with a few important announcement posts and attempt to catch up on some of what’s happened since the start of the year.

While I’m here, it’s probably worth mentioning that I’ve been working on a new set for a couple of months. It’s non-freeform (I know, I know), and as it might still be some way off completion (and CODEX is on the horizon) I’m pondering whether to play a WIP version on Ustream one of these days. Might be a little announcement to that effect soon, even if this weekend looks to be a no-go.

Morita yuuhei – Sadistic Form

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 22, 2014
Posted in: Japanese, Releases. Leave a Comment

This track (a free download, no less) has been doing the rounds in a few mixes recently and is definitely worth a post of its own. Dark freeform from another promising new Japanese producer, Sadistic Form was clearly influenced by Rx’s Eternal Cannon remix and also mixes very nicely into the original tune (a combo I was actually planning to use at Codex a couple of weeks ago). There are more than enough ideas here for the track to stand on its own merits though, so let’s hope that Morita yuuhei has more tunes of this level in store for 2014.

BEEZEE & Alderz – Freeformaniacs, 14th Jan

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 21, 2014
Posted in: Canadian, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 1 comment

The site’s still got a few issues (sorry if I’ve missed any comments recently), but I’ve decided to try a few posts before I head off to Manila this weekend.

First then is a welcome return to TYFTH for Beezee and Alderz in yet another Freeformaniacs set. The selection in this one is really impressive, sounding very fresh with some surprising choices and lesser-played anthems that have obviously been well-considered. Most pleasing is the way the atmosphere shifts through the set, gradually darkening after that uplifting opening. Showing what a great combo the boys are becoming, this is a high quality set that deserves plenty of listens.

  1. Carbon Based – Ancestor (170 Mix)
  2. Pearsall – Dreaming Of Berlin
  3. Substanced – Crank Cleopatra (2012 Mix)
  4. Transcend – Universe
  5. Nomic – Rule Breaker
  6. DJ RX – Hellfire (Betwixt & Between Remix)
  7. Narkotik – The Fucking Shit
  8. Alchemiist – Empire
  9. Le Dos On – Sanctuary
  10. Twisted Frequency – Innocence (AMS remix)
  11. Nightforce – Second Redemption 09
  12. Re-Form – My Sickness

Alchemiist vs Shimotsukei – Freeformaniacs Round 12

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 3, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 1 comment

We’re not finished with 2013 just yet, as an impressive batch of mixes appeared at the end of the year and I’ll be slowly working my way through them this month. The first is yet more freeform from the Freeformaniacs show in the form of a versus set between Alchemiist and Shimotsukei.

Alchemiist’s section is a very nicely selected 30mins, slightly more melodic than usual with some quality connections – see Damage Point – Icy Clouds for an example. This might well be my first Shimotsukei mix, and overall his half of the set really lived up to expectations. Going for Japanese tracks plus Alek Szahala, this is a thoughtfully selected effort with a melancholy edge.

Some transitions work better than others, but a very promising sign of things to come is the Sanctuary – Sunray combination, a superb mix that’s worth the (admittedly low) price of admission alone. Sunray lacks a bit of bass/power in comparison to Le Dos-on’s track, so personally I might have tried either looping an outro section of Sanctuary to give it a bit of support or just starting Sunray earlier to take it through to the breakdown.

Anyway, seems like I was right to have high hopes for Shimotsukei’s sets – this interesting mix of styles with Alchemiist was a fine place to start and the whole hour is well worth checking out.