umbrella – Descent 0.7

Posted by PlasmaDancer on February 4, 2013
Posted in: Japanese, Releases. 5 comments

otakuoverdrive’s YouTube channel tends to feature some excellent Japanese freeform, and recently he outdid himself with an awesome and very obscure umbrella track. Descent 0.7 was apparently only released on a mini-album from White Evil (way back in 2007) which explains why it completely passed me by until now. There’s an obvious Finnish influence here, but also more than a hint of ThermalForce in the simple, addictive and heavily filtered riffs.

It reminds me that I’ve got another great (and old) umbrella track on a hard drive somewhere with a higher bpm and a really nice Afternoon Owl-style lead. I don’t even know the title, but as there might be time for a ustream this month I’ll try to play it then.

Alek Szahala – Commanche

Posted by PlasmaDancer on February 3, 2013
Posted in: Finnish, Releases. 1 comment

Another release from Alek Szahala here – now we’re moving back up through the bpms with Commanche, a trance track that a few of us heard at 10 years of FINRG last year. Reminiscent of some of the Forgotten Tracks set, this is another of those relatively short, beautiful tunes that Alek does so well.

Epyx & Cyrez meets Heathen – All of Us

Posted by PlasmaDancer on February 2, 2013
Posted in: Finnish, Releases, Swedish. Leave a Comment

 

Epyx & Cyrez fans are having a right old week, finishing in fine style with the long-awaited release of All of Us. A very versatile tune, it’s been a fixture in Guld’s sets (and mine, come to think of it) for almost a couple of years, working nicely with freeform or NRG. This is one of those Facebook-related promotions though, so follow this link to the E&C page to get access to the tune. 

Weirdo Live @Ripsnorter 2003

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 31, 2013
Posted in: Mixes, UK. 4 comments

A classic set here that’s been online for a long time, but I only saw it recently (thanks to Alderz). Anyone else who missed it should settle in for a treat – some of the very best in older NRG, all from the one and only Weirdo. Thanks to Guld and COGI, Weirdo’s tunes will always remind me of NRGetic Romancer and early morning sets full of twisty synths and amazing atmospheres, going from dark to uplifting and then back again. I’m a bit sketchy on the tracklist, but rest assured that all the anthems are in here.

edit: Thanks to that man Alderz for a top effort at the tracklist.

  1. Intro (?)
  2. Got 2 B Funky
  3. Get on the Floor
  4. Ghost Stick
  5. We Decide
  6. Blue Oyster (Weirdo remix)
  7. Make U Groove
  8. Photic Zone
  9. Mindereader
  10. ?
  11. I Know a Plaice
  12. Curva Peligrosa
  13. The Other Side
  14. Devil’s Play Thing 

Epyx & Cyrez – Unohdetut 2011 (Guld’s ‘The Meaning of Life’ remix) / Lab 4 – Candyman (Guld’s boot incomplete forever remix)

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 31, 2013
Posted in: Japanese, Releases, UK. 3 comments

Two amazing tracks from Guld surfaced this week – his Unohdetut remix that’ll feature on the upcoming Freeform Exposed 2, and his brutal (but unfinished) boot of Candyman.

I heard a version of the Candyman remix recently, and on a second listen it’s sounding even better, with some really inspired cuts and fills in the intro.

Epyx & Cyrez – Two Against the Void

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 28, 2013
Posted in: Finnish, Releases, UK. 4 comments

Watchtower has just announced that Two Against the Void, Epyx & Cyrez’s new artist album, will be with us next month. The previews are already online and the mix of melodies and harder tunes is looking excellent, along with remixes from Endemic, Tyranoid & Strongstream and Pain on Creation & Substanced.

Congrats to Watchtower and E&C for what’s sure to be a blinding release – head over to the Watchtower site now to place a preorder.  

DR TRE & DISTURBED – BEZERK MIX 2012

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 25, 2013
Posted in: Mixes. 2 comments

This mix was a recommendation from Guld, and lives up to expectations with some awesome, dark NRG. Anyone after some harder tunes in the genre will have a great time here, as Tre and Disturbed’s material seems to have a stronger than usual (and very welcome) Lab 4 influence. After an amazing first 30mins or so (including a brilliant first tune), things calm down slightly before getting back to the madness with a Candyman remix and some very nice original tracks.

1. By Demons be Driven – Pantera (DRTRE mix) 
2. Aphex – DRTRE 
3. Bactera – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
4. Punk – Justin Bourne (DRTRE mix) 
5. Un-Consciousness – Distorted Reality 
6. Fuck em All – Paul Glazby (DRTRE mix) 
7. Heathen – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
8. Purgatory – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
9. Slapper – Distorted Reality 
10. Rawthroat – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
11. Kuntrot – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
12. Candyman – Lab4 (DRTRE and DISTURBED Mix) 
13. Imposters – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
14. W.A.F.M – DRTRE and DISTURBED 

Top 3 Mixes of 2012

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 25, 2013
Posted in: Finnish, Mixes, UK. 8 comments

The Top 3 Tracks post will be coming soon – it’s already a good one, but just waiting for responses from one or two more DJs. In the meantime then, here are my picks for the Top 3 mixes of 2012. There were plenty of excellent efforts last year, but the three here do an especially great job of creating their own atmosphere, finding exciting connections that add to the set, or pushing the sound that TYFTH was set up to promote (or sometimes all of the above). If you would have chosen differently (including any nice sets that didn’t appear on TYFTH, of course) feel free to give them a shout in the comments below.

First of all we have Pearsall’s stupendous tribute to FINRG, mixed to tie in with the 10th anniversary.

Next is really two mixes in one – the Freeformaniacs session between BEEZEE and Alderz.

Finally, I’ve gone for Tyranoid’s Elder Signs, a wonderful hour of darker music that pips the competition to third spot with some brilliant connections (mainly the 2023 – Engel combination that I’m still in love with).

Honourable mentions: Wyrm, Dyzphazia, Alchemiist, AT, Cuedy 

Freeform Exposed 2

Posted by PlasmaDancer on January 22, 2013
Posted in: Canadian, Finnish, Japanese, Releases, UK. 2 comments

For those who weren’t aware until now, there’s one heck of a freeform release on the way from one of the founders of the sound, Electronica Exposed. Following on from the excellent Freeform Exposed, this second edition will have two Shanty-mixed sets and 37 (!) unmixed tunes spread over 3 parts, set for release in February, March and April. No sign of tracklists just yet, but check out the release page for a very promising list of artists and a schedule for the promo clips (starting with the great Finfish remix).