One of those releases you’ve probably seen by now, but Jawshatter deserves a post of its own, just in case. It feels like a while since we’ve had a FINRG track that combines melodies with a harder edge, at least this effectively, and we’ll surely be hearing lots of this one in new year sets.
Finnish
Alchemiist and J-Mx’s wild new track is part of the long-awaited Smiling Corpse 002, and bodes very well for the rest of the compilation. A nice mix of the guys’ styles, Escape Velocity really reminds me of the best Hybridize tracks that nailed the ‘freeform + trance’ subgenre. Definitely one to look forward to, but in the meantime there are plenty more 002 previews appearing on the Smiling Corpse SoundCloud.
After Shimotsukei’s Hardcore Summer Bash 2014, let’s keep the standards high with a look at Cuedy’s latest Freeformaniacs mix. You should know what to expect from Cuedy by now – plenty of deep melodies, some next level transitions and a nice variety of old and new.
The first half is as good as I’ve heard for quite some time, with a nice darker element balancing out the melodies and some brilliant connections. Blood Sacrifice isn’t my favourite Betwixt track, but that blend into Human Fraility gets better each time you hear it. Also congrats to Cuedy for a brilliant use of the Yksisarvinen remix – it always seems to awkwardly stand out in other sets I’ve heard, but here it’s a lovely progression after Icy Clouds.
The second half of the set seems to lose some momentum, but that might just be the lack of tunes that really appeal to me. Quality choice of finale with Tendrils of Reality though, and it does seem as though Morita yuuhei’s other melodic freeform tracks have plenty of mix potential.
Another recommended hour from Cuedy then, and thanks to the man himself for the tracklist you see below.
01. Epyx & Cyrez – 4th Dimension
02. Alek Szahala – Icy Clouds
03. Le Dos-On – Yksisarvinen (Qygen Remix)
04. Evolutionize – The Second Renaissanse
05. Betwixt & Between – Blood Sacrifice
06. Morita Yuuhei – Human Frailty
07. Suge – Yabarekabare
08. Morita Yuuhei – Xiendealice
09. Nomic – Suicide Machine
10. Pearsall – Dreaming of Berlin (Le Dos-on Remix)
11. Nightforce – Symphony For The Devil (The Virus Escaped)
12. Lost Soul – Warlock
13. Morita Yuuhei – Astrics
14. Wyrm – Tendrils Of Reality (Qygen Remix)
Shimotsukei’s Hardcore Summer Bash 2014 is one of the most highly recommended sets for a long time, but some teeth-gritting will likely be needed to get you through the first couple of (very nicely mixed) hardcore tracks. inner universe is the point where things really get going, and the set becomes a brilliant example of how to use some very tricky tunes.
That happy hardcore opening seems all the more incongruous when you realise where the set is really heading – the darker, psychedelic avenue of Betwixt and Alek Szahala’s freeform backed up by the best use of dark psy I’ve heard all year. Just check that connection from Reincarnation, while Hidden Radiance makes a really nice appearance. Some of the psy might stick around for a little too long, but that’s the nature of the genre – it probably says a lot about freeform these days that so many of us are pillaging other styles to get some darker atmosphere into our sets.
Higurashi isn’t my kind of tune, but it’s definitely worth sticking with until the brutal introduction of Battle of Dawn. How nice to hear it at its natural bpm, and so begins the high speed final section of the set, including a why-haven’t-I-heard-this-combo-before transition between Anmitzcuacah and A. Pink Magic will divide opinions at 200bpm and doesn’t blend as smoothly as the previous tunes, but no arguments about the use of 12 little fragments, it’s a perfect finale.
I can imagine some people wishing for a few more tracks of ‘normal speed’ freeform, especially given the wonderful transitions and atmosphere on show here, but this is a superb (if unusual) hour that really confirms Shimotsukei as one of the DJs to watch these days.
01. MesoPhunk – Within Those Eyes [F/C Lucky Lotus Records]
02. Elipton – Happy Forever [F/C Lucky Lotus Records]
03. Icon feat. R.Cena – inner universe [Exit Tunes]
04. Dark Whisper – Polymorphia [HSS Records]
05. Betwixt & Between – Hidden Radiance [ALiCE’S EMOTiON]
06. Betwixt & Between – Reincarnation (Remaster) [CDR]
07. Exemia – The Demons of my Reflection [Free]
08. Chum – Higurashi no Naku Koro ni [Exit Tunes]
09. Blender & Nomic – Battle of Dawn [CDR]
10. Alek Szahala – Anmitzcuacah [Electronica Exposed/FiNRG]
11. Le Dos-on – A [Free]
12. Alek Száhala – Pink Magic [FiNRG]
13. Betwixt & Between – 12 little fragments of silence [HARDCORE TANO*C]
Showing that even his unfinished tracks can put most contemporary freeform to shame, Aryx has gone all philanthropist and is releasing some of his unreleased material via SoundCloud. Redux is a collab with Substanced that really manages to preserve the sound of both artists, striking a nice balance between dancefloor energy and a deeper mood in the breakdown. Granted, the track might be lacking that ‘something extra’ that would have seen it get a release, but it’s a lovely effort that should find a home in many a melodic set.
Keep a close eye on Aryx’s SoundCloud for any other uploads, and for news of his upcoming trance project.
Still a few sets I’ve been meaning to mention, starting with a psy-influenced hour from Australia’s Inoxia. There’s no faulting the ambition in this one, and the effort to take the listener on a trippy journey into psy and freeform really impressed me.
That said, there were a few missed opportunities after the fabulous intro and the Jesus Raves section – with such a demented (and nicely mixed) opening, the set seemed to be crying out for some Qygen, older Alek Szahala or Betwixt & Between. Instead there’s the slightly disappointing choice of Power of Universe, before getting back into the mood with some nice ikaruga and Vyral XIII selections. The set has lost some of the unique atmosphere by that stage though, and it’s more about enjoying the tunes on their own merits.
The final section (maybe beginning with Evolutionize’s Tandoku) heads into more typical, energetic territory, and ends things on a classic note. Plenty of interesting ideas here then, and lots of potential for future Inoxia sets.
A quick look at the tracklist for Hellfury’s latest set made me wonder if it was quite my cup of tea, but after his fantastic Shin No Noir IX I was more than willing to give it a go. As expected there are fewer tracks that I really enjoy, but the quality is still very high – this time the unifying sounds are Le Dos-on’s trademark melodies and a more understated psy influence than in SNNIX. Look out for some ambitious mixes, one of my favourite Qygen tracks (Birth Within the Cosmic Storm) and a enjoyably ferocious finale.
I really like 7Sins’ taste in tracks, and here again we have a very solid, no-nonsense selection of melodic and filtery tunes. It’s fair to say that the set is more about the tracklist than the transitions, but the Hatral – Tormenting Flames connection is truly glorious and I’d love to hear more of the same in future mixes.
This was supposed to be The Week Of Mixes, as recently I’ve been really trying to catch up on sets in preparation for giving a few more recommendations. I’m already behind schedule though, so I’ll try to add one a day for the rest of the week.
We’ll start with a Cuedy set that’s now almost a year old, but I’ve only now managed to dig it out from Freeformaniacs’ mountainous back catalogue. Apologies to Cuedy, as this is another superb hour of music that does all sorts of things right, and really deserves to have been mentioned at the time.
The first thing you’ll notice is the excellent first 20 minutes or so, nicely rationing the lighter tunes before the sounds deepen up with tracks from Nomic and Re-form. That Silver Cube – Human Race connection is excellent, while the introduction of Fluorite midway through the section does a fine job of linking the two atmospheres.
The middle section of the set is also impressively mixed, but in the trancey UK freeform style that never sits that comfortably alongside Finnish equivalents like Frozen Flame. Just my opinion, mind, and even if Frankenstein isn’t my kind of tune, Cuedy’s blend into Unohdetut is one of those standout connections you’ll be looking forward to on a second listen. Full marks for ambition with the next mix into Scout, but the keys really have to be rock solid for this to work, and after listening on a couple of different headphones I think this one could have benefitted from a bit more tweaking – maybe there’s a ‘sweeter spot’ at a nearby bpm?
Dodomeki and the Lush remix are an excellent combo, and end the set on a very high note. There’s something for most of us here, and if you’re a fellow beard-stroking transition nerd then you’ll surely enjoy this hour from one of the scene’s finest DJs.
01. XIO – White Out (Le Dos-on Remix) [Asgard \ Japan With Force]
02. Horzi vs Amini – Don’t say a thing [fc. Return of the Jeb Eye \ Smiling Corpse]
03. Alabaster – Flourite [Worldwide Heavyweight Freeform \ Rebuild Music]
04. Re-form – Silver Cube (Extended Edit) [Free Release \ FiNRG]
05. Nomic – Human Race pt.II [fc. Return of the Jeb Eye \ Smiling Corpse]
06. DJ Rx – Frozen Flame [Free Release \ FiNRG]
07. Transcend – Spirit Of Hades [STMSLM008 \ Stamina Slam]
08. jD-KiD & Javi Dj – Purnima [BFB010 \ B-FormBeats]
09. Qygen – Supersonic Speed 2013 [fc. Freeformatted Vol 2 \ Ruffbeats & Freeformaniacs]
10. Transcend – Frankenstein [Free Release \ Facebook Fan Page]
11. Epyx & Cyrez – Unohdetut 2011 [Freeform Exposed \ Electrode]
12. Grimsoul – Scout [Melancholy Overdose \ Electronica Exposed]
13. Ikaruga_Nex – Dodomeki [fc. Return of the Jeb Eye \ Smiling Corpse]
14. Pain on Creation – Lush (Epyx & Cyrez Remix) [Free Release \ FiNRG]
After Dyzphazia’s Smiling Corpse mix, here’s another set that shows how a creative DJ can wring some quality out of the modern(ish) drum and bass scene, while meshing it nicely with freeform. Cyberdyne Seba has quite a dnb pedigree – and the selections here are as good as you’d expect – but it’s the transitions that make this a set to pay attention to.
The first third is solid, warming up with that nice little sequence of Nightmare on Base – Take Me Away – Hawaiian Snow, before things go up a level as more freeform is introduced. There are a few ambitious connections here and there, but the standout section of the set has to be from Something Sick to Dream Invader Network – very smooth, there’s a nice, consistently dark atmosphere that then goes psychedelic with DIN. That mix from Love 2 Death is top class, and it’s just a shame that Qygen’s track doesn’t have the bassy power to makes things as seamless as you might like. Unfortunately Pure Evil clashes a little too much with DIN and is jarring after the previous smooth blend, but the final two tracks do at least keep things dark and aggressive.
Lots to like here then, and if you’re a drum and bass head you’ll be merrily carried along towards the best sections of the set, while freeform-only DJs/listeners will really enjoy the progression into the darker second half.
1. Dylan – Intoxication (Outbreak Records)
2. Audio X – Hyväksyminen (Audio Reanimation Digital)
3. Le Dos-On – Mental Madness (2012 Regenerate) (free DL no longer available)
4. The Acolyte – Mind Control (Electronica Exposed)
5. Tom U4EA & James F – Nightmare On Base (Electronic Recordings)
6. Concord Dawn – Take Me Away (Commercial Suicide)
7. Crossfire – Hawaiian Snow (Crossfire Recordings)
8. Substanced – Jinpachi (Rebuild Music)
9. Vyral XIII – Librium (free DL no longer available)
10. Qygen – Kimura Kaoru No Densetsu (Tribute To Betwixt & Between) (Smiling Corpse)
11. Paul B & Subwave – Something Sick (DSCI4)
12. Cyrax & Transcend – Disruptor 2014 (Freeformatted -> free DL: Freeformatted – Transcend-cyrax-disruptor-2014 )
13. The Machinist & Rika – Love 2 Death (Electronica Exposed)
14. Qygen – Dream Invader Network (Smiling Corpse)
15. Re-Form – Pure Evil (Electronica Exposed)
16. Morita yuuhei – You (All) Have Eaten You (Freeformatted -> free DL: Freeformatted – Morita-yuuhei-you-all-have-eaten-you-ffmep004)
It’s always nice to see the results from each year’s Assembly demo event in Finland, and this time both Alek Szahala and Byproduct had some very nice material on show. Alek’s Bermuda Square was ranked third in the ‘dance’ category, and is an uplifting trancey track that threatens to drift into Paocala territory without ever becoming too melancholy. The little fill before the main drop (from 1.26) was probably my favourite moment – after a fairly conventional breakdown it’s a lovely touch that not many artists could come up with.
It’s definitely worth checking out the Assembly Archive site for more entries, where you’ll also find Galatian March, an impressive downtempo track from Paokala and Underwater Things, a wonderfully melodic tune from Byproduct.