UK

Dyzphazia – Freeformaniacs Round 11

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 27, 2013
Posted in: Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

My increasingly geriatric Hell’s Gate rework is mixing with the elite here, in what has to be my favourite Dyzphazia set for a long time and a treat for all fans of filtery freeform. Tracks 1-5 work brilliantly together, establishing a dark atmosphere that then leads into some top quality combinations – check out Darkside into Outbreak as an example, a nicely ambitious mix that had me enjoying Rx’s remix a lot more than I usually do. The whole set flows very well though, finishing with Le Dos-on’s Morokai remix. Upcoming on Smiling Corpse, Le Dos-on has excelled himself with a glorious breakdown that recalls the very best of Japanese and Finnish freeform.

Well done to Dyzphazia for an awesome effort – this one comes very highly recommended.

1) Epyx & Cyrez Vs. Substanced – Expedition Bloodbath [Electronica Exposed]
2) Alek Szahala – Voices of Babylon [FiNRG]
3) Zio – Hell’s Gate (Plasmadancer Remix) [TYFTH]
4) ThermalForce – Al Megiddo [Khaotic Dimension]
5) Alchemiist – Empire [FiNRG]
6) Carbon Based – Darkside [FiNRG]
7) Endemic vs. Solution – Outbreak (DJ Rx Remix) [NuEnergy]
8 ) Epyx & Cyrez – Blackest Night (Endemic Remix) [Watchtower]
9) Kors-K – Tubular Bells [Nukleuz]
10) Le Dos-On – A (Cyrez Remix) [Splash Energy]
11) Substanced Vs. Transcend Vs. Horzi – Eons of Anxious Hater (Substanced Mashup) [CDr]
12) Hommarju – Verzweiflung [Relentless Digital]
13) Aryx – Morokai (Le Dos-On Remix) [F/C Smiling Corpse]

Smiling Corpse ‘Dead Happy’ Podcast Episode 13, 23rd November

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 21, 2013
Posted in: Events, Japanese, UK. 2 comments

It’s an enormous honour for me to announce that I’ll be appearing alongside Wyrm on this month’s Smiling Corpse podcast! Following the past couple of shows won’t be easy, but I’ve put as much time as possible into my set (hence the silence again here recently) and we’re sure to have an awesome second hour with Wyrm.

Now that the UK’s back on GMT it’s a bit easier to for us in Japan to catch the show as it goes out, so I’ll be up bright and early on Sunday to mingle in the Krafty chat. Hope to see everyone there!

Smiling Corpse ‘Dead Happy’ Podcast Episode 11 / Episode 12

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 15, 2013
Posted in: Canadian, Drum & Bass, Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

Recently I caught up on all the recent Smiling Corpse podcasts – four sets of excellent quality that no Horser should miss out on.

Episode 11 features a really interesting, experimental set from Dyzphazia that very skilfully switches between different subgenres to make something very fresh. Making the most of the schranzy-style tracks to bring in new sections, this is one of the best Dyzphazia mixes for a while and a great set to check out if you’re in the mood for something different.

01) zkillbang3r – Loberta Ingrata (Original Mix) [Fiume Beat]
02) Sulima – On Mars (Original Mix) [Goamagnetic]
03) Hypix – Criminal [Sounds Diabolic]
04) Faradize – Psycho Therapy (Original Mix) [Goamagnetic]
05) Buchecha – Revolution (Original Mix) [Fiume Beat]
06) ETC – Helpless (2012 Remaster) [Phantasm Records]
07) zkillbang3r – La Huerfana [Sounds Diabolic]
08) Epyx & Cyrez ft. Jarno H – Continuum of the Ordeal [Watchtower]
09) Hellboy – The Nightmare Begins [Infractive Digital]
10) Alek Szahala – Unicorn Grove [Electroplates]
11) Qygen – Supersonic Speed 2013 [F/C Freeformatted Vol 2]
12) Einhander – Fourbeast [CDr]
13) Betwixt & Between – Tankobu Heso Tarou no Hourou (Proteus Remix) [Hardcore Tano*C]
14) Ayrx – Morokai (Le Dos-On Remix) [F/C Smiling Corpse]
15) Brothers In Techno & ASIN vs. Qygen – Arkhatek Temple (Dyzphazia Bootleg) [CDr]

Alchemiist’s set from the same podcast is exactly what I hoped for – twisty, solidly mixed and with plenty of older darkness. It’s not always easy to find freeform sets that go for all-out aggression, and with the sprinkling of promos livening things up this is a must-listen.

01) Pantera – By Demons Be Driven (Alchemiist & Decion Rework) [CDr]
02) Alchemiist – Terrible Times [Orrible Noize]
03) Horzi – Human Hater (Substanced Remix) [FiNRG]
04) Alek Száhala – Maruuk [FiNRG]
05) Endemic – Hurricane [Watchtower]
06) Substanced – Reptile Zoo [FiNRG]
07) Twisted Freq – Unleashed [Electronica Exposed]
08) Twisted Freq – Hanuman Visits Lanka [Electronica Exposed]
09) Twisted Freq & Cyrez – The Edge Of Extinction [Electronica Exposed]
10) Alchemiist – Neurotic [CDr]
11) Lost Soul feat. Dark Angel – Sacrifice (Endemic Remix) [Watchtower]
12) Substanced & Alchemiist – Skullcrush [FiNRG]

Episode 12 keeps things dark with a great set from Olly Addictive that introduces some variety around the basic TYFTH-friendly sound. I often think that mixing other tunes with Alek Szahala tracks is a very risky business, as very little else can match his unique atmosphere and it ends up feeling like a waste (eg. my Lucky Lotus set – Let the Funeral Begin works a treat, but Last Glimmer of Hope cancels out Sunray’s atmosphere and things head off in a different, lighter direction). Anyway, Olly puts the lie to all that with a blinder of a connection, moving straight from Pastor Skinstrom into Solar Hive. Brilliant stuff, and the rest of the set is melodic but twisted, and definitely recommended.

01) Unnatural Selection & Cik – Day of Judgement (Ophidian Remix) [Industrial Strength]
02) Carbon Based – Painkiller [Electroplates]
03) Epyx & Cyrez – Unohdetut 2011 [Electrode]
04) Shanty – Cerebral Cortex (Wyrm Remix) [Electrode]
05) Transcend – Eons [F/C Watchtower]
06) Qygen & Olly Addictive – Vapaamuoto [F/C Smiling Corpse]
07) The Sauna Boys – Pastor Skinstrom [FiNRG]
08) Alek Száhala – Solar Hive [FiNRG]
09) Alchemiist – Empire [FiNRG]
10) Evolutionize – Pain [F/C Freeformatted Vol.2]
11) Transcend & Neptune – The Spirit Molecule [F/C Strictly for the Purist]
12) AC Slater – Overdose [Kaotik]
13) Tommyknocker – Twist [Traxtorm Records]

Finally we have a headline set from Alek Szahala that is hopefully getting the listeners it deserves. The tracklist alone is fantastic, with a few oldies alongside the wonderful Succubus, Raingun and Mageslayer, but this one also deserves special attention for the mixing style. Maybe the most complex Alek set I’ve heard so far, there’s plenty of mixing before the traditional outro section and a couple of tunes that leap straight into the breakdown, keeping even hardcore Alek fans guessing until the end. A top quality hour then, and the perfect warm up for Alek’s 10th Anniversary set in Helsinki tonight.

01) Alek Száhala – Intro
02) Alek Száhala – Succubus [CDr]
03) Alek Száhala – Deimos [FiNRG]
04) Alek Száhala – Supriya [FiNRG]
05) Alek Száhala – Astraia [ReBuild Music]
06) Alek Száhala – Dryad Machine [FiNRG]
07) Alek Száhala – Aurinko [CDr]
08) Alek Száhala – Alanamra (Arkitech Remix) [Nu Energy]
09) Alek Száhala – Iron Squid [FiNRG]
10) Alek Száhala – Maruuk [FiNRG]
11) Alek Száhala – Railgun [CDr]
12) Alek Száhala – Mageslayer [FiNRG]
13) Alek Száhala – Barber’s Adagio for Strings [FiNRG]
14) Alek Száhala – Vengeance
15) Alek Száhala – Anmitzcuacah

Check out all the sets here

Son of Sam @SINISTRY, 26th October 2013

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 9, 2013
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

I’m obviously no use as a news source right now, but the endless commutes and post-work gazing into space is at least giving me a chance to catch up on some excellent sets. I have a few to post up now, so let’s begin with Son of Sam’s Sinistry selection of melodic/twisted tracks.

That opening rock-solid mix between Reborn and Polaris had me immediately convinced, but using Starfall as the set’s centrepiece is just fantastic – it remains one of my all-time favourite Alek tunes. The mix into Air shows that a lot of thought went into this mix, and there’s a great flow here. It might be a bit of a freeform cliche these days to finish a set with gabber, but when it works this well, why not?

Overall this was a brilliant set and a really nice surprise – with the one like BEEZEE also dropping some trademark sounds, Sinistry might just have been the best UK event ever for ‘intelligent freeform’. With Aryx and myself trying to do the same at Munted! (a much-delayed look back at that will be coming one of these days), there’s real hope that deeper sounds will play a much bigger role in the scene’s development.

  1. jD-KiD – Reborn [Re-Born Beats]
  2. Aryx – Polaris [Watchtower]
  3. jD-KiD & Javi DJ – Purnima [B-Form Beats]
  4. Alek Szahala – Deimos [FINRG]
  5. Le Dos-On – Obsidian [Relentless Digital]
  6. Paocala – Starfall [Electronica Exposed]
  7. Le Dos-On – Air [Relentless Digital]
  8. Substanced – Ghost of the Future [Watchtower]
  9. jD-KiD & DJ Corr – Carinae [ReBuild Music]
  10. Korsakoff – Pink Noise [Cloud 9 Dance]
  11. Dyprax – Murder & Crime [MoH]
  12. AniMe – Cracks [Traxstorm]

Alderz – pheNOMIC

Posted by PlasmaDancer on September 27, 2013
Posted in: Finnish, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

Finally a chance to give Alderz’ ode to Nomic a quick shout – a shorter mix here, but as you’d expect it’s really worth checking out. Alderz has been rummaging through the promo drawer for this one, yet avoided the fatal error of throwing unreleased tunes into a set willy-nilly – there’s a great structure to the set, with the added bonus of some less well-known tunes alongside the classics. Wonderful to hear Awa again, and Holocaust is a great choice from Nomic’s massive list of ‘set finishing’ aggressive tracks.

PlasmaDancer – Lucky Lotus Online Electronic Music Festival 3

Posted by PlasmaDancer on September 26, 2013
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 3 comments

PlasmaDancer – Lucky Lotus, August 2013 by Plasmadancer on Mixcloud

I’ve had a couple more requests to put my Lucky Lotus set online, so here it is! The artists/DJs on the FINRG SoundCloud are pretty self policing these days in terms of what goes up there, and as in this case I don’t think the set is anywhere near the quality we should expect from FINRG I’ve dusted off Mixcloud instead. That’s not to say I was disappointed with what I came up with, mind, just it was always intended to be a one-off event-style set that showed off a few styles, not one for repeated listens.

Anyway, I was a bit unsure about where to pitch this one, but decided to go for some melodic sounds to start with (Beati Mortui aside) and then hit listeners with some harder, darker tracks. It got a pretty good response at the time, and I heard people picking out certain parts of the set that appealed to them, which is really what I was aiming for – if it inspired non-freeform fans to seek out some new tunes, then mission accomplished.

Have a listen and see what you think – apologies in advance for Face the Destiny – Neurotic and Toybox – Human Hater, those are the kind of lazy transitions I hate, though the rest of the set has a few old favourite connections from Ustream and Romancer.

Qygen & Wyrm – Digital Torment

Posted by PlasmaDancer on August 28, 2013
Posted in: Goa / Psy, Releases, UK. 3 comments

Here’s a lovely new free release from between Qygen and Wyrm that ticks all the right boxes if you’re into psychedelic, dark freeform. One of those collabs that really does manage to sound like a melding of both artists’ sounds, Digital Torment is a must-download via the Smiling Corpse Facebook page (click the Free downloads! section).

The track also coincides with the big announcement of Qygen’s upcoming album, set to be a physical release.

Nrgray – Into the Darkness

Posted by PlasmaDancer on August 22, 2013
Posted in: Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 2 comments

The first set for a while from Nrgray is a nice 30 minute showcase of darker, melodic tracks. The big attraction here is obviously the Altered States version of Moving Flare, a beautiful tune that brings back lots of memories, but the set properly gets into its stride with Innocence into Morokai, nicely anchoring that all-important middle section of the mix.

1. ThermalForce – Moving Flare (Altered States) (CDR)
2. Transcend – Mindglow (Rebuild Music)
3. Nomic – Innocence (CDR)
4. Aryx – Morokai (Smiling Corpse)
5. Substanced & Alchemiist – Skullcrush (Transcend & Dyzphazia remix) (F/C FINRG Recordings)
6. Ikaruga_nex – Dodomeki (F/C Smiling Corpse)

Dyzphazia – Lucky Lotus 3

Posted by PlasmaDancer on August 22, 2013
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 3 comments

Been quite busy this week, and too occupied with Codex prep to check out all the mixes that have appeared recently. Here are a couple though, and I’ll catch up on the rest asap – there’re some really tasty sets floating around at the moment.

First up is Dyzphazia’s Lucky Lotus set, a really interesting hour that eases into the freeform after a slower start. I went for a similar ‘rookie friendly’ start, but here the lower bpm works especially well, then moving up through the gears and eventually finishing with Hydra. Lots of newer stuff on show throughout, but for me the standout moment of the set was definitely the Skullcrush – Anthrax Injection combo, a really nice mix of melodies and nastiness that flows very well. A shame it doesn’t continue in the same vein a little longer, but you won’t find a bad tune in the tracklist, that’s for sure (though Pink Magic doesn’t actually seem to be in there..?).

  1. Marilyn Manson – Resident Evil Main Theme (J-Gear Bootleg) [CDr]
  2. Wyrm & Surtr – Tesseract [Electrode]
  3. Cosmic Gate – Back to Earth (Alchemiist Bootleg) [CDr]
  4. Alek Szahala – Lagash (Original Mix) [CDr]
  5. Betwixt & Between – East of Eden [CDr]
  6. Substanced & Alchemiist – Skullcrush (Transcend & Dyzphazia Remix) [F/C FiNRG]
  7. Alchemiist – Anthrax Injection [Smiling Corpse]
  8. Epyx & Cyrez – Unohdetut 2011 [Electrode]
  9. Yuki Kajiura – Mezame (Nomic Bootleg) [CDr]
  10. Proteus & Kevin Energy – London Helsinki Underground (Proteus Warcry Remix) [NuEnergy]
  11. Qygen – gXX-XeY-XQn 2010 [CDr]
  12. Alek Szahala – Pink Magic [FiNRG]
  13. Betwixt & Between – Hydra (Long Edit) [Hardcore Tano*C] 

Le Dos-on – Obsidian

Posted by PlasmaDancer on August 16, 2013
Posted in: Japanese, Releases, UK. 1 comment

Yet more releases from Le Dos-on, this time an upcoming EP on Relentless Digital. The track that caught my ear from the preview was Obsidian, but anyone into slightly lighter sounds will also find much to like in the other two. By all accounts there’s a lot of new Le Dos-on material set to appear on other labels too, I’m really looking forward to hearing which ones he picks for his Codex set next week.