Mixes

Dyzphazia – HTID Concept Freeform Competition Winner

Posted by PlasmaDancer on March 27, 2015
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

Massive congrats to Dyzphazia for winning a place on the lineup at the next Hardcore ‘Til I Die, where he’ll be representing freeform alongside some very big names. His winning set submission is now online, and you can immediately see why it convinced the judges – enough uplifting, dancefloor freeform to excite a UK crowd, with some surprises along the way to a glorious, harder finale of Rx’s Eternal Cannon remix, Gozenzeuna and al Megiddo.

Another milestone for Dyzphazia, and I’m sure he’ll be representing the scene in fine style with some tasty selection and typically quality mixing. Huge news, then, and hopefully the UK Horsers will be out in force to support one of their own.

Sky Dragon – Freeformaniacs Round 19

Posted by PlasmaDancer on March 22, 2015
Posted in: Finnish, Mixes, UK, USA. Leave a Comment

I’ve been keeping an interested eye on Sky Dragon’s productions for a long time now, and so I was very excited to see him in the lineup for round 19 of Freeformaniacs. Happily his set has lived up to expectations, and is a lovely example of (mostly) deeper melodies and well-considered mixing.

Liquid Moon is such a nice choice to set the early tone, and I really, really enjoyed the blend into Code of Silence – something about the two playing together adds a sad note to the hard trance melodies of LM. There’s a nice, careful key change into Celestia too, and while Ambient Angels wouldn’t normally be my kind of track, it works superbly here as a bridge between Nightingale and Lightshaft.

The final section will probably appeal more to the UK freeform brigade, but Solar Summon takes things back to the deeper atmospheres of earlier in the set and is a more than fitting finale.

A great mix from Sky Dragon, and it’s so encouraging to see some (relatively) new DJs approaching their sets with this much thought, and an obvious feel for how melodies and atmospheres can blend together.

01. 2 Raverz – Into My World (T-Forces Remix)
02. Sam One – Liquid Moon
03. DJ Rx – Code of Silence
04. Aryx – Celestia
05. Sky Dragon – Nightingale [Demo]
06. Gammer – Ambient Angels
07. Grimsoul – Lightshaft
08. Oli G – Jasmine (Ephexis & Helikaon Remix)
09. JD-Kid – Unforgettable
10. K90 – Red Snapper (Metrix Remix)
11. Gammer – Unforgettable Hope (Douglas Remix)
12. Vyral XIII – Solar Summon

B.R.K. Live @ Das Lust 2015

Posted by PlasmaDancer on March 5, 2015
Posted in: Events, Italian, Mixes. 1 comment

B. R. K. Live @ Das Lust 2015 by B. R. K. on Mixcloud

There’s some very interesting stuff floating around this week, including a brand new set recording from BRK. This mix features a good number of new tracks alongside Genesis material and past FINRG releases, in a full hour of BRK’s own productions. The set really has its moments – once again, it’s easy to see the progress he is making with each new release.

It’s rare these days to find an NRG-only set, and BRK deserves plenty of support for continuing to keep the lab 4-influenced sound alive. Thanks to the man himself we also have a tracklist:

  1. No Mercy
  2. Dance to the House
  3. Saint Evil
  4. Sacrifice
  5. Lucifer
  6. Kaos Order
  7. Everything Dies
  8. Rhythm is a Dancer
  9. Love’s a Bitch
  10. Summoning Fear
  11. Life=Cruelty

Pearsall – Not The Future We Were Promised

Posted by PlasmaDancer on February 28, 2015
Posted in: Drum & Bass, Mixes, UK, USA. 2 comments

Far and away the best set I’ve heard this year isn’t actually freeform, but a masterclass in jungle selection from Pearsall that you simply have to check out. Harking back to the early-to-mid-nineties golden age of Dreamscape and Helter Skelter, Ellis Dee and Grooverider, this 94 minute set is Pearsall on top, top form.

It’s one thing to put together a tracklist of massive classics and lesser-known tunes, and then quite another to blend them this well – the best jungle sets always give me the impression of knife-edge, organised chaos, and what a good demonstration this is. Props to Pearsall for some top-drawer mixing, but also the set’s progression, moving from some of my favourite chopped up breaks to the amen-focused main section of the set. The climax also has some inspired selections, Music Takes Me and a glorious remake of Tango and Fallout’s Revelations ending the mix in ecstatic style.

Pearsall’s typically thoughtful Sonicrampage post confirms my first impressions, that such a complex set must have taken a heck of a lot of practice and pre-planning, and after a couple of weeks on constant rotation I can confirm it more than stands up to multiple listens. Highly, highly recommended.

Smiling Corpse ‘Dead Happy’ Turbo Deluxe 001

Posted by PlasmaDancer on February 18, 2015
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

Both sets from the recent ‘Turbo Deluxe’ edition of the Smiling Corpse podcast are now online, and can be downloaded here and here.

It’s just the kind of two hours you would hope for, with a brilliant set from Olly Addictive setting things off on the right foot – that first 25 minutes or so is spot on with the dark aggression, while the second half rattles through some classics and Smiling Corpse promos. Re-form’s side of things is a shorter set with some surprises at the start, followed by that familiar, effective combo of a real oldie or two and the biggest tunes from the past few years.

Both highly recommended sets, and they’re also listenable in a very nicely presented YouTube format.

Top 3 Mixes of 2014

Posted by PlasmaDancer on December 31, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes, Top Tens, UK, USA. Leave a Comment

Time for today’s final post – the now-traditional look back at my favourite sets of 2014. I’ve actually checked out a lot of mixes this year (far more than you’ve seen here, in fact), but in all honesty it’s been a bit of a thin year for sets that really fit the increasingly-picky TYFTH bill.

As always, respect and thanks go to all the DJs supporting our little corner of the freeform scene. This year it has been especially nice to hear a number of well-constructed, ’emotional’ sets, a necessary counterbalance to the ferocious, melodic freeform we’ve heard a lot of in 2014.

My picks are below, but feel free to take to the comments with your own choices.

No. 3

Shimotsukei – Hardcore Summer Bash 2014 Mix

Shimotsukei’s excellent set is the place to find this year’s best transitions, with some creative selection and very original use of some oldies. Other track choices might feel a little out of place, but the overall atmosphere and progression to the high-bpm second half is top class.

No.2

Nomic – Freeformaniacs Round 14

Following his superb efforts in 2013, Nomic goes to the next level by combining his deeper recent tracks with the harsh, angry sounds of the Nu-Energy and FINRG years. The master of melancholy and aggression strikes again then, and all as solidly-mixed as we’ve come to expect.

No.1

Hellfury – Shin No Noir IX – Soul Abyss

This set is a another lesson in how to maintain an atmosphere, as Hellfury combines psy and pianos for a beautifully consistent hour of thoughtful freeform. Crucially supported by some quality track connections, this was my favourite set of the year.

Honourable mentions: Guld, Pearsall, Cuedy, Dyzphazia

Well that’s it – thanks as always to everyone for the support in 2014, it’s massively appreciated. The first post of 2015 will be a roundup of the Japanese scene’s favourite tracks, but the main event in January will definitely be the announcement of major (I repeat, major) changes to TYFTH. Have a Happy New Year then, and I’ll see you next month.

Cuedy – Freeformaniacs Round 16

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 24, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes, UK, USA. Leave a Comment

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)

PlasmaDancer – Together

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 17, 2014
Posted in: Drum & Bass, Events, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

I can already hear the cries of ‘Get back to freeform, you charlatan’, but I promise this’ll be the last mention of my recent-ish jungle/drum and bass set. It’s now up on SoundCloud, so anyone who enjoyed it back in August can finally download via the TYFTH page.

As for other stuff…I recently received a pretty exciting booking, and put together a little promo mix in anticipation of the event. Sadly the gig has been postponed, and so I might keep the mix under wraps until then. It’ll be going online eventually though, as well as some other bits and pieces.

I’ve also got enough freeform-related items for a few posts, so expect them sometime, as well as an essay of sorts that has been in the works for goodness knows how long. Once the freeform dries up again (it’s been that sort of year, let’s be honest) there might even be a couple of other topics to keep the site sailing towards the end of the year.

Shimotsukei – Hardcore Summer Bash 2014

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 15, 2014
Posted in: Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes. 2 comments

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]

Inoxia DJ – Buried deep in the nostral of your own demise.

Posted by PlasmaDancer on October 6, 2014
Posted in: Australia, Drum & Bass, Finnish, Goa / Psy, Japanese, Mixes, UK, USA. Leave a Comment

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.