Mixes

Grimsoul & Säätis All Stars – SataSeiten1piste1

Posted by PlasmaDancer on December 25, 2012
Posted in: Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

A nice set from Grimsoul here that was in danger of going under the radar, and is another great collection of modern freeform sounds in the Substanced/Amini style. Indeed, the set gets things going with TYFTH’s Lost Elegy, before running through a lot of newer/recent tracks. Things take a turn for the unusual in the second half, with some lighter sounds mixed in with Grimsoul classics and an oddly bouncy finale, but without a tracklist I’m pretty lost as to what’s going on.

Plenty of quality here though, and well worth a listen.

Cuedy – Vae Victus

Posted by PlasmaDancer on December 20, 2012
Posted in: Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 3 comments

Plenty of nice mixes to catch up on over the next few days, so let’s start with a great Freeformanics effort from Cuedy. Definitely a set for the Horsers, this one features a lot of new tracks and some very interesting connections, leading into a quality finish. The standout for me was the excellent use of L.E.D Galaxy – it’s not easy to suddenly throw in a Qygen track, but here it makes perfect sense and Eternal Cannon works very nicely as a follow-up. Final thanks to Cuedy for ending with TYFTH’s very own Glacial, it’s brilliant to see how it’s still getting plays these days.

  1. DJ RX – Code Of Silence (Le Dos-On Remix)
  2. Eryk Orpheus – Benodihydrochloride
  3. Horzi – The Elegy (Substanced Remix)
  4. Helikaon Vs Ephexis – Exploder
  5. Alchemiist – Fate
  6. Transcend – Domination
  7. Lost Soul – Rescue Me (Remix)
  8. Betwixt & Between – Hidden Radiance
  9. Epyx & Cyrez – Unreachable
  10. Substanced & Alchemiist – Permission to Die
  11. Qygen – L.E.D. Galaxy
  12. RR-Thermal Force – Eternal Cannon
  13. Zio – Glacial

Alchemiist – Filthform

Posted by PlasmaDancer on December 9, 2012
Posted in: Finnish, Mixes. 1 comment

Here’s a set I’ve really been waiting for – Filthform is Alchemiist’s production showcase set that shows what a big impacthe’s making in two different scenes. The first half is Hard NRG of the nastiest kind (mostly rounding up his ‘Orrible Noize releases), while the second half gets into the freeform. Tracks like the superb Fate might never get old, and the upcoming Noise of Thunder shows that the dark inspiration is a long way from leaving Alchemiist just yet. A must-listen, and surely a good one to share with non-Freeform listening NRG fans.

1. Intro
2. Alchemiist – Terrible Times [ORRIBLE NOIZE]
3. Sean Grotz & Zoe Holborn – Corruptitude (Alchemiist & Decion Remix) [ORRIBLE NOIZE]
4. NooNoo & Anna K – Sleep Is For The Week (Alchemiist Remix) [ORRIBLE NOIZE]
5. Alchemiist – The Anger Process [ORRIBLE NOIZE]
6. Alchemiist – God’s Grace [ALIEN TECHNOLOGY HQ]
7. Substanced & Alchemiist – Permission To Die [FINRG]
8. Alchemiist – Fate [FINRG]
9. Alchemiist – Noise Of Thunder [TBA]
10. Substanced & Alchemiist – Facemelt [REBUILD MUSIC]
11. Substanced & Alchemiist – Skullcrush [WHEN THE WORLD COLLAPSES] 

Smiling Corpse Dead Happy Podcast 001

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 30, 2012
Posted in: Events, Finnish, Mixes, UK. Leave a Comment

Both sets from the first Smiling Corpse podcast are now online, and both are absolutely essential listens. Sadly I couldn’t make it for the event itself, but they’ve since been on permanent rotation during my endless commutes this week.

Olly Addictive and Wyrm got things off to a superb start with a really well selected set – nice and dark, there’s a good mix of old and new here, as well as some very interesting connections. Bonus points for Cheese in the Machine, the first time I’ve heard it in a set, and also for the quality tracks by Messrs Addictive and Wyrm themselves.

Substanced and Amini’s set, meanwhile, could be one of the very best of the year. Once again it’s incredible to hear the progress Amini’s made, and he’s now only slightly behind Substanced’s super-high-quality production. His tunes tend to be rougher these days too, so there’s a surprising amount of variety on show. Congratulations to Substanced and Alchemiist on Facemelt – it was the first time for me to hear this one, and it might be my favourite Substanced track of 2012. I’ve never used Rx’s toned-down version of Eternal Cannon in my own sets, but here it fits really well, and along with Morokai is an excellent choice to break things up.

Well done to the guys for a great first show – you’ll find links and full tracklists here.

Wyrm – Freeformaniacs Radio Show, 1st November

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 24, 2012
Posted in: Australia, Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 1 comment

Not too sure how this passed me by until now, but having checked out Wyrm’s recent appearance on the Freeformaniacs show I can heartily recommend it for all fans of the darker side. A glance at the tracklist shows what sort of hour’s in store, including plenty of Pain on Creation, Aryx and a great Penguin Conspiracy remix of Wyrm’s own Tendrils of Reality. Indeed, there are some quality UK tracks here that fit very nicely into this set of twistiness, broken up with trancier melodies and an inspired finish of Gravity’s Rainbow – Hostile Lifeforms.

01) Re-form – Hold Your Ground [FiNRG] 
02) Dodgee – 2000 Miles [Electronica Exposed] 
03) Substanced – Stockholm Syndrome [Smiling Corpse] 
04) Pain on Creation – V8 [Camel Records] 
05) Transcend & Greg Peaks – Cosmic1 [Electronica Exposed] 
06) Pain on Creation – Lush [FiNRG Hard] 
07) Tazz & Concept – Planet of Dreamz [Digital Beatz] 
08) Wyrm – Tendrils of Reality (Penguin Conspiracy Remix) [F/C Smiling Corpse] 
09) Firefly – Dangerous [Electronica Exposed] 
10) Aryx – Morokai [Smiling Corpse] 
11) Betwixt & Between – Gravity’s Rainbow [HARDCORE TANO*C] 
12) Shox – Hostile Lifeforms [Sinthetic Records] 

CORE interview with Watchtower

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 17, 2012
Posted in: Drum & Bass, Events, Mixes, Releases, UK. Leave a Comment

A little bit late posting this up – Matt and Jamis of the good ship Watchtower were recently interviewed by CORE magazine, where they did a quality job of representing the scene and spreading the word re. the upcoming release of Volume 2.

Take a look at the CORE site for the full interview, where you’ll also find a really interesting mix from the Endemic guys. Obviously featuring the UK side of the label’s sound, it’s an ambitious set that combines some fairly angry drum and bass with the freeform. It’s all excellently mixed, and well worth a listen even if you usually lean more towards the Finnish side of things.

BEEZEE vs Alderz – Freeformaniacs

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 10, 2012
Posted in: Finnish, Japanese, Mixes, UK. 4 comments

The second mix of the night is another very special one – longtime TYFTH supporters BEEZEE and Alderz have joined forces for a back to back session on the Freeformaniacs show, coming up with one of the most enjoyable sets I’ve heard for a long time. This is absolutely perfect TYFTH material, covering all our favourites from Betwixt & Between to Qygen, via Alek Szahala and Level 13, and is probably the ideal My First Deeper Freeform Set for any newbies out there.

The mixing is superb all the way through, and it’s a treat to hear Alderz playing for the first time in an age – his mixing style is ferocious, with new tunes hurtling in before you really know what’s happening. It works brilliantly though, followed up by the filters-and-dark-stuff from BEEZEE that we know so well. Special shouts to Alderz for the progression of his set, from the angry NRG of Einhander and Hase to uplifting tracks like Temporal Temple, while combination of the session might go to BEEZEE for that opening Stockholm Syndrome – Twisted Faith connection.

An absolute must listen then – well done to the guys, you did your fellow Horsers proud with this one.

=ALDERZ=
1. Nomic – Human Race 
2. Hase – Brionac 
3. EInhander – Fourbeast 
4. Alek Szahala – Mageslayer 
5. Synthwulf vs DJ RX – Ragnarok 
6. Alek Szahala – Deimos 
7. Qygen – Temporal Temple 
8. Level 13 – Is That All 
9. Carbon Based – Outer Rings 
10. Betwixt & Between – Niji 
11. Aryx – Chaldea DJ Fury Remix 
12. Amini – Lost Elegy

=BEEZEE=
13. Substanced – Stockholm Syndrome 
14. Epyx and Cyrez – Twisted Faith (Cyrez 2010 edit) 
15. FEN – Mad man 
16. Tyranoid and Strongstream – You Need Another Drink (Cyrez Remix) 
17. Qygen – Earth Shine 
18. Betwixt and Between – Reincarnation 
19. Alek Szahala – Freezing Clouds 
20. Micken – Oeh 
21. Epyx and Cyrez – Spiteful 
22. Betwixt and Between – Phase 6 
23. Alek Szahala – From Flesh To Machines 

Pearsall Presents Rampage Turbo 13 – A Stage One Music Special

Posted by PlasmaDancer on November 9, 2012
Posted in: Mixes, UK. 1 comment

Back again after a few days of enforced silence – the posting plans for this week are all up in the air at the moment, but at least tonight I can finally draw attention to a couple of recent standout sets.

First of all we have a new installment of the Rampage Turbo series, courtesy of Pearsall. That alone should be enough to secure a download from most people, but this is a very special set with a focus on venerable hardcore label Stage One Music. Pearsall’s own Sonicrampage post gives a good idea of the basics, and diving into the set itself shows what a golden period of proto-freeform it was.

Anyone disappointed by the death of quality acid lines in modern freeform (hardly used by FINRG artists, and very lacklustre in Nu Energy tunes of the mid-2000s onwards) will find solace here, as Pearsall has made some superb selections alongside amens, vocals and happycore-esque big kicks. I’ve already given the set a few listens, and both the mixing and pacing are as spot on as you’d expect. Although I recognise a good few of the tunes, they’re from a time when I often listened to sets without a tracklist, and so this is a great opportunity to check who was responsible for these anthems.

With more and more people coming to freeform these days, sets like this can only be a good thing – great work by Pearsall, and let’s hope that there’ll be a few more history lessons yet to come.

01. Cortex – Summer Lovin’ (xy2)  
02. DJ Energy – Anticlockwize (xy2)  
03. DJ Fury – Soundflow (Remix) (Stompin’ Choonz)  
04. Cortex – Digital Brotherhood (FDN)  
05. Teknodred – More Understanding feat Dave Jay (Stompin’ Choonz)  
06. DJ Fury – Lemonade Raygun (FDN)  
07. Helix & Fury – Sanctus Dominus (xy2)  
08. Cortex – Eurosis (xy2)  
09. Citadel of Kaos – Paradise Lost (Just Another Label)  
10. Helix – Helixia (Stompin’ Choonz)  
11. Brisk & Trixxy – Back To The Top (Remix) (Just Another Label Premium)  
12. Square Wave – Like A Criminal (Stompin’ Choonz)  
13. D-Zyne – Digital Havoc (xy2)  
14. Teknodred & Ad Man – A Voice Spoke To Me (Helix Remix) (Stompin’ Choonz)  
15. D-Zyne & Fury – Hyperhydrosis (xy2)  
16. DJ Fury – Desensitize (Stompin’ Choonz)  
17. Helix & Teknodred – Mindless Pleasure (Stompin’ Choonz)  
18. DJ Fury – Lemonade Raygun (Main Floor Mix) (Stompin’ Choonz)  
19. Helix – Now Control (Stompin’ Choonz) 

Horzi – The Elegy (Substanced remix)

Posted by PlasmaDancer on September 30, 2012
Posted in: Finnish, Mixes, Releases. 3 comments

Here’s a nice surprise upload from Substanced, for fans of the Hybridize sound of a few years ago. Horzi’s The Elegy was an amazing track that inspired a couple of remixes, and Substanced typically took the high-bpm filtered-freeform route with his 2009 rethink. This tune has happy memories for me as it finished off my NRGetic Romancer x Hybridize set, a mix that drove me totally insane during planning but thankfully turned out ok in the end.

A great track then, but most likely limited to 100 downloads – you know what to do. edit: Actually limited to 1000 downloads, but best to grab it asap anyway – who knows when freeform’ll become the next big thing? 

Tyranoid – Darkform

Posted by PlasmaDancer on September 30, 2012
Posted in: Finnish, Mixes. Leave a Comment

One set I forgot to mention recently is this new trip into darker territory courtesy of Tyranoid. While not quite reaching the heights of Elder Signs, this is still a very nicely selected hour of industrial-to-freeform that once again should be popular with fans of both styles. Heading into the NRG and freeform in the second half, the gradual progression into Al megiddo is fantastic, with a lovely edit at the end to finish things off.