Aryx – Birthday mix (2011) Freeformaniacs show by Aryx
Anyone reading TYFTH will probably have checked out this certified must-listen set already, but here’s a belated post for those who don’t know. After Aryx’s fantastic Chaldea and Aurora, the question was always going to be whether he could possibly match them and keep his inspiration up…
Well the answer’s a big yes – the first half of his Freeformaniacs set is mind-blowingly good, and there’s no doubt that Aryx is now right at the top of the trancy freeform tree, alongside Alek/Paocala. He’s still (understandably) got some work ahead to match Alek’s all-round quality, but the standard here is already amazingly high – among the wonderful new material are little glimmers here and there of the emotional, deeper freeform that we so rarely hear these days, and that’s what makes the set so exciting.
The rest of the set is a nice combination of older tracks, though the more UK freeform-sounding melodies of Transmission can’t quite live with the rest of the quality on show, it might have been nicer to hear something a bit more aggressive/melancholy before Inexistenz.
Anyway, massive congratulations (and Happy Birthday) to Aryx – hopefully this set will get the recognition it deserves!
“thereβs no doubt that Aryx is now right at the top of the trancy freeform tree, alongside Alek/Paocala.”
I was thinking the exact same thing the other day while I listened through the set. It will be very interesting to see where this is heading.
Nephilia is arguably the best track on the new Rebuild compilation. I thought the buildup on Aurora is brilliant, but the one in Nephilia tops it.
My pick from this birthday set would have to be Solar Flare.
Wait! I changed my mind. π
Byrgius takes the new crown.
Amazing stuff Aryx, keep it up!
Solar Flare did it for me. That last main melody is incredibly uplifting for me, it’s so good.
However, I’d really like to see him have a go at a 100% dark freeform track now. Of all he’s shown, Chaldea feels the darker for me.
As for his other tracks, I confess I was never a fan of Aurora. Polaris was sounding really awesome for me, but I’m not a fan of “euro-trance-like” melodies, so that main melody kinda killed it for me.
But I see a lot of potential with Aryx. This guy made top quality tracks with just 3 years of experience, I can only imagine where he’ll be in the next 3.
I say it again, though: Solar Flare is brilliant!
I’m glad you liked my upcoming stuff. I’ve been thinking of making a nasty dark track, also of remaking my old Vampyromorphida.
I also like Finnish, Japanese Freeform more then UK’s but there are UK tracks that I really like too and Transmission is one of them. I really like Alex’s style the first break does it for me. Breakdown -> strings -> lead -> build!!! and then when you think that’s it everything goes down and the real melody breaks in. I really like surprises in tracks π
So thanks for all the words guys, I’m thrilled! π
p.s. Solar Flare’s coming out really soon! π
Thanks Labraska/BerN for mentioning Solar Flare as the standout track, that was my favourite too π
I was going to suggest a darker track, and remembered Vampyromorphida from a couple of years back…the original had lots of potential, so a new version would be great.
I liked that first break in Transmission too, but thought it was a bit disappointing after that…in comparison to all the complex stuff going on elsewhere, that is π