The biggest news this week has to be the free release of two Nomic tracks, hopefully marking the master’s return to action after Suicide Machine. Most will know that Chaos Maker has been a favourite of mine for years, and while an incredibly useful addition to a set is also a superb standalone track. Rift is newer (and might even be remastered here), featuring some of those wonderful, emotional sequences you’ll only find in Nomic’s productions.

Limited downloads here, so make sure to get over to Nomic’s own SoundCloud asap.

I’ve now had a chance to listen to both sets from last weekend’s SC podcast, and it’s a big recommend for anyone else who missed the live event. Wyrm’s set in particular is a fantastic hour that sets a new standard of mixing modern freeform with dark psy, obviously really well-considered with a nice consistent theme all the way through. This is helped by a couple of amazing Qygen tracks – 60Hz Power Rave has to be one of the most impressive tracks so far this year. As always, it’s hard to combine harder freeform with psy, but Wyrm does a fine job, and the trippy breakbeat of Funkin’ Jungle is a lovely selection.

Horzi’s set is more conventional, but maybe that’s no bad thing after the experimental sounds of Wyrm. Heavy on the brand-new FINRG releases, there’s also an interesting choice of the two Elementz Records releases towards the end, as well as a pitched up Fist of the North Star.

A great show then – wander along to the Smiling Corpse site for tracklists and download links.

otakuoverdrive’s YouTube channel tends to feature some excellent Japanese freeform, and recently he outdid himself with an awesome and very obscure umbrella track. Descent 0.7 was apparently only released on a mini-album from White Evil (way back in 2007) which explains why it completely passed me by until now. There’s an obvious Finnish influence here, but also more than a hint of ThermalForce in the simple, addictive and heavily filtered riffs.

It reminds me that I’ve got another great (and old) umbrella track on a hard drive somewhere with a higher bpm and a really nice Afternoon Owl-style lead. I don’t even know the title, but as there might be time for a ustream this month I’ll try to play it then.

Another release from Alek Szahala here – now we’re moving back up through the bpms with Commanche, a trance track that a few of us heard at 10 years of FINRG last year. Reminiscent of some of the Forgotten Tracks set, this is another of those relatively short, beautiful tunes that Alek does so well.

 

Epyx & Cyrez fans are having a right old week, finishing in fine style with the long-awaited release of All of Us. A very versatile tune, it’s been a fixture in Guld’s sets (and mine, come to think of it) for almost a couple of years, working nicely with freeform or NRG. This is one of those Facebook-related promotions though, so follow this link to the E&C page to get access to the tune. 

A classic set here that’s been online for a long time, but I only saw it recently (thanks to Alderz). Anyone else who missed it should settle in for a treat – some of the very best in older NRG, all from the one and only Weirdo. Thanks to Guld and COGI, Weirdo’s tunes will always remind me of NRGetic Romancer and early morning sets full of twisty synths and amazing atmospheres, going from dark to uplifting and then back again. I’m a bit sketchy on the tracklist, but rest assured that all the anthems are in here.

edit: Thanks to that man Alderz for a top effort at the tracklist.

  1. Intro (?)
  2. Got 2 B Funky
  3. Get on the Floor
  4. Ghost Stick
  5. We Decide
  6. Blue Oyster (Weirdo remix)
  7. Make U Groove
  8. Photic Zone
  9. Mindereader
  10. ?
  11. I Know a Plaice
  12. Curva Peligrosa
  13. The Other Side
  14. Devil’s Play Thing 

Two amazing tracks from Guld surfaced this week – his Unohdetut remix that’ll feature on the upcoming Freeform Exposed 2, and his brutal (but unfinished) boot of Candyman.

I heard a version of the Candyman remix recently, and on a second listen it’s sounding even better, with some really inspired cuts and fills in the intro.

Watchtower has just announced that Two Against the Void, Epyx & Cyrez’s new artist album, will be with us next month. The previews are already online and the mix of melodies and harder tunes is looking excellent, along with remixes from Endemic, Tyranoid & Strongstream and Pain on Creation & Substanced.

Congrats to Watchtower and E&C for what’s sure to be a blinding release – head over to the Watchtower site now to place a preorder.  

This mix was a recommendation from Guld, and lives up to expectations with some awesome, dark NRG. Anyone after some harder tunes in the genre will have a great time here, as Tre and Disturbed’s material seems to have a stronger than usual (and very welcome) Lab 4 influence. After an amazing first 30mins or so (including a brilliant first tune), things calm down slightly before getting back to the madness with a Candyman remix and some very nice original tracks.

1. By Demons be Driven – Pantera (DRTRE mix) 
2. Aphex – DRTRE 
3. Bactera – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
4. Punk – Justin Bourne (DRTRE mix) 
5. Un-Consciousness – Distorted Reality 
6. Fuck em All – Paul Glazby (DRTRE mix) 
7. Heathen – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
8. Purgatory – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
9. Slapper – Distorted Reality 
10. Rawthroat – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
11. Kuntrot – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
12. Candyman – Lab4 (DRTRE and DISTURBED Mix) 
13. Imposters – DRTRE and DISTURBED 
14. W.A.F.M – DRTRE and DISTURBED