I find it really interesting to see how producers I look up to develop their sounds and this video was particularly good because it goes in to the actual synthesis of the sound; the splitting of the sound to enable more control at mixdown and, finally, modulation of the sound.

They use Native Instruments Guitar Rig for this modulation (a plug-in I’ve never really looked at to be honest) but it looks to be really powerful in terms of distortion and other effects so i’ll be looking into getting this shortly.

Anyhow, I’m off to practice so make sure you check the video out below!

The mixes on Sonic Rampage not only cover a variety of generes, from dnb right through to trance and freeform, but also a variety of time periods. I frequently find myself downloading them to educate myself in terms of historical releases. Pearsall also has an enviable record collection (his collection of classic hard trance make me particularly jealous!) and his mixes are particularly good at identifying nameless gems from the various tape packs and sets I listen to.

His latest mix is a bit different to the norm in that it is mixed on a set of CDJ’s rather than vinyl. I have found this interesting for the following reason. Pearsall’s track selections with the older tracks have always been spot on so, as a label pushing new freeform, it was intriguing to see the sorts of tracks he would consider when having the option of the newer (solely cd/download) freeform releases to choose from and to see whether Watchtower would feature at all.

I’m happy to say that there are quite a few tracks released through Watchtower on this mix, and several Endemic tracks as well (including Endemic – Hurricane, our personal favourite!). It’s warming to see our releases getting support on this mix and, in my opinion, shows that we are doing something right!

The tracklisting itself should make this an “auto download” to many of our fans so, as you are no doubt bored of reading my rambles, please click the following link to download the mix and to read Pearsall’s thoughts on the mix itself: Pearsall: Rampage Turbo 15

Here is the tracklist:

01. DJ Rx – Code Of Silence (Le Dos-On Remix) (Finrg)
02. Alek Szahala – Deimos (Finrg)
03. Aryx – Sylph (ReBuild Music)
04. Yuki Kajiura – Memaze (Nomic Bootleg Remix) (Unreleased)
05. Proteus – Get Fire! (Watchtower)
06. Qygen – Temporal Temple (Watchtwower)
07. Wyrm – Can’t You See It? (Electrode)
08. Lost Soul – Twisted Dream (Watchtower)
09. Amini – Guitarian (Smiling Corpse)
10. Substanced – Crank Cleopatra 2012 (Finrg)
11. Endemic – Hurricane (Watchtower)
12. Aryx – Chaldea (DJ Fury Remix) (ReBuild Music)
13. Epyx & Cyrez – Prelude (Penguin Conspiracy Remix) (Electrode)
14. Substanced & Alchemiist – Permission To Die (Finrg)
15. Douglas & Remane – Disorder (A.B.’s London Techno Remix) (Stamina)
16. Transcend – The Calling (ReBuild Music)
17. Transcend & Dyzphazia – Tormenting Flames (Relentless)
18. Ionosphere – PYLAAM (Electrode)
19. Lost Soul – Sacrifice Feat. Dark Angel (Endemic Remix) (Watchtower)
20. Penguin Conspiracy – Tripswitch (Electrode)
21. Substanced – Ghost Of The Future (Watchtwower)
22. Substanced – Stockholm Syndrome (Smiling Corpse)
23. Substanced – Shadows Of Tomorrow (Finrg)
24. Amini – Lost Elegy (Thank You For The Horse)
25. Nomad – Lose It (Transcend Remix) (ReBuild Music)
26. A.B. – Escapia (Stamina)
27. Eryk Orpheus – Benodihydrochloridebenzylex (Eryk Orpheus)
28. Le Dos-On – Flame
29. Alchemiist – Fate (Finrg)
30. Le Dos-On – Unelma (Relentless)
31. Substanced – Reptile Zoo (Finrg)
32. Aran – Taranis (Qygen Bootleg) (Qygen)

To celebrate the launch of the website going live, E&C have announced a remix competition. The track in question is Sound Of The Golden Clarion from their massive album “Two Against The Void” (available on CD via the Watchtower Store now).

The winning remix will be released via the Watchtower soundcloud later this year and the closing date for the competition is 01/05/2013 so get those DAW’s open now people. We can’t wait to hear the entries!

If you missed out on the first release then you will pleased to know that stock is back in and available to buy via the following link:

http://wtr.bigcartel.com/product/epyx-cyrez-two-against-the-void

Thanks for all of the support so far!

Rather than reword their statement I will copy and paste the first paragraph so please visit the link below to get the whole story, some history on the label and what to expect from this release.

“Freeform Exposed 2 is a free 5 part digital download freeform album in celebration of 10 years of Electronica Exposed. The album features 37 incredibly diverse and innovative, underground freeform dance music tracks and remixes from artists: Shanty, Penguin Conspiracy, Epyx & Cyrez, Firefly, Pulse, Transcend, Greg Peaks, Haze, Olly Addictive, Wyrm, Surtr, Carbon Based, Qygen, Electrux, Jerv, 3star, Guld, Nightforce, Twisted Freq, Optimise, Ionosphere, Defnoyz, Audio Warfare, Substanced, Digital Anarchy, Tazz, DOK, Ruffage, Size, Chwhynny, Sonic, Leigh Outrage, Denile and AC Slater!”

Clips are starting to go up online on the Electronica Exposed Soundcloud page and all the details of this release can be found on the EE website, found here

You know this track is going to be bad ass as soon as the first synth plays. Melancholy pads, enticing plucks and soaring synth riffs all combine for a true Freeform anthem.

The track is below and please make sure you visit Alek’s Facebook page to stay update with more news and release information!

EDIT: For some reason I cannot link directly to the Soundcloud player so please download directly from Alek’s Soundcloud page here : https://soundcloud.com/finrg-recordings/alek-szahala-deimos

Pearsall has what can only be described as a very, very, very, very, very enviable vinyl collection and this mix focuses on some very early trance core releases. Rather than rehash what he has written I will paste his blog post below this.

Please visit his site – Sonic Rampage – and get this mix. There is also a huge archive of great mixes covering everything from DNB and dubstep right the way through to European Hard Trance.

Over to you Pearsall..

———–
This, my fourth mix for the Freeformaniacs crew, is something a bit special … it’s a tribute to the Stage One Music Company, who, back in the 90?s, were real pioneers of the trancecore sound (aka freeform), alongside Billy Bunter’s GBT, Kevin Energy’s Nu Energy, and Shanty’s Digital Beats.

Even better, it was voted for by you guys!

Stage One (also known as Just Another Label) put out an absolutely massive range of music, from happy hardcore to drum n’ bass to hard trance to breaks, but on this particular mix I have focused on what I have always loved above all: their fantastically innovative trancecore output. These guys really helped to draw up the blueprint for today’s freeform hardcore sound, and because they have been defunct for a while, they probably don’t get the same level of credit that some of the other early labels do.

And make no mistake – they really do deserve credit. Just listen to the tunes on this mix … they’re amazing!

Stage One artists like Helix, DJ Fury, D-Zyne, Cortex, and Citadel of Kaos were responsible for some of the best hardcore music ever committed to wax … from twirling high-speed acid trance to thunderous hardcore kicks, this mix has everything, and, even though most of these tracks are 15 years old (at least) they all still sound super-fresh, all thumping rhythms and razor-sharp melodies.

Serious music.

Enjoy!
————
Get it now people!

A full range of labels are covered including FINRG, Watchtower and Rebuild and the set covers a mix of old and new tracks; from Carbon Based’s classic “Outer Rings”, through to Qygens psy-monster “Temporal Temple” (which you can get for free here)

Here is the full track list, you can download the mix for free below.

=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

The music is significantly different from the freeform written as “Ephexis”, and the psy trance as Re:creation, but it really is worth checking out.

Please also visit the Arcturian Soul Facebook page and show your support for this promising new project.

You can read the interview by clicking this link. It offers a bit of an insight into the label so hopefully you will find it interesting!

The free mix can be found below and Endemic showcase some Watchtower tracks alongside some of their/our favorite drum and bass tunes of the moment.

Enjoy!