18th August 2010

OK, time for another post. I'll be covering quite a bit in this weeks blog as I have been getting a lot of requests for shout outs so here we go. Also, because i use a lot of sites and forums that people have been asking me to post stuff on, I've set up a new email address for submissions for this blog. If anyone wants a mention just shoot me an email at stray2615@happyhardcore.dj.  And here we go....

News & websites:

A new site popped up last week  that should prove very useful to DJs who like digital hardcore. hardcore connection is a site that links sites you can buy digital tracks to mix. A nice simply designed site to help you find those hard to find tracks.

Help for Heroes Charity event is a free event being put on to raise money for a good cause. If you are in the area it looks like an awesome night out (damn you lucky bastards over there!), and free entry if you email them and arrive before midnight. The lineup includes Hixxy, Kevin Energy, Sharkey, Endemic and Marc Smith amongst others, and has 3 arenas covering Hardcore and Hard dance, as well as some cool looking prizes.

Also in belated news, I recently found out the label Electronica Exposed is calling it quits. The label has been pumping out underground hardcore for over 8 years, but unfortunately will not be doing so anymore. There are a few more releases up their sleeves though so be sure to check those out. Best of luck to Shanty in what he does in the future. 

Website of the week:

OK, I've decided to do a quick review of a different website each week. This week is Live Set Database. The site links HEAPS of free sets (usually live) for free download, across a number of genres. 
 
-Whats good? The pure number of sets available. A great source of music if you just feel like listening to something new. The site only includes sets from artists who have given the sets available for free listening, so no need to illegally download stuff if you just want some new tuneage to crank in your car. The fact it has quite a few genres is also very good because sometimes you just want to listen to something different. It also has a LOT of Gabber, so if that's your thing you will NEVER be short of sets if you use this site.

-What sucks? It is quite hard to find specific things. Say you feel like a freeform mix, you have to search through either Hardcore, UK hardcore or Happy Hardcore as it may fall under any category, and the titles often don't give any hints as to what kind of set it may be. Also the forums are not split into different laguages, so posting there can be quite difficult.

-I suggest you.... use this site and just download a random set from a DJ you have never heard of. Sometimes these sets open your mind to something you never would have found before. I have found tons of stuff from people I never knew existed.

Podcasts:

This week (well technically last week) on the Nu Energy Collective show was Little Fella. A really cool mix of Some happy, some Freeform and some Gabber, with some cool ol school Gabber at the end. Definitely worth the listen. There is also an interview with him  on the NEC site (sorry guys the competiton for the free EP is over, and I won myself a copy :P), so if you like the podcast have a read to find out more about him. Next week (this week?)is Nick 235.

On the happier Hardcore tip, this week a new podcast came up by Dance Transmission.  The 1st podcast is mixed by Hoodzie, and very cool if you like your upfront hardcore. I'll be interested to see what the future podcasts have in store.


Events:

Due to the fact that there are so many events around the world, I'm just going to mention a couple each week. This week I'll start with the upcoming Freeformation. Early bird Tix are now sold out but you guys can still get 8 pound tix. Check the Facebook page (don't worry you don't have to be on Facebook to look at the site, which is good because I have managed to avoid facebook thus far) for all the info and where to buy the tickets. 4 Arenas, and rumor has it there may be a guest appearance by none other than MATT DAMON! Event is going to be held at club Area on the 16th of October.


For the Aussies (like me) who like the rougher stuff Defqon 1 is an event I'm sure you won't want to miss. Not too long left till this 1 (18th September). The event has 6 arenas with sounds of Gabber, Hardstyle, techno, Psy and Hard Trance. With the likes of Evil Activities, Korsakoff, Outblast, Promo and heaps more, if you like your tunes evil this is your event.


Banging Tracks of the week:
-Freebies
Audio Warfare - just 4 1 day is a new free remix of a classice Kai Tracid Trance tune a few years back. Awesome trancey Hardcore. If you like the tune check out the other tracks on his label available through Hardbeats Download. I am currently playing Sound Driver by Tanuki and plan to pick up "Fallout" and "You Bet" off this label very shortly.

-Tracks
The new Little Fella EP is banging. A mix of Freeform and Gabber tracks on it keep the EP varied and all tracks are brilliant. I was lucky enough to win a copy of this through the NEC competition a few days ago and have been smashing the gabber bits out at the end of my mixes a lot in the last few days. If I didn't win this one I would have bought it this week anyways :P.

Bang yer head off EP has 2 really forward thinking hardcore tunes if you like to mix something a little different into your sets. Gammer, Recon and Klubfiller combine to give you some really different hardcore.

Darts - Turrican is the latest release on Relentless Energy. Has a very uplifting trance vibe to it, really digging this tune. Relentless Energy is definately a label to watch, they have some great tracks coming out soon too.


-Mixes
Hardcore Anthems 2010  is the mix of the week for me. As mentioned earlier, Electronica Exposed is now closing, and this is one of the final releases. Mixed by Shanty, this mix has some awesome underground tunes that you won't hear on other mixes.


Well that's about it from me this week. Before I finish up just wanted to mention a quick thank you to DJ Triex over at Ruffbeatz.com who has been giving me some really useful advice with starting out in production. Ruffbeatz will be having a really cool competition happening soon but I'll mention more about that closer to the time. Remember if you'd like to have anything mentioned in upcoming blogs to shoot me an email at stray2615@happyhardcore.dj so I don't have to search through PMs on a million different sites. Thanks for reading and keep it Hardcore!


Stray out.