Much delayed, but it’s once again time to join the good folk of the Japanese scene for a look back at the finest tunes of last year. Big thanks as always to everyone who took part, and I hope it’s interesting to see what has been catching the ears of producers and DJs in this corner of the freeform world.
Every year I love seeing as many of these lists as possible, so if you have your own idea of a Top 3 then feel free to post it down below for us to compare and contrast. My picks were especially tough, as in all honesty In Praise of Shadows would have totally dominated had it managed to appear in December…
Oh and as there were plenty of unfamiliar (at least to me) tracks in the lists this time, I’ve tried to add a preview/tune link to help out the clueless among us.
GULD (NRGetic Romancer)
1. GULD – Spirits of Saiyan (‘F’ the Reverse)
2. Alek Száhala – Dryad Machine (GULD remix)
3. Hatsune Miku – Senbonzakura (GULD remix)
Alabaster (Cradle to Grave)
1. Sharkey & Rikki Arkitech – Quadraphonics (2015 Stem Remaster)
2. Div_ne Inspiration – Show You The Way (CLSM remix)
3. Tom Parr – You’re Shining I’m Dying
Hyphen (Splash Energy/Relentless)
3. Transcend & Hardform – Deliverance
Morita Yuuhei (Illegal Wave)
1. Aryx – Helix
2. James Xavier – Look To The Future
3. Yuki Kajiura – Mezame (Hyphen Bootleg)
Raqhow (CODEX/Freeform Bros)
3. Epyx & Cyrez vs Tyranoid/Strongstream – What Lies Below
Asahi (Karma-業-)
1. Alek Száhala – The Last of the Mohicans
2. Technikal feat. Rob Tissera – Don’t Say Goodbye
NONAKA+CHIN (Spreemo/Freeform Bros)
PlasmaDancer (TYFTH/FINRG/NRGetic Romancer)
My top 3 tracks:
1. Alek Szahala – Fuji
2. Nomic – Human Race Pt. II
3. Hatsune Miku – Senbonzakura(GULD remix)
Honorable mentions:
Cosmic Gate – Human Beings (Substanced Bootleg)
Seileen – Lamento della Sirena(GULD Remix) [2015 ver]
Transcend – Eons (Substanced remix)
So many to choose from…gonna stick with things new & released in 2015, as awesome as Alek’s Fuji and Avalanche are.
Top 3 2015(new tracks):
1. U-F SEQUENCER – Stab Your Emotion (Extended Mix)
2. 初音ミク – 千本桜(GULD Remix)
3. SHIRIA@ – Air Diver’z
Honorable mentions:
JD – KiD&Arun – Excelsior
U-F SEQUENCER – No Trust,Walk Alone
Le Dos-on – Rising Sun (and Corryvreckan)
Transcend & Cyrax – Sunset Rainbow (M-Project remix)
Qygen – Kaoru Kimura no Densetsu (Tribute to Betwixt & Between) [Alt. Version]
Alek Szahala – Dryad Machine (GULD Remix)
1. Erkenfresh – Nebula Spark
2. Epyx and Cyrez meets Heathen – All of us
3. B.R.K – Life=Cruelty
Slightly disappointed that alek’s railgun and substanced new album weren’t released, but there were plenty other releases to enjoy.
I spent over half of the year travelling, so my finger possibly didn’t rest on the pulse as much as in previous years.
1) Alek Szahala – Avalanche
2) Transcend – Perceptions
3) Substanced – Juggernaut
I would gladly add unreleased stuff to my top, but I do not know their exact name so….
1. BRK & GULD – Summoning Fear ( Neo Tokyo Hard Mix)
2. Zovi – Thorns of the Sorority
3. Yuki Kajiura – Nowhere (Le Dos-on Bootleg)
Looking forward to 2016 releases!
In all honesty, I don’t know this year’s freeform too well. I’m gonna go with these.
1. Sherkel – 三位一体の物語
2. Sherkel – Tuleminen Segundo
3. Sherkel – Charovakora
Great lists, thanks everyone. Looks like we’re all pretty much on the same page!
And some quality GULD-style self promotion there Sherkel – good to see more freeform production 🙂
It only works so well when I haven’t posted any of the current versions yet, but soon enough I’m sure I’ll be making use of them. 😉