Elipton Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,268 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
Posted - 2014/11/04 : 19:57:57
I like the Rebuild albums, they showcased Freeform that otherwise is difficult to hear (edit: or find), but I listen to an NEC podcast and then listen to the more obvious tracks from the HBC boys, and there's a bit of a gulf that's formed between the quality of the styles.
Freeform was always quite a journey within each track, and you know that the 2 minute build-ups would work their way up to something special every time. Tracks since KE left took a weird twist. I suppose they became twistier and more minimal, and I haven't enjoyed it very much. Smiler is a good example of what I mean (albeit a couple years old itself). Freeform's done nothing to interest me, or even catch my attention. Admittedly, I only listened to a few of the clips for the latest Rebuild CD.
Kev Energy coming back is a big big thing, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he's bringing to us from his Deckajam experiences.
Vladel Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,525 posts Joined: Feb, 2008
Posted - 2014/11/04 : 20:33:08
When freeform gets better which wouldn't take much, I'll stop slagging it off. It died when kev left and I for one am looking forward to it making a come back.
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remain calm do not be alarmed do not attempt to leave the dancefloor
Thumpa Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,607 posts Joined: Feb, 2009
Posted - 2014/11/04 : 20:59:03
If you haven't listened to these tracks properly then I'll let you off, if you have and you don't think they're as good then you're clearly mental...
I ****ing hate it when people rubbish freeform and think Kev is the be all and end all of freeform music, it really pisses me off and pisses on all the hard work WE'VE done over the last 4/5 years with pushing it, releasing great albums, getting it back on at big raves and increasing awareness. Fair enough if you don't like ANY of the stuff off ReBuild, Stamina, Watchtower, Smiling Corpse, FINRG etc over the last few years but people who think the sun shines out of Kev's arse and no one else is good enough to be in his position are the kind of people that make hardcore music move at such a slow pace.
Impulse_Response Advanced Member
United States
741 posts Joined: Jun, 2013
Posted - 2014/11/04 : 22:56:20
Those first three clips make me regret that I wasn't around to buy the first six Rebuild albums. Great tunes. Maybe sometime I'll have the cash to pick used copies.
I'm still very excited for Kevin Energy's return. I'm a huge fan of the NEC and I'm looking forward to whatever they release.
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Producers and record labels, please stop "loudness war" mastering everything. It sounds terrible.
Elipton Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,268 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
Posted - 2014/11/05 : 06:29:07
Of course I'm mental!
I've heard those, and I like them. That's why I said I appreciate the Rebuild albums for uncovering less obvious artists and turning up good tracks. Unfortunately, it takes more than a handful to keep people engaged. I know saying this will rub people up the wrong way, but the relatively new HBC hasn't turned in the goods since it started. We've had a large flurry of Douglas-style tracks from most of the producers involved and I think that being the most familiar Freeform names, they've lost the engagement of a lot of people.
Maybe it's coincidence that it took a slide after Kev retired, but I remember well that his last tracks were phenomenal (check this shit out, oo na nee na noo, reality control) and he ran a great podcast format that always kept me up to date from numerous producers.
There are still decent Freeform projects running and good lesser-known Freeform producers doing the business, but on a larger scale, they aren't enough. I agree that Kev Energy isn't the be all and the end all, but I don't think his influence ended at just music. He seemed to anchor Freeform and influence it's direction. It seems to have strayed since.
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Posted - 2014/10/31 : 19:27:38
