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An Introduction to the Ektoplazm Free Music Platform
Greetings everyone!
I've been posting on TA for 8 years now but I haven't formally introduced my free music platform to the general forum before now. Since I see it come up in discussion from time to time I figure a newbie guide might be welcome.
Ektoplazm is a free music portal and distribution platform for psychedelic trance, techno, and downtempo. The aim of the project is to provide artists with a professional alternative to the commercial distribution system (which, frankly, isn't working very well for artists in the electronic music underground). The Ektoplazm catalog now contains more than 200 releases in full CD quality (FLAC or WAV) and every new release package features files that are properly named and tagged. (Can't say that about Beatport!) In five years of ceaseless work the site has grown to become one of the key online destinations for psytrance fans worldwide with more than 2 million whole releases downloaded. I'd say it's pretty cool for a part-time project maintained by one person 
Below I have gathered a bunch of favourites that will provide you with a good introduction to the range of styles you will find on my site... download, enjoy, and share with your friends and loved ones!
The notorious Disco Hooligans (Nectarios Meidanis & Jordan Bonyo) return with their eagerly-awaited sophomore album, Darjeeling Express. Since thundering onto the international stage with last year’s Clear Skies, their impressive debut album, Jordan and Nectarios have been hard at work refining their upbeat and life-affirming brand of psychedelic trance. The result is an exhilarating blend of full-on energy and progressive grooviness distinguished by big beats, fat bass lines, and crystal clear melodies. Hop aboard and take a ride on the Darjeeling Express!
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2010/disco...jeeling-express
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Ektoplazm is proud to present Creatures Of The Forest, the eagerly anticipated second album by Canadian psytrance producer Ekoplex (Ray Vincent). Following the immense underground success of Journey Of The Turtle, his full-length debut in 2008, Ekoplex returned to his Toronto studio to undertake the evolution of his unique brand of full-on psychedelic morning trance. Now, after nearly two years of intensive work and brazen experimentation, it is time to share the results with the world! Creatures Of The Forest is a seamlessly mixed journey into the heart of the forest ecosystem, where all life is interconnected and the ancient spirit of nature is revealed.
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2010/ekopl...s-of-the-forest
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Cybernetika returns with another far future epic expressed through music. This time the form is an energetic drum ‘n bass/neurofunk album with strong psytrance influences. Atropos is the story of Hayashi, a lone interstellar traveller who discovers the legendary Atropos, one of the three Moirae (the Fates of Greek mythology). Atropos chooses “the manner and timing of each person’s death,” cutting the thread or web of life, and within this narrative context Hayashi meets “his own destiny—and the destiny of humanity.”
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2009/cybernetika-atropos
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Intermezzo Extended is the latest full-length release from SubConsciousMind (Raphael Huber), a self-made Swiss artist with an original approach to composing next-level psychedelic dance music. While it masterfully captures the essence of the classic Goa trance sound, this album transcends mere nostalgia by shaping the spirit of the past into something new and completely unique. The seven songs that form Intermezzo Extended are primed to launch the listener on an epic journey into visionary dimensions of sound seething and shimmering with complex melodies, irresistible rhythms, and raw emotional depths. With powerful storytelling and an uncommon degree of musicality SubConsciousMind has forged a modern-day gem straight from the heart. Turn up the volume and prepare yourself for an authentic experience of boundless creativity!
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2009/subco...rmezzo-extended
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Digital Family Vol. 2 is the second forward-thinking compilation from Digital Diamonds, one of the world’s leading techno and trance netlabels. This state-of-the-art collection features eleven jewels of electronic music selected by Alic and representing almost all of the core members of the Digital Diamonds roster. These moody, introspective, futuristic, and experimental works will delight your ears and shake up dance floors wherever they are played.
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2010/digital-family-vol-2
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Freeform Human is a “psychofunkadelic” collaboration between two Australians, one half of Hired Goonz and Hueman, a visual artist and VJ. Together they have composed Arnika, a seamless 60 minute voyage into genre-bending psytrance with “elements of electro, breaks, chill, hip-hop, disco and full throttle metal.” In addition to its healthy disregard for stylistic conventions, Arnika is composed almost entirely with analogue gear: a Minimoog, Sherman Filterbank, a “shit old microphone,” and not much else. In a marketplace saturated with pristine digital productions the raw organic sound of this low-tech album is particularly ear-catching. This unique album was originally released by Gi’iwa Productions and is now available for free download from Ektoplazm!
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2009/freeform-human-arnika
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Cycle Of Secrets is an enigmatic exploration of cutting edge forest music and dark psychedelic trance compiled by Silent Existence. Conjuring the deepest mysteries of time and space, these grand wizards of the transcendental arts will employ complex sound manipulations and masterful storytelling to test the mettle of initiates worldwide. Those with the capacity to endure and overcome the trials and challenges that lie ahead may gain insight into the universe and uncover wisdom buried within themselves—but there is no guarantee that the most profound secrets will ever be revealed.
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2010/cycle-of-secrets
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UP Records is extremely proud to announce the debut release from Hypnagog, another guise of the talented Australian musician Felix Greenlees (Terrafractyl, Mental Extensions). After years of writing psychedelic dance music, the Dreaming In Pieces EP represents a new direction for Felix, who has recently been spending a lot of time listening to downtempo, psychedelic breaks, and IDM. These four tracks are the preliminary result of his experimental foray into developing a hybrid beat-driven yet melodic sound, mixing many secret ingredients to create an honestly psychedelic, non-generic audio experience.
Download: http://www.ektoplazm.com/2009/hypna...ng-in-pieces-ep
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Browse by style if you are seeking a specific sound; explore full-on, progressive, darkpsy, Goa, downtempo, techno, techtrance, and Suomi, among others. Enjoy what you've heard? Keep up to date with new releases on Facebook or Twitter and be sure to visit the Ektoplazm homepage for the full experience.
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