Live Sets

Freero 2015

New private playlist

Freerotation Live Sets (2011 - 2019)

Live recording made at Freerotation Electronic Audio-Visual Festival from 2014 onwards.

Freerotation Live Sets

Freero

Alex Downey

A set I performed at a friends birthday party (aka  'an old gits gathering') in a studio space somewhere in Brixton, London between 3 and 5:30 in the morning, unaware that it was being recorded. With such a special mix of old school friends and music-heads amongst the crowd there was an atmosphere of absolute musical freedom that I hadn't felt since back in the day at parties such as Heart and Soul. By this point in the night the system was well warmed up, sounding sweet and the reaction to the music in the room was almost palpable. These elements all combined in the moment and manifested themselves musically in what you can here on this mix. It certainly felt very special at the time and I was very pleased to find out the next day that it had been recorded.
DJ-Murfs 40th Birthday party was always going to be a special one.
It was an honour to be asked to play as I'm sure it was for all of the other DJs on the night.

Playlist:
Intro: Jaz / Chris Jackson - Bonus Acapella B3 - Jump (Selected Sessions Vol. 1)
01: Pattern Repeat - Ofetriade - Echocord Colour (Gauge Tension EP)
02: Peter Van Hoesen - Face Of Smoke - Komisch
03: XDB - Gate - Wave Music (Lost Tape EP)
04: Levon Vincent - Early Reflections - Novel Sound (Six Figures EP)
05: Pacou - Multipass - Cache
06: Microthol - Sweet Water Tank - Trust
07 Jason Fine - Half (Anton Zap Remix) - Kontra-Musik (Our Music Is A Secret Order Remixed EP)
08: STL - Silent State - Smallville Records
09: XDB - Sense - Wave Music (Lost Tape EP)
10: Jeroen Search & Dimi Angelis - Our Life With The Wave - Smallville
11: Nax_Acid & Giorgio Gigli - Depth Perception - Aconito Records
12: Marcel Dettmann - Lattice - Marcel Dettmann Records (MDR 04)
13: Roberto Bosco - Login Exact - Mowar
14: Solab - Distant Galaxy - Lifeworld
15: Brendon Moeller - Big Shot - Connaisseur
16: Mike Dehnert - Brauchbar - Fachwerk
17: Norman - Windtunnel - Synewave
18: DJ Slip - Every Time It Takes A While - Parotic Music (The Fall Of Jupiter EP)
19: Random XS - Give Your Body - Djax-Up-Beats
20: Final Exposure - Synergy 2 - Plus 8
21: Norman - The Piper - Synewave
22: Parallel 9 - Technic - a.r.t.less
23: Infiniti - Game One - Metroplex
24: Dan Curtin - I'll Take You There - Sublime Records
25: Deviance - Dis-chord - Touche
26: Kit Clayton - Driving Off The Spleen - Solid Trax
27: Convextion - Miranda - Matrix Records (Detroit)

Alex Downey Live at DJ Murfs 40th - Artspace Studios, Brixton - Dec 2009

Recorded LIVE from 'Connected with Dave Clarke' at Baskerville Hall, Clyro Court, Hay On Wye, UK on 17th June 2023. https://ra.co/events/1652226
This was my set performed after Dave Clarke's excellent throwdown.....not an easy act to follow, but I reckon I did OK - it was well received on the night I do seem to recall.... Check it out >

https://www.mixcloud.com/Alexmorph/
www.residentadvisor.net/dj/alexdowney
www.facebook.com/AlicksDowney
www.instagram.com/alyxdowney
@alex-downey
Interview: www.untitled909.com/alex-downey

Live at Connected 2023

Alex Downey Live at Connected, Baskerville Hall - June 2023

My closing set Recorded LIVE -
in - 'Sammy String's' (Room 3) 
on - Sunday Night 07-07-2024 12:15 - 2:00am
at - Freerotation Festival,
Baskerville Hall Hotel, Clyro Court, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, UK.

Photograph by Calandra Balfour @Calandra
Audio mixdown by Charlie Tear https://www.instagram.com/arcmixlondon/

www.facebook.com/AlicksDowney
www.instagram.com/alyxdowney
https://www.mixcloud.com/Alexmorph/
www.residentadvisor.net/dj/alexdowney
@alex-downey
Interview: www.untitled909.com/alex-downey

Freerotation 2024

Alex Downey Live at Freerotation 2024

Todays marks five years since my Brother’s departure from this earthly plane, 20-01-2020 - may his journey through the stars be peaceful.
So it feels like an appropriate and auspicious moment to finally share the recording of my set from the Tantrum stage at Houghton Festival 2022, where I paid tribute to him by way of playing a set of the music he loved using records from his amazing collection - an absolute treasure trove of 90s Drum & Bass bombs. Steve obviously had great musical taste, and was not only rather nifty at cutting & scratching on the decks, but he was also a very tight player of the drums. Amen Brother.
This was the first time I’ve ever played an entire set of this genre, and it was a real labour of love - the records were battered from lots of use as you will hear from the crackle & pop, and each needed a run on a vinyl cleaning machine kindly lent to me by a good friend, a lengthy process to say the least! Then a couple of late nights listening through them all and familiarising myself with the tracks, sticker-ing them up, marking tempos etc and totally missing out on the the rest of the festival. 
I was running on pure instinct with the selections and approach to putting this set together as I’d not had enough time to rehearse anything in advance, and strange as it may sound, I felt a subtle level of guidance coming through. Things went as well as they could and I think it turned out alright all things considered, check it out.

Tracklist:
01 Nookie - The Magic | Urban Culture Recordings
02 Digital - Touch Me (95 Agony Mix) | Timeless Recordings 
03 L.T.J. Bukem - Music (Happy Raw) | Good Looking Records
04 Siege - Alterior Motives | Soundscape Records
05 The Invisible Man - The Beginning | Timeless Recordings
06 Metal Heads - Terminator | Synthetic Records
07 Omni Trio - Renegade Snares (Foul Play Remix) | Moving Shadow
08 Eze-G - Worlds Of Confusion | Unatural Light
09 The Invisible Man - The Bell Tune | Good Looking Records
10 Slipmatt - Breaking Free (DJ SS Rollers Remix) | Awesome Records
11 Omni Trio - Feel Good '95 | Moving Shadow
12 The Groove Gangster - Let The Drummer Go | Soundscape Records
13 Alex Reece - Pulp Fiction | Metalheadz
14 The Funky Technicians - No Mystery | Legend Records
15 DJ Harmony - Let Me In | Moving Shadow
16 Randall & Andy C - Sound Control | RAM Records
17 Aquarius & Tayla - Soul Searching | Good Looking Records
18 Intense - The Genesis Project | Rugged Vinyl Records
19 Origin Unknown - Valley Of The Shadows (Long Dark Remix) | RAM Records
20 Intense - The Quickening (D.O.P.E. Remix) | Rugged Vinyl Records
21 Omni Trio - Rollin' Heights (More Strings Attatched Mix) | Moving Shadow
22 Intense - Time Space Continuem | Rugged Vinyl Records
23 Hyper-On Experience - Lords Of The Null Lines (Foul Play Remix) | Moving Shadow
24 Keen -1,2,3. (DJ-SS Rmx) | Formation Records
25 Nookie - Celebrate Life | Reinforced Records 
26 Source Direct - Secret Liaison | Good Looking Records
27 Shimon & Andy C - Quest | RAM Records
28 Hidden Agenda - No Mans Land | Metalheadz
29 Nookie - Only You | Reinforced Records 
30 Seba & Lo Tek - So Long | Looking Good Records 
31 Calibre - Last Man On Earth | Quadraphonic 
32 Fire Fox & 4-Tree - Warning (Roni Size Mix) | Philly Blunt Records
33 Bass Influence - All Massive | Impact Records
34 Aquarius & Tayla - Bringing Me Down | Good Looking Records
35 Adam F - Circles | F-Jams
36 Ed Rush - Killamanjaro | Prototype Recordings
37 Cybotron Feat. Dillinja - Light Years | Prototype Recordings
38 Paul Z - Yeah | Prophecy Recordings
39 Amazon II - Music's Hypnotizing | Aphrodite Recordings
40 Lemon D - Subphonic | Prototype Recordings
41 Use Of Weapons - Mojo Woman | Droppin' Science
42 Future Forces Inc - Symetrix | Renegade Hardware 
43 Adam F - Metropolis | Metalheadz
44 Desired State -Mindgames | RAM Records
45 Serum - Chopper Bizness | Dread Recordings
46 Special Forces - Something Else... The Bleeps Tune (Photek Remix) | Photek Productions

A Drum & Bass Tribute to Steven Downey - Live at Houghton Festival 2022

Recorded at Houghton - Alex Downey (2024)

This is the recording of a live improvisation performed at Freerotation festival in Wales.
I was seated on the floor of the yurt with the audience so as to give us the experience of travelling together.
Thanks to Steevio for making it possible and to everyone who was there experiencing it with me.

The following machines were used-
Buchla Music Easel
Electro Harmonix 45000
Strymon blueSky
Sony PCM-D50 recorder

Freerotation 2015

Anthony Child - Live improvisation at Freerotation, Wales 11th July 2015

This year I had the honour of playing the closing set at my favourite festival in the world; it was a profoundly intense, joyful experience which rounded off one of the most wonderful weekends I've ever had. Here's the recording.


T/L:

E-Dancer - World Of Deep (Carl Craig Remix) [Play It Again Sam [PIAS] - KMSPIAS 001]
Daniel Maloso - Ritmo Especial [Cómeme - 006]
Underground Resistance - Ma Ya Ya [Underground Resistance - UR7-055]
Sound Design - Bounce to the Beat [Hard Times - HT002]
Laksa - Contrasts [unreleased]
Samuel L. Session - Off The Chain (The Drums) [Klap Klap - kklap005-6]
L.B. Dub Corp - So Much [Ostgut Ton - o-ton86]
Sleezy D - I've Lost Control (Space Side) [Trax - TX113]
Sote - Spundae [Record Label Records - RLR34]
Mark Fell & Gabor Lazar - Track 6 [The Death Of Rave - RAVE010]
Gescom - Motor1 [Source - 1243]
Simulant - Access Future Audio (Mix) [Scopex - SX12002]
Minor Science - Glamour [Whities - WHYT004]
Chaos - Afrogermanic [Underground Resistance - UR-021]
Plastikman - Elektrostatik [NovaMute - 12 NoMu 25]
Sleeparchive - Senza Titolo Three [Mord - 018]
DJ Sneak V AVH - Psychic Bounty Killaz [Relief - RR 767, RR 767.1]
Clark - Christo [Planet E - PE CLK 895]
Love Inc. - R.E.S.P.E.C.T. [Force Inc. Music Works - FIM 065]
The Hypnotist - Night Of The Living E-Heads (Hitchie Rawtin functional edit)
Xray Xperiments - Take No Chance (Remix) [Xray Recordings - XRAY 004]
The Aphex Twin - Phloam [R & S - RS 9201]
Underground Resistance - Transition [Underground Resistance - UR-3000]
Basic Soul Unit - Soulspeak (Shed Remix) [Dolly - DOLLY7]
Prurient - A Sorrow With A Braid [Profound Lore - PFL-152]
Call Super - Acephale I (edit) [Houndstooth - HTH029]

Charlie - Spacer Woman [Mr. Disc Organization - MDO 58507]
Cristian Vogel - Differentiate [Mille Plateaux - MP027]

Live at Freerotation 2015 (closing set)

MMH live at the Freerotation dome, July 2015

Magic Mountain High @ Freerotation 2015

My live set from 2015's brilliant Freerotation Festival, straight off the recording. Thanks & big love to all who were there!

LIVE110715FREEROTATION

Recorded live in the dome at Freerotation on friday night from 8:30. Thanks to Steevio and Suzybee for giving me the opportunity to play again. This is the first hour and a bit of the 2 hour 30 min set.

Dan Orchard Live In The Dome, Freerotation 2015

Recorded Live in Room 2 at Baskerville Hall, Hay On Wye on the 12th July 2015.

Alex Downey Live At Freerotation 2015

XDB dj set @ Mood _ Cruquiusgilde / Amsterdam 12 - 06 - 2015 

Mood With XDB @ Cruquiusgilde Amsterdam 12 - 06 - 2015

So, day three Freero, a fractured hand and some needle wear so sound quality is varied but enjoyed very much!           First track is my own and unreleased, last track is Depth Charge released on TrusT Recordings :)                               Thanks to Alex Downey for the awesome warm up set    https://soundcloud.com/alex-downey/alex-downey-live-at-freerotation-2015 

Sam Watson Live At Freerotation 2015

Alex Downey Live at a well known club in EC1, London - February 2010

- Recording from my set in the Field Moves tent at Field Maneuvers Festival on Saturday night 05/09/2015.

Going through a bit of a Drum & Bass and Jungle renaissance recently, filling in some gaps.
Wondering when and if I'd get a chance to play these records out and the slot at Field Maneuvers was the perfect place to give them an airing.
Thanks to the Field Maneuvers team for the opportunity and BIG ups to Mindmusic Audio for the recording.

Drum & Bass Set Field Maneuvers 2015

So after much deliberation I’ve finally decided to upload the recording of my set from Freerotation this year.
I was thinking to edit out the imperfections such as record skipping, or where I had the high pass filter turned up without realising (one reason I don’t get on with Allen & Heath), but instead I’ve left it raw, as it was heard on the night, because the atmosphere was electric, saturday night, smack in the middle of this wonderful festival, the room was going off!!! This is a set I won’t ever forget playing, it’s not perfect and my levels are all over the place, but the recording perfectly captures the magical vibes circulating the dance floor that night, and the strength of this outweighs any need to worry about my mistakes, so here it is, hope you enjoy it as much as I did playing it.

Freerotation 2016

Alex Downey Live at Freerotation 2016

Download: https://www.xlr8r.com/news/2017/07/download-a-stunning-new-mix-from-alex-downey/

@alex-downey

Freerotation 2017

Download

Download: Alex Downey - Live from Freerotation 2017

Tracklist:
01 Douglas Rain (R.I.P.) - The Deactivation of HAL 9000 [2001: A Space Odyssey]
02 Farron - 528 [XCPT Music]
03 Future Beat Alliance - Feed My Soul [Versatile Records]
04 Answer Code Request - Ab Intus [Ostgut Ton]
05 Nothus & Delikwe - Requiem [XCPT Music]
06 Stenny - Fortress [Ilian Tape]
07 Nothus & Delikwe - Red Walls [XCPT Music]
08 Inigo Kennedy - The Shard [Token]
09 Farron - Paneth [XCPT Music]
10 Jesus Jones - Zeroes & Ones (Aphex Twin Reconstruction # 1 Mix) [Food]
11 Monolake - Static [Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music]
12 F - 0907 [7even Recordings]
13 Paradox - Paragon of Virtue [Archive]
14 Skee Mask - Flyby VFR [Ilian Tape]
15 John Beltran - Moth [De:tuned]
16 D.B. - Subtleties [Flux White]
17 Seafoam - Hybrid [Stretch 2 Activate]
18 Loopdeville - Mazneishu [OdD Music]
19 Vulva - Omnec Onec [Reflective]
20 Adrian Forciniti - Class Of '94 [Syra]
21 Stenny - Corrupt 506 [Ilian Tape]
22 Late Night Approach ‎- Clarence Mews [Klakson]
23 Sensorama - Kondens [Ladomat 2000]
24 Junq - Closer [Furthur Electronix]
25 Silicon - 1094T3 [Undersound Recordings]
26 Gunnar Haslam - Vector No Campo [Lovers Rock]
27 Drexciya - Wavejumper [Underground Resistance]
28 Pacou - Trigger [Tangent] 

Recorded Live on Saturday 7th July 2018, 1:30 - 3am, in Sammy String's (Room 3) at Freerotation Festival, Baskerville Hall, Hay on Wye, UK.
Photograph by Calandra Balfour @Calandra
Audio mixdown by Charlie Tear @charlietear
www.residentadvisor.net/dj/alexdowney
www.facebook.com/AlicksDowney/
www.instagram.com/alyxdowney/

I’ve been holding back on this as I had hopes it would get picked up exclusively by online media or for a podcast series as I did with my 2017 set, but I’ve decided to put it out through my own channels before the year is out instead (as nobody seemed to be interested in anything other than studio mixes!!??).....It might also come as an early Xmas present for those who came along with me for the ride and have been eagerly awaiting the recording - better late than never I guess! 
What can I say about the gig - it’s hard to put into words, I was completely overwhelmed by the energy that I witnessed rapidly coalesce in the sweltering hot room that night. The Freerotation crowd is surely one of the world’s most musically open-minded and supportive that you could ever hope to find as a DJ, and so many inspired & magical moments promptly ensued with the distinct sense of musical freedom that had overcome me. DJ-ing on the opening night was an absolute pleasure with so much excitement in the air, and to have the opportunity to play music at this wonderful event once again, was truly an honour. 
I hope that these sentiments are reflected in this recording, and that it gives those that were there the chance to re-live some of that magic. Peace.

Gratitude to all my friends for their continued love, support and encouragement.
Respect to all the promoters who have got behind me with bookings.
Big-Ups to all the ravers for the boundless energy they’ve brought to the dance-floors I've played to.

Live at Freerotation 2018

Alex Downey Live at Freerotation 2018

Afrodeutsche’s music is a collision of many different worlds. She herself is British born, but with Ghanaian, Russian and German heritage, while her influences and inspirations span classical piano, film and documentary music. Based in Manchester, she is a composer and producer with a regular show on NTS that explores her love of techno and electro and which goes from dark and tough to jacked up and broken. 

Her mix for us is a 90 minute excursion through her musical mind: it’s a busy one that veers from ghostly ambiance to serrated machine music. While a subtle hardcore nostalgia colours the airwaves one moment, decidedly forward facing bass music will twist you inside out the next, and the whole thing is run through with a sense of menace and mystery that is perfect for shady, strobe-lit clubs.

Dekmantel Podcast

Dekmantel Podcast 215 - Afrodeutsche

This was my warm up set from 11:30pm - 1:30 am.
https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/96298
SET TIMES
Rm1
11 - 12.30 Alex Downey
12.30 - 2 Jim Masters
2 -4 Luke Slater
4 - 5 Surgeon live
5 - 7 Ben Sims
Rm2
11 - 1.30 Electro elvis & Lula
1.30 - 3 Aux88 live
3 - 3.30 Electro Elvis
3.30 -5 Guy Called Gerald live
5 - 7 Billy Nasty

Alex Downey Live at B A L A N C E - Cable, London - May 2009

Playing with live instruments, samplers, drum computers, CDJ’s and more, this was one of the most special TSS episodes up to date. The Freerotation Festival regular and NTS Radio resident @aboutfacemusik brought pure bliss to the RLR studio.

Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSB2yTyUC8Y

Aboutface (live) _ The Something Something on Red Light Radio #37 pt. 2

Leif - Freerotation 2019

My set from this years festival - 
Warming up room 1 on Sunday night before Kink and the Hessle crew took the roof off... Another unforgettable weekend.

FR 19 live recording

Joe Ellis - Freerotation 19  live recording

Recording of my live set from Room 3, Saturday 6th July 2019! I built this set from scratch for the festival and thoroughly enjoyed the process! To play at Freerotation has been a huge milestone for me which I had dreamt about since first attending 6 FR ago... The energy in that room was like nothing I have ever experienced before and I think the recording captures it well! Hope you enjoy! x

Live Set @ Freerotation 2019

TAC live @ freerotation festival 2019

Live improvised set @ Freerotation 2019, with Dave Dove (ableton & fx) & Michiel Renger (sax & percussion).

Soulstatejazz - Live @ Freerotation 2019

An improvised and mostly unrehearsed three turntable Techno throw-down, performed live at the temporal point in space-time that is Freerotation Festival.

The last time I played an up-tempo Techno set like this at Freerotation was in 2011, and I’ve been pestering Steevio to let me bang it again ever since - this was the year it finally happened. 
Set times aren’t announced until the day, so it was as much of a surprise to me as anyone else to find out that I would be playing the closing set in that room.
After a night of excellent live & DJ sets from the highly talented women I had the honour of sharing the bill with, I had to be on top of my game to maintain the energy levels at the high bar they had set. 
My aim was to keep the tempos up around 137 BPM, make good use of all three turntables, improvise as much as possible in a spontaneous way by keeping the rehearsing to a minimum, and stay as present in the moment as much as I could possibly be.
I worked out the intro and the first couple of tracks, but then kept it mostly freestyle after that, which led to some unexpected twists, turns and inspired moments that kept me on my toes, and the crowd buzzing. 
This was one of those special nights where the amazing and supportive crowd gave so much energy, that it fed straight back into the music, which then began to feel like an energy flowing right through you, that pulled you even deeper into the moment. 
Presence!
I was ecstatic to  have been so well received by the large crowd that had gathered, it was an honour & a privilege to hold the space for 90 minutes, and a joy to have the opportunity close the room on such a high. 
Unfortunately some of the amps developed a fault, causing them to overheat & create a nasty burning smell, so the set had to be brought to an abrupt end to avoid causing a fire. 
An unmet demand for a final tune rampantly ensued, I loudly and regrettably responded “The Amps Are On Fire!!”, to which someone remarked “of course they are, you did a good job”, which I felt was a fitting end to a smoking night of Techno-music, that was pure heat from start to finish! :)

Recorded Live on Sunday 7th July 2019, 
4:30 - 6am, in Sammy String's (Room 3), 
at Freerotation Festival, Baskerville Hall, Hay on Wye, UK.

www.residentadvisor.net/dj/alexdowney
www.facebook.com/AlicksDowney/
www.instagram.com/alyxdowney/
Interview: www.untitled909.com/alex-downey/

Photograph by Calandra Balfour @Calandra
Audio mixdown by Charlie Tear @charlietear

Freerotation 2019

Alex Downey's 'The Amps Are On Fire Mix' Live at Freerotation 2019

Raindrops in my eyes

Raindrops in My Eyes

A Deep Discovery

Alex Downey has been supporting the UK electronic underground movement as a DJ, record-shop manager and now radio presenter for nearly 20 years. Based in Brighton on the south coast of England, he is arguably the city's most prominent purveyor of all things Techno, where he is a regular fixture at the premier high profile events, alongside acts such as Underground Resistance and Derrick May.  
As the main driving force behind the counter at Brighton's highly respected and much-missed [covert] record store & web-site, he was instrumental in bringing quality Techno & House to the city - and beyond, developing along the way a boundless knowledge, vast record collection and infectious passion for the music that's unmatched by most. 
His musical taste & experience speaks for itself and his nocturnal activities behind the decks have earned him much respect and a great reputation amongst the global electronic community. He has been invited to perform at many key events such as ‘Free-rotation’ in Wales,'The Big Beat Boutique' & 'Stompa-phunk' in Brighton, 'Retro_vert' & 'Wiggle' in London, ‘Labyrinth’ festival & ‘Haus-Tek’ in Tokyo, and at many other far-flung destinations, hundreds of smaller parties and long-forgotten club nights that rocked hard, and kept the lifeblood of the scene pumping. He is currently resident DJ at 'Our Friends Electric' in Brighton as well as the 'Split' / 'B A L A N C E' parties in London where he has recently shared the stage with Red-shape, Dave Clarke, Robert Hood, Luke Slater and Carl Craig, to name a few. You can also hear him spin on the ‘Split Show’ - a globally syndicated online radio show with a large number of keen listeners worldwide that he co-presents alongside techno legend Ben Sims.
Alex’s energetic style and enthusiasm for all things deep & electronic are sure to bring some magic to the party and are matched only by his razor-sharp DJ skills. One of the UK’s treasures, solidly and confidently attending to business while other media-hyped storms have come and gone.