For the next four weeks, ITM-FM will be counting down to the Godskitchen tour with mixes from the 2011 headliners. The first in line is UK firebrand John Askew, who has passed over this set recorded live at the Lampijončki Festival in Slovenia back in May. Strap yourself in, ‘cause it’s Askew at his most unadulterated.

As his recent words to inthemix make very clear, Askew isn’t one to toe the party line. “I’m not impressionable. I make the music I want to make and enjoy playing it to an underground of like minded people who are also fans of that sound,” he says bluntly. “I couldn’t ever predict what the general masses will be into but I do certainly see a new type of tough, driving underground trance that sits somewhere between banging trance and psy that is drawing substantial fans in from both sides.”

While he’s always handy with a withering assessment of the trance scene, Askew is also a productive force. This year he’s aligned with Paul Oakenfold to help drive a renewed Perfecto Records stable, while keeping focused on the studio.

He’s also scaled back the number of gigs he plays to ensure the ones he does do are special. So why has the multi-tasker chosen the long haul to Australia for Godskitchen this year? His answer is simple: “In Australia you like your music hard and you like to party hard.” Hit play on this mix to hear what he’s all about.