tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34599121254272506542024-03-13T22:48:17.930-04:00The Chiptune BlogNews, reviews and previews of chip music.Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-84083622170876419102015-06-16T20:04:00.002-04:002015-06-19T12:08:19.697-04:00The EndI will no longer post new articles on this blog, but it will stay up as an archive. It's been a good run... thanks to everyone who enjoyed it!<br />
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-Joseph / FerylFerylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-74360722071215580782015-02-22T23:47:00.002-05:002015-02-22T23:55:09.593-05:00Interview - cly5m<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://autofish.net/clysm/art/video_games/seiklus/images/seiklus_promo01_320.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://autofish.net/clysm/art/video_games/seiklus/images/seiklus_promo01_320.png" /></a></div>
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I owe this guy for getting me into chip music. The developer of Seiklus, a free indie game made in six months, filled his excellent, minimalist platformer with some of the best module chiptunes ever written. Legendary tracks from the likes of Radix and Stalker made the gentle, exploration-based levels even better. If you haven't already, check the game out at <a href="http://autofish.net/">autofish.net</a> (great site). It's free, so you've got nothing to lose.<br />
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I took some time to catch up with cly5m on his favorite chip musicians and current game projects.<br />
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TCB: <b>Do you think the songs you chose for Seiklus made it a better game? What made you decide on those particular ones? I think Rainy Summerdays for the grass world was a particularly nice choice.</b><br />
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cly5m: Memorable music definitely adds a lot to a game. I would have liked to give Seiklus a soundtrack of its own rather than simply including some of my favorite MODs, but I did specifically choose songs that I thought went well with the different areas of the game. I had a pretty large collection, and it wasn't hard to come up with songs that seemed to be a good fit. That said, many of them are simply good songs that would have worked just about anywhere. <br />
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I still might eventually come up with an official Seiklus soundtrack one way or another, but I suppose that it would sound strange to anyone already familiar with the game. Then again, some silent films have several alternate soundtracks spaced years apart.<br />
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TCB: <b>Do you still listen to chip music these days? Any favorite artists or albums?</b><br />
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cly5m: Yes, lots. It's hard to know where to start. A new one that I came across just recently and really liked is Sonus Antiquitatum by Soleviio.<br />
<a href="https://soleviio.bandcamp.com/album/sonus-antiquitatum">https://soleviio.bandcamp.com/album/sonus-antiquitatum</a><br />
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Another thing I've been listening to a lot lately is the Depeche Mode chiptune tribute album by 8-Bit Operators.<br />
<a href="https://8bitoperators.bandcamp.com/album/tribute-to-depeche-mode-enjoy-the-science">https://8bitoperators.bandcamp.com/album/tribute-to-depeche-mode-enjoy-the-science</a><br />
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I think you're familiar with Brother Android. I like his recent release Pastoral I. It reminds me a little of Kirby's Dreamland at first, but then it gets kind of experimental.<br />
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Other favorites (in no particular order) include 4mat (especially Decades and Surrender), 505, ABSRDST (especially Xhip Quim), Auxcide, Bud Melvin, Response of Darklite, Oven Rake, Starpilot, Pilotpriest, Desert Planet, FTC, Goto80, Peer, Souleye, Tugboat, Yerzmyey, Inverse Phase, TDK, Souleye, Carl Karjalainen, Ben Prunty, Disasterpeace, and Aivi & Surasshu<br />
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I could list many more, but I suppose that's enough for now. Those are just modern artists (though some, such as 4mat and TDK, have been around for a long time). If I were to list musicians from the C64 and Amiga eras, or some of my favorite video game soundtracks, my response would be much longer.<br />
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I also listen to a lot of things from <a href="http://remix.kwed.org/">Remix.kwed.org</a>, as well as compilations released by groups such as 8bitpeoples and Chiptune = WIN.<br />
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One other specific thing I'll mention is the song "Delusion" by Kjell Nordbo. It's almost 20 minutes long, and it's one of the more interesting chip songs you'll ever come across.<br />
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Okay, two more specific things. I also recommend the soundtrack to the C64 demo "Edge of Disgrace." The music can stand alone, but I'd recommend also watching the demo itself.<br />
<a href="http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=51983">http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=51983</a><br />
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TCB: <b>How did you first discover this kind of music?</b><br />
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cly5m: I had a Commodore 64 when I was young, and I became enamored with its music. That sound chip remains my very favorite, if I were to choose just one. When I eventually got a PC, I started collecting MOD music of the type you hear in Seiklus. As I mentioned above, I'd been collecting songs for quite a few years by the time I made that game. I also like a lot of other classic and modern video game music.<br />
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I'm glad that computer and video game console music was limited in the way that it was in the early days, so that musicians were forced to be creative within those limitations.<br />
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TCB: <b>I know you've had at least two more games in the pipeline for years. What's the status on those? Been a while since we've heard much of anything about Avaus or Velella.</b><br />
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cly5m: Those games will be finished eventually. The status right now is that I've pulled both projects into Game Maker Studio. Doing so destroyed the room tracking and transition code in Velella and cause other minor problems in both games. My recent work on the games has been primarily cleaning that up. Really, the main reason those games are not done yet is that I've allowed my day job become an excuse to be less productive in my creative pursuits.<br />
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I've also started several other projects in recent years, intending to keep them small for the sake of actually releasing something. But those, too, remain incomplete for now.Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-38137062252953737802015-02-01T14:07:00.000-05:002015-02-01T14:07:15.568-05:00Sabrepulse - Blood Eagle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The new LP from Sabrepulse had a lot of potential that it didn't quite manage to fulfill. The title track, released as a preview before the other songs, is still the high point--that chorus probably sounds great with a subwoofer. The opening track is also quite pleasant. Aside from those two songs, however, the album mostly fails to impress. I definitely could have done without the Avicii-style chopped-up vocals (and random lines of dialogue) that kept popping up. "The Ghost that Haunts Us Both" is worth a listen, but I think the chill drum-n-bass mood could do with some fine-tuning to bring it to the next level.</div>
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Stream/download here: <a href="https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/blood-eagle">https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/blood-eagle</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-40186284759945568242015-01-06T14:36:00.005-05:002015-01-06T14:36:46.099-05:00Balloonbear - Forever Online<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Straight out of Russia, Balloonbear's new EP is a joy to listen to. This is high-quality, hard-hitting GameBoy music. The tunes are well-written and extremely well-mastered... they sound fantastic. Melodies are varied and interesting across the six tracks, with a nice undercurrent of bass to seal the deal. Four remixes complete the package, if you're into that sort of thing.</div>
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Stream/download here: <a href="https://balloonbear.bandcamp.com/album/forever-online">https://balloonbear.bandcamp.com/album/forever-online</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-55981539328181964502014-11-14T10:23:00.000-05:002014-11-14T10:24:13.885-05:00Half a Person - Billy EP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Half a Person is new to the scene (as the second track title reveals), but it's clear that he has talent. From the sweet, thoughtful opener "Son, Do Not Touch that Record Player" to the delicate tones of "Is It OK to Overwrite," we've got a solid EP from a promising artist. These tunes aren't exactly club-friendly, and thankfully, that works in their favor. I especially enjoyed the nice, melodic feel of the final song.<br />
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Stream/download here: <a href="https://allgamenoboy.bandcamp.com/album/billy-ep">https://allgamenoboy.bandcamp.com/album/billy-ep</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-80721581319197436282014-10-25T12:57:00.002-04:002014-10-25T12:58:51.349-04:00Feryl - Moral Codec Failure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAuLkgr_1-o/VEvWJzX-gJI/AAAAAAAAAW8/ei0DLM0fkig/s1600/MCF_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAuLkgr_1-o/VEvWJzX-gJI/AAAAAAAAAW8/ei0DLM0fkig/s1600/MCF_front.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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1 Love of Her Life<br />
2 Kelsey's Laptop<br />
3 I Need Time to Wake Up<br />
4 The Feminist<br />
5 Days Bleed Together<br />
6 Moral Codec Failure<br />
7 Grinding My Own Gears<br />
8 Last Year<br />
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<a href="https://feryl.bandcamp.com/album/moral-codec-failure">https://feryl.bandcamp.com/album/moral-codec-failure</a><br />
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Cover art by EGR and Bleo Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-74989237309577612402014-07-06T15:52:00.000-04:002014-07-06T15:52:27.009-04:00L-Tron - Konnekted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.8bitpeoples.com/images/albums/large/8BP132_front_0700x0700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.8bitpeoples.com/images/albums/large/8BP132_front_0700x0700.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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The latest release from 8bitpeoples is a solid 4-track EP from L-Tron. Fresh and well-written, it's definitely the best thing I've heard from this guy. The massive, eight-minute intro doesn't drag, and the melodic final track is a real highlight. Be sure to give Konnekted a spin--and while you're at it, keep tabs on L-Tron for the future.</div>
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<a href="http://www.8bitpeoples.com/discography/8BP132">http://www.8bitpeoples.com/discography/8BP132</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-2572396535580464302014-06-18T22:51:00.000-04:002014-06-18T22:51:19.706-04:00My 25 Favorite Chiptunes, Part 5<div style="text-align: center;">
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Part Five of Five</div>
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<b>No. 5: My Little Ponies by Radix</b></div>
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Classic Radix, and a joy to listen to. "My Little Ponies" includes a flawless melody, excellent composition, and a transition to die for--and all this with a mere four channels and 27 kilobytes. One of my favorite tracker modules for sure.</div>
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<b>No. 4: We Can See Our Breath by Brother Android</b></div>
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Brother Android's "October November December" is extremely heavy on the atmosphere, but thankfully, the songwriting doesn't suffer as a result. Described by the artist as "an album about the winter time," it's quite a thoughtful, coherent, and unique collection of tunes. The second track, "We Can See Our Breath," is a solid highlight, featuring lots of precise drum work, slow-burning sine waves, and interesting mixing. Nice outro too.</div>
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<b>No. 3: When I'm Gone by Reborn.nsf</b></div>
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Noisy and urgent, "When I'm Gone" still has a nice charm to it after all these years. You probably won't hear another quirky, melodic burst quite like this one.</div>
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<b>No. 2: Recovery by Fearofdark</b></div>
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Written for a Ubiktune compilation in 2011, and inspired by the tragic events in Japan that happened in the same year, "Recovery" might be the most effectively emotional chiptune I've ever heard. Masterfully written and incredibly sad, it more than lives up to what the title implies: a long, hard road to recovery from some tragedy, filled with both melancholy and hope. If you have friends who don't think chip music can be much more than catchy bleeps or nerdy nostalgia, show them this song.</div>
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<b>No. 1: Rainy Summerdays by Radix</b></div>
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Despite the fact that, as a whole, this list isn't organized from least-to-most favorite, I've reserved the top spot for this one. "Rainy Summerdays" is my favorite chiptune of all time, and it pretty much sums up why I like chip music. When I interviewed him back in 2010, Radix explained, "[It] was composed on a rainy day in '95 on Amiga. Good times! '93-95 was the highlight of the demoscene for me." Good times, indeed.</div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-62382813724042763472014-06-04T17:19:00.003-04:002014-06-04T17:19:50.391-04:00My 25 Favorite Chiptunes, Part 4<div style="text-align: center;">
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Part Four of Five</div>
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<b>No. 10: Yoghurt Factory by Radix</b><br />
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I guess it's pretty hard not to like this song. Another top-tier, feel-good classic by the master himself, "Yoghurt Factory" is a bundle of pure happiness squeezed into 14 kilobytes. I first discovered it through a game called Seiklus--which, interestingly enough, is also the game that got me into chip music in the first place.</div>
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<b>No. 9: Lemonade</b> <b>by Bubu</b><br />
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Bubu is an excellent composer. Turn him loose with a copy of LSDJ and he'll come back with awesome, high-energy anthems like Lemonade. From his solid LP called "The Daydream Elevator," this is definitely a favorite of mine. Absolutely worth a look.</div>
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<b>No. 8: Repeat by Andrio</b><br />
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I mentioned at the beginning of these articles that the list is in no special order, but if it was, Andrio's "Repeat" would be very close to the top. Beautifully written and executed, this is one of the best chiptunes I've ever heard. It's also worth noting that Andrew was apparently just 16 when he wrote it, which is pretty remarkable.</div>
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<b>No. 7: Jet Alone by Covox</b><br />
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Released in 2007 on the "Infiltrator" EP, this hard-driving cut from Covox's "low-orbit wolf cannon" has a pretty nice non-dubstep drop going for it. The final track on the EP is probably more recognizable for most people, but "Jet Alone" is where it's at. Pretty distinctive intro, too.</div>
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<b>No. 6: Pennies / Fuelship (Live) by Syphus</b><br />
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What it must have been like to see this one performed live. Brendan broke out his keytar to make the 2008 Blip Festival that much more memorable. After the contemplative intro, "Fuelship" explodes with incredible melodies and harmonic work. Amiga chip music has rarely sounded this intense.</div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-29705155220034625402014-05-31T21:53:00.000-04:002014-05-31T21:56:48.565-04:00My 25 Favorite Chiptunes, Part 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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Part Three of Five</div>
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<b>No. 15: My Beautiful Empty Heart by 4mat</b></div>
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Another glitchy, melodic highlight from Mr. Simmonds. I used to listen to this one a lot in the hotel room when I was out of the country for the first time. Lots of interesting stuff going on here, including the nice four-note riff and frantic beats.</div>
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<b>No. 14: Dank Taquitos by Ro-Bear</b></div>
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When "Three Years" first came out, An0va described this track as having "more interesting motifs and transitions [...] than in some entire releases from people." Indeed, "Dank Taquitos" is a nicely unique song from the interesting title onwards. The patient, catchy intro is especially worth checking out.</div>
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<b>No. 13: From Summer to Winter by Ghidorah</b></div>
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Extremely atmospheric and appropriately titled, "From Summer to Winter" is definitely one of Ghidorah's better experiments with chip music. Short and sweet, it clocks in at less than two minutes; but the subtle tracking and moody vibes are not to be missed.</div>
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<b>No. 12: Beakortolaris by Cerror</b></div>
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One of the most bizarrely-titled songs on the list, "Beakortolaris" offers this interesting note in the source file: "a bird / made up / weird / but intriguing." Thankfully, the song itself is less inscrutable, with solid bass work and sweet little harmonies giving way to a gentle fadeout. Cerror should write more stuff like this.</div>
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<b>No. 11: The Hospital; Your House; The Dark by Brother Android</b></div>
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It's a definite standout from Harrison Lemke's 2010 concept album, but "The Hospital" is also a career highlight in my book. It might be a little jarring when taken out of context, but this six-minute epic proves that chip prog can actually be pretty serious. With a pounding drum line kicking things off, the defining moment comes a little after the midway point, as Harrison takes a distinctly melancholy approach to the darkness referred to in the title. Be sure to check out the other songs as well... chiptune albums about death anxiety aren't exactly commonplace.</div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-35123808766917703832014-05-27T21:50:00.002-04:002014-05-28T15:18:26.864-04:00Review - Nadir (4mat)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After months of teasing, chip music legend Matt Simmonds (4mat) has finally revealed his latest album, "Nadir." With a strong attempt at keeping things interesting, there are some pretty impressive tunes here to compensate for the sparse tracklisting. Opening anthem "Vampires" kicks thing off in a very big way with thumping drums and a cool recurring melody. Meandering interludes like "Waves Rush to Shore" and "Vein" don't give offer much in the way of interesting hooks, but more structured tracks like the sweet "Daisies" are well worth revisiting. The title track is another highlight, with incredible composition giving way to a fun dubstep breakdown later on.</div>
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Piano samples also show up here and there, making more of an impact in the quiet closer than the aimless second track. Despite its minor flaws, this is a solid and pleasant album with some surprising moments. Definitely worth a look.<br />
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Also, if you're wondering who made that gripping cover art, you can thank Aliceffekt.</div>
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[Stream/download here: <a href="http://4mat.bandcamp.com/album/nadir">http://4mat.bandcamp.com/album/nadir</a>]</div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-88911208238270539922014-05-17T22:35:00.002-04:002014-05-17T22:37:56.246-04:00My 25 Favorite Chiptunes, Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
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Part Two of Five</div>
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<b>No. 20: Mosaik by Xyce ft. Radix</b></div>
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As it turns out, a three-way collab between Cerror, Xylo, and Radix was a great idea. Started by Radix and finished by the other two, "Mosaik" combines the talents of everyone involved in the best possible way. Very happy, very well-composed, and very nice to listen to. Features a great little outro as well.</div>
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<b>No. 19: Hello Everybody by Baifan</b></div>
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One of the happiest and greatest GameBoy tracks I've ever heard, "Hello Everybody" essentially sums up why Baifan's music is so cool. With some charmingly simplistic vocal samples cooing along to the tune, this is another favorite of mine from the EP.</div>
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<b>No. 18: Venice by Chipzel</b></div>
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Excellent, energetic, moody track from Chipzel right here. Has a beautiful intro and nice sense of progression too. Definitely check out the remastered version from the "Phonetic Symphony" LP for more bass.</div>
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<b>No. 17: Victory Lapse by Roboctopus</b></div>
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Out of everything he's done, the "Victory Lapse" EP is this dude's best as far as I'm concerned. The title track is a good reason why. Lush, thoughtful production, catchy melody, etc.</div>
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<b>No. 16: Breathless by Chipzel</b></div>
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This album is still one of my favorites. Niamh has definitely refined her craft over the years, but her hard-driving older tunes, like "Breathless," still hold up pretty darn well. Serious relationship drama squeezed into one GameBoy cart.</div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-89254184003445527772014-05-13T19:40:00.000-04:002014-05-13T19:43:58.025-04:00My 25 Favorite Chiptunes, Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
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A List in No Special Order</div>
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By Feryl</div>
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Part One of Five</div>
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<b>No. 25: High Waisted Skirts by Ro-Bear</b></div>
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One of two Ro-Bear tracks on the list. His style is very tight and distinct. With a bracing melodic atmosphere and a fantastic intro that you wouldn't guess from the title, this is one of my favorite Ro-Bear tunes. It's also a cut from his album "Three Years," which came out in 2012. A new album or EP would be nice to get at some point.</div>
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<b>No. 24: Only the Beautiful Survive by 4mat</b></div>
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4mat is one of the few active veterans of the chip scene, and he's still churning out thoughtful albums. Not bad for a guy who started tracking all the way back in 1989. "Beautiful" is from his comeback album "Decades," which is already four years old. I remember eagerly streaming the record when Matt put it up on his (now defunct) blog as a preview. There's a welcome bit of glitchy drumming and harmonizing going on here.</div>
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<b>No. 23: Sunday by Chipzel</b></div>
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This one definitely had to go on the list. I've enjoyed Chipzel's high-energy work since I bought her debut album in 2010, but this song is a nice change of pace from her usual spunk. Bright, sunny, and extremely well-composed, Niamh's first attempt at using a DAW with a GameBoy is well worth checking out. You can find it on "Spectra" as a bonus track, but it's good enough to sit with the main tracklisting. Another interesting tidbit: when she put it on SoundCloud before the album came out, Niamh revealed that she was sick of "Sunday" after critically analyzing the thing for a university project.</div>
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<b>No. 22: The Memory's We Made by Reborn.nsf</b></div>
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They don't make 'em like this anymore. Reborn's oddly-misspelled "Memory's We Made" is from a dated and messy album that I first heard years ago, but this song and "When Im Gone" have stuck with me for some reason.</div>
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<b>No. 21: 70s Literary Youth (Sunny Day Remix) by Aonami</b></div>
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This five-minute remix from Aonami is yet another highlight from a very solid release. Baifan's "Natural High" is still one of the best chip EPs I've ever heard, and this is one of the reasons why. With stellar production and some intriguing melodic work, this is one guest appearance you shouldn't skip out on. Just imagine what a full-on Baifan / Aonami split would sound like. These guys need to get back in the game.</div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-40112097115926706092014-02-28T14:48:00.004-05:002014-02-28T14:49:56.858-05:00Feryl - Fade to Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O35vC7fxy48/UxDn6XHGvKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/RsNkd3RiaNM/s1600/cover_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O35vC7fxy48/UxDn6XHGvKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/RsNkd3RiaNM/s1600/cover_final.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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1) Slow Summer Days</div>
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2) The Last Riot Grrrl</div>
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3) Homeschooled</div>
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4) Long Drive Back</div>
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5) Slow Winter Days</div>
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<a href="http://feryl.bandcamp.com/album/fade-to-dreams">http://feryl.bandcamp.com/album/fade-to-dreams</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-38157571531212312502014-01-01T18:57:00.000-05:002014-01-01T18:57:06.699-05:00EP Spotlight - Infiltrator by Covox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000004482858-m3hotn-original.png?d53bf9f" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000004482858-m3hotn-original.png?d53bf9f" width="400" /></a></div>
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This one's a classic. Before Covox went half-EDM, he made straight-up GameBoy music with a loud-garage mastering aesthetic. The "Infiltrator EP" was put out at the tail end of 2007, and includes some pretty heavy, melodic bangers. Closing anthem "Switchblade Squadron" is probably the most accessible and recognizable, but the atmospheric table-setter "Psychic Youth" is worth checking out too. "Jet Alone" is a personal favorite of mine, with great build-up and a sweet bass-melody interplay. While not flawless (the repetitive "Kickflip" comes to mind), the EP has some of Covox's best work to date--which is pretty good for a six-year-old release.</div>
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You can grab it for free at the FMA: <a href="http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Covox/Infiltrator/">http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Covox/Infiltrator/</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-65393667596916423852013-11-29T16:38:00.001-05:002013-11-29T16:49:27.643-05:00Interview - Brother Android Returns to the Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://f0.bcbits.com/img/0001787828_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://f0.bcbits.com/img/0001787828_20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not many artists can claim to have such a moody, atmospheric debut as Harrison Lemke's "Space Hymns." In 2009, the native Texan put out a lo-fi and low-key collection of space-themed chip music under the name Brother Android. Along with the "Scientific Satellite EP" released the following year, the community found themselves with a new, distinctive voice that stood shyly away from the legions of fist-pumping LSDJ ravers.</div>
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After more successful EPs and a new LP, Harrison decided to go back and expand the Space Hymnal into a full-fledged space opera. The result--a 2013 "Space Theodicy Edition"--is out now in digital formats on BandCamp, with a limited run of physical CDs and actual floppy discs underway as well. In late October, I interviewed this thoughtful Android about old memories, performing live, and folk music. Here's what he had to say:<br />
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TCB: <b>Space Hymns, your first album, came out in 2009. What made you want to go back and expand the tunes for a re-release?</b><br />
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BA: It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. After making the Scientific Satellite EP, I had the idea of making several similar releases that would each take a couple of songs from Space Hymns and recontextualize them to build a vague sort of narrative. I never really got around to it, though, in part because I didn't have that many old tracks lying around. A major element of Space Hymns for me is that it consists mostly of old tracks that weren't made to go together but that maybe start to cohere and become more than the sum of their parts when sequenced and titled a certain way. A lot of time has passed and my old website has disappeared, so I now have the material and the impetus to put my old idea into action. Also, I've always wanted to do a release that has an absurdly large number of tracks on it, and maybe this won't be quite absurd but it's a lot of tracks.<br />
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TCB: <b>How do you feel about the original album today? Does it bring back a lot of memories?</b><br />
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BA: Yeah, it brings back a lot of memories. Of being simultaneously befuddled by and in love with the tracker interface, for one thing. And of tinkering with Game Maker projects, because some of those songs were written as soundtracks to games I or other people made when I was in high school. As for how it holds up, I really wonder how the compositions sound to other people because I feel like they must seem almost childish, maybe a bit awkward. But there's a naivety to the album that I like; I hadn't composed enough to fall into using formulas. And I tried to make the sounds other tracker musicians made but I couldn't figure out how, so it kind of has its own thing going there.<br />
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TCB: <b>Your last LP, "In Death a Dream of Color," is one of my favorites, although I didn't like it very much at first. It was also an interesting development of your style, with elements of progressive music and spirituality... do these tunes change how you look at your older work today?</b><br />
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BA: Well, once again, on the one hand I feel like my older material is more naive and lacks craftsmanship, but on the other hand maybe it's more exciting because it's less formulaic and it doesn't try as hard. As for the themes... having a theme really helps me compose and organize material. The themes can be very important and meaningful to me, but it doesn't have to be that way, and just because I've done a very serious release or two, doesn't mean I've reevaluated my releases that are about spaceships or math or whatever. Right now I don't feel like writing a dense concept album about death anxiety; I'd like to do something fun instead. (Though that could easily change by the time I get around to planning another release.)<br />
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TCB: <b>Switching gears a little: you played your first live show last September, in Austin. What was that like? I remember you saying it was a learning experience...</b><br />
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BA: It didn't really go like I intended it to, but the audience was great and I felt encouraged even though it didn't go well by my standards. I'd like to do another chip music show sometime, but I want to prepare something more interesting and better suited to the setting.<br />
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TCB: <b>Lastly, where do you take Brother Android from here? I enjoyed the new folk album you put out recently. How's the chip scene treating you these days? Any favorite recent albums from other artists?</b><br />
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BA: I'm glad you like the folk music, though I consider that its own thing (and in my head, Brother Android is actually the side-project). In light of that, there's definitely more folk stuff in the works right now. I've also been working on some NES material recently for a soundtrack, and I really love that sound chip and am finding it inspiring to work with, so I'd like to do some stuff that uses that. With Black Gate I kind of got to the point where it doesn't resemble chip music at all any more, and I'd like to simplify now - not because the genre labels are important but because I have a much easier time working under restrictions, and because I love the sounds of the simple waveforms of course. As for releases by other chip musicians... honestly I don't stay on top of what's coming out very well. But I have enjoyed this year's releases from chalkboards, Jay Tholen, an0va, and National Broadcast Network.<br />
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You can check out Brother Android's work here: <a href="http://brotherandroid.bandcamp.com/">http://brotherandroid.bandcamp.com/</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-7256132631718078822013-11-09T16:52:00.001-05:002013-11-09T16:52:39.566-05:00Review - "Spectra" (Chipzel)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzHvUZAQeZ8/Un6px_yJ-uI/AAAAAAAAAVA/FEBqbhU6gPw/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzHvUZAQeZ8/Un6px_yJ-uI/AAAAAAAAAVA/FEBqbhU6gPw/s400/cover.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
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Hot off the success of the Super Hexagon soundtrack, the intense Irish lass known as Chipzel is back with "Spectra," a new album with definite highs and lows. I'm a huge fan of her 2010 release "Disconnected," which was a pretty fantastic explosion of emotional GameBoy tunes. Like "Disconnected," the new album has ten tracks; but unlike her previous effort, "Spectra" is a bit of a mixed bag.</div>
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Chipzel wastes no time with the opening songs--the title track and "Tokyo Skies" bang along with sweet bass and harmony work. "Forged in the Stars" keeps things moving until the nicely atmospheric interlude, "Formed in the Clouds," takes over. Track number five "Only Human" is probably one of the best things Chipzel has ever written, chock-full of hard-hitting emotional melodies and tight song structure.</div>
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Unfortunately, the second half of the record isn't quite as inspired. The five-minute-plus "Evolution" doesn't really do much to justify its running time, and the repetitive "Veteran" is a bit of a missed opportunity. Chipzel also decided to mix and master the entire album herself this time, and although it's not terrible, the slightly-off mix could use some fine-tuning.</div>
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I have one more gripe: the ridiculously good bonus track "Sunday" isn't part of the main tracklisting. If you only listen to one song from this artist, make sure it's that first bonus track. Light and well-composed, "Sunday" is a definite high point in Chipzel's career.</div>
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Overall, "Spectra" is a pretty solid album with some of this girl's best work to date; but a few missed opportunities hold it back from earning all the hype it received.</div>
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SCORE: 7.5 out of 10 - "Good"</div>
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Check out the album here: <a href="http://chipzelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/spectra">http://chipzelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/spectra</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-19035934830820365622013-10-23T14:37:00.001-04:002013-10-23T14:37:36.037-04:00Zabutom - "New Beginnings"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a4219524037_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a4219524037_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Swedish demoscene legend Zabutom is back with new material. The aptly-named "New Beginnings" is a pretty nice EP full of unique GameBoy-based tunes. The title track is especially sweet, with a nice sense of melody and progression. Longtime fans might notice a departure from the classic Zabutom style, but you might also recognize "Trisynaptic Loop" from the old 8 Bit Collective days. Fellow demoscener Dubmood also steps in with a massive remix of the third song, "GBminimal."</div>
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<a href="http://dataairlines.bandcamp.com/album/new-beginnings-data028">http://dataairlines.bandcamp.com/album/new-beginnings-data028</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-16801398735091341772013-10-08T13:26:00.001-04:002013-10-08T13:26:31.098-04:00An0va - "Ego Depletion"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a0924346730_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a0924346730_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This one's been a long time coming. Philly-based GameBoy math-rocker An0va has finally released his latest work: "Ego Depletion." Boasting six tunes, it's a solid and thoughtful effort, with a couple of standout tracks. I remember the happy, energetic "Flow" from years ago, and thankfully, it's included here in a newly-mastered form. The title track, which closes off the record, is a nice enough melody to wrap things up with, but it's unfortunately drenched in a huge amount of reverb. Regardless, An0va has done a pretty good job overall with what he calls "8-bit for your soul."</div>
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You can check it out here: <a href="http://an0va.bandcamp.com/album/ego-depletion">http://an0va.bandcamp.com/album/ego-depletion</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-52240900551502687822013-08-10T11:20:00.003-04:002013-08-10T11:23:57.748-04:00Review - "Mighty Social Lion" (J. Arthur Keenes)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whp9uyK_QcE/UgZPA1tqUjI/AAAAAAAAATo/Hqrhj5sH9ZI/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whp9uyK_QcE/UgZPA1tqUjI/AAAAAAAAATo/Hqrhj5sH9ZI/s400/cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As the one-man J. Arthur Keenes Band, Dan McLay has been a consistently unique voice in the chip music scene for a pretty good while now. He has a knack for writing extremely polished and thoughtful bedroom-pop, and the production quality is up there with the best. With ten tracks, "Mighty Social Lion" could be called his first proper LP, and it's certainly his longest release to date. Loyal fans shouldn't hold their breath either--his latest album is another solid effort.</div>
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All tongue-in-cheek Bieber comparisons aside, the swoon-worthy McLay is a master of multi-instrument GameBoy pop. Electric guitar and real drums are worked nicely into the mix. Pretty much any of these songs could fit comfortably on the soundtrack of an indie film. Opener "Plea Bargain" does come across as a bit of a shaky start with its glitched-out, hard-to-decipher vocal gimmick, but the music itself isn't bad. One of my biggest gripes with this record is the mixing on certain songs, which occasionally heads for overkill. Dan really likes to fill out both speakers, but sometimes there's just way too much busy panning going on. The first two tracks are especially full.</div>
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Regardless, the soaring melodic perfection of "Congratulations" still comes through very well. Dan puts his vocal talent to good use, even if he doesn't quite reach the sweet pacing and songwriting of his last two releases. Quirky, vague lyrics also make a welcome return. The calm "Worth Keeping" has nicely melodic guitar work, while "Under Construction" is a fun tune that even throws in some ooh-and-aah backup for good measure.</div>
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Six-minute closer "The Doors" wraps things up without being excessive, as Dan sings, "If I waste my life, can I have yours? / I'll sweep the deck and mend the sores / When the lights go out, I'll lock the doors on my own". Keenes may be a one-man band, but his quirky brand of alt-pop is definitely worth checking out.</div>
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SCORE: 7.6 out of 10 - "Good"</div>
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Stream/download here: <a href="http://music.thejarthurkeenesband.com/album/mighty-social-lion">http://music.thejarthurkeenesband.com/album/mighty-social-lion</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-66002590518828623082013-07-22T17:39:00.003-04:002013-07-22T17:39:38.654-04:00Chip + Charity 3 Bundle, with Free Codes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_-vLahcWG0/Ue2jqJMnJOI/AAAAAAAAATY/OCiWVRVoPjk/s1600/c+c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_-vLahcWG0/Ue2jqJMnJOI/AAAAAAAAATY/OCiWVRVoPjk/s640/c+c3.jpg" width="547" /></a></div>
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Starting today, Groupees is hosting a brand new Chip + Charity bundle. For a little money going to a big cause, you'll get access to some great tunes from the likes of Chipzel and An0va, and you'll also be treated to the brand new album from Xyce (Xylo and Cerror). But wait--there's more.</div>
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<a href="http://groupees.com/chip3">http://groupees.com/chip3</a></div>
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Surprise: I've been given ten download codes to give out to whoever would like one! If you want a code, just send me an email using the address at the top of the blog, and put "Chip + Charity" in the subject line. It's first come, first served, so be sure to act fast. Last but not least, here's a big shout-out and thank-you to everyone at Groupees!</div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-26139198349303604122013-07-02T20:12:00.004-04:002013-07-02T20:12:56.424-04:00Brother Android - Black Gate EP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jOuekqQz4XU/UdNoR6XR6pI/AAAAAAAAATI/EELjpCoXncE/s1000/black+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jOuekqQz4XU/UdNoR6XR6pI/AAAAAAAAATI/EELjpCoXncE/s400/black+gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The talented Brother Android has returned with a brand new EP. "Black Gate" is an 11-minute continuous mix of moody, atmospheric chip music. While the melodies and songwriting aren't quite as excellent as last year's "In Death a Dream of Color", this short burst of creative energy is still worth checking out. Brother Android is one of all-time favorite chip artists, and his wintry 2010 album "October November December" was an impressive display of a thoughtful tone and mood. The new EP sounds kind of like a B-side from "In Death", and the bass-heavy middle song is a particular high point.</div>
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You can grab a free copy of "Black Gate" from BA's SoundCloud, and those who'd like to pay a little something for a higher bitrate should head on over to his BandCamp page.</div>
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/brother-android/black-gate">https://soundcloud.com/brother-android/black-gate</a></div>
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<a href="http://brotherandroid.bandcamp.com/album/black-gate-ep">http://brotherandroid.bandcamp.com/album/black-gate-ep</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-57188675196825969052013-06-09T12:14:00.002-04:002013-06-09T12:14:28.439-04:00Xyce - Papillons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The very successful co-op between Cerror and Xylo, otherwise known as Roel Heerspink and Tom Offringa, continues with their latest album "Papillons". Besides boasting 16 tunes with the kind of happy, well-crafted pop that the duo is known for, the record also features two collaborations with Radix and Malmen. And if that wasn't enough, it's also available as a physical CD. I especially enjoyed the lovely first track, which, titled in French, translates to "Garden Fence". You can check out the album at the link below.</div>
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<a href="http://cheapbeatsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/papillons">http://cheapbeatsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/papillons</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-76252606186846058662013-05-14T22:07:00.005-04:002013-05-14T22:07:58.075-04:00EP Spotlight - Natural High by Baifan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/83/9abd392950b7405f822003844016cd14/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/83/9abd392950b7405f822003844016cd14/l.jpg" /></a></div>
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I thought I'd introduce a new feature to the blog: EP spotlights. I'll be talking about some of my favorite chiptune EPs (extended plays), why they're great, and the talented artists who wrote them.</div>
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Let's begin with "Natural High" by Baifan. I've been enjoying this one for a while, and it still delivers afters years of listening. Baifan is a talented GameBoy musician hailing from Beijing, China, and his tunes are just excellent. The amount of effort that went into composing and mixing these songs comes shining through in his six-track debut. "Hello Everybody" is incredibly happy and poppy, with a fantastic melody in the middle. The cooing, beautifully simple female vocals are a nice touch as well. Fellow artist Aonami makes a lovely guest appearance with the shimmering, well-structured "70s Literary Youth". You might expect a song with a title like "The Fear Inside My Heart" to be pretty melancholy, but Baifan proves the listener wrong with this cheery dance track.</div>
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Throughout the 25-minute EP, Baifan shows himself to be a master of melody, song structure, and quality control. He might just be one of the best GameBoy musicians I've ever heard.</div>
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You can grab the digital version of "Natural High" from BandCamp or Amazon, and there's also physical CDs available from CD Baby. Check out the links below.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/BAIFAN">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/BAIFAN</a></div>
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<a href="http://intikrec.bandcamp.com/album/baifan-natural-high">http://intikrec.bandcamp.com/album/baifan-natural-high</a></div>
Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3459912125427250654.post-68426026841106947992013-05-01T00:55:00.002-04:002013-05-01T00:56:21.450-04:00Preview - "The End of It All" (4mat)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The endlessly productive and uniquely talented 4mat (Matthew Simmonds) has just announced a brand new album called "The End of It All". With this follow-up to 2012's excellent "Sans Titre", Matt has promised that the new tunes will be "a bit different". The teaser track, showcased in a new trailer, does indeed sound pretty different, even when compared to the varied output that began with his first album "Decades". It'll be interesting to see where Simmonds goes from here.Ferylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01897964674701326440noreply@blogger.com0