Cheap Dinosaurs - "Cheap Dinosaurs"

8-bit rock group Cheap Dinosaurs just released their self-titled LP, which contains nine tracks of progressive chip-rock. Highlights include the melodic, catchy "Stroll" and nicely happy "Gnip Gnop". The album is available from Data Garden on BandCamp, in both digital and limited edition "seed paper" versions.

Stream/download the release here: http://store.datagarden.org/album/cheap-dinosaurs

Xyce - "Biscuit"

Retro Amiga pop duo Cerror and Xylo are back, together known as Xyce, with a brand new album. "Biscuit" is a twelve-track collection of pleasant Amiga and Atari ST tunes, available for a scant two Euros. In an interesting move, the album also includes a dubstep-influenced bonus track entitled "Rundown", which, while not strictly 8-bit, provides a notable close to the happily-styled chiptune release.

Stream or download the album here: http://xyce.bandcamp.com/album/biscuit

Feryl - "Aware"

"Aware" is a brief chip music EP with five tracks, pleasantly styled and thoughtfully composed.

Stream/download the release here: http://feryl.bandcamp.com/album/aware

Review - "Zeta Force" (Zabutom)

Niklas Sjosvard, commonly known under his music handle Zabutom, has been writing chip music for a good number of years, and has finally unveiled his debut album "Zeta Force" for chiptune fans everywhere. The seven-track, demoscene-influenced collection of mixed modules turns out to be a pleasant and melodic trip that is well worth taking.

The release starts off strong with "The Legend of Zeta Force", which sets the stage with a strong main theme and enough variance throughout its three-minute running time to keep things interesting. "Blast Off Into Space" is another gem, and even includes some hard-driving rock instrumentation along with the riveting melody. "Zeta Force (GameBoy Version)" takes the old conceptual theme that I remember from Zabutom's old titular module and revisions it as a solid GameBoy tune, even if it is an interesting change from the other tracks, which are all module chiptunes.

"Final Blast", while a bit long and perhaps not the artist's best effort, closes off the album in style. Overall, Zabutom's debut chip music release is a very solid and well-composed work, with enough oldschool module-tune influences and high production values to make it a worthy purchase.

The mixing is nice, the melodies are enjoyable, and the brief length gets the job done. Niklas makes a very nice return to form with the 8-bit journey through space which comprises "Zeta Force".

SCORE: 8.5 out of 10 - "Great"

Minusbaby - "BIAS"

Minusbaby's new eighteen-track release features remastered and extended versions of his previous EPs "Left" and "Derecha", which were originally released on the 8 Bit Peoples label in 2009 and 2010. The album is up for stream and download on BandCamp, with a physical release also available.

His music is highly unique, intelligent, and definitely worth checking out. Stream or download the album here: http://minusbaby.bandcamp.com/album/bias

Review - "Bunnymajs" (Bunnymajs)

The opening five tracks of Kristian Caldwell's self-titled album "Bunnymajs" serve to introduce a relatively unknown artist with style and energy. Despite not being a household name or going for typical dance vibes with LSDJ, Bunnymajs has clear talent when it comes to writing solidly composed, plugin-based chip music. Consequently, it's a bit of a stroke of misfortune that the rest of the album simply doesn't measure up to the laudable intro that Kristian provides.

The initial track "Blippblipp" is quite adequate with its lighthearted melodies and clever arpeggios, while the subsequent "Dreams" is more of a melancholic, trance sort of a track with memorable bass and drum work. "Reminder" is another solid effort with its dance-floor beats and staccato-based compositional style. Track five, simply titled "Reason", includes a fantastic buildup and solid vibe to keep the album rocking.

The next two tracks, however, usher in a bit of a change. Both attempts at being playful and lighthearted, they simply don't deliver on the high production values of the preceding tracks; but neither are they terrible songs in their own right. From there, it's a bit of a so-so journey with a couple standout tracks, including the bass-progressive "Masked Devil".

Kristian's debut release, while not flawless, is nevertheless a fairly firm step in the right direction. Though the majority of the album can't quite match the brilliant five-pronged opening, Bunnymajs has sufficiently proved his competence as a songwriter. His musical journey is worth a listen for those interested in unique and catchy chip music from a talented new musician on the rise.

SCORE: 7.3 out of 10 - "Decent"

Syphus - "pro.tect"

First announced nine months ago, British chip musician Syphus has finally unveiled "pro.tect"--a fourteen-track album which acts as a sort of pleasant love letter to tracker and chip music fans. Highlights include "Pennies", "Returns", "Minimammal", and the awesomely epic "Horizontal". The official description is listed below.

"pro.tect is a lovingly prepared collection of Syphus' work from 2007 to 2011 - almost entirely unheard, outside of his live shows. Though the tracks have been mastered for more ear-friendly and mp3-friendly listening, they were all made using AHX (Amiga), HivelyTracker (Amiga), Protracker (Amiga) and FastTracker2/MilkyTracker (PC)."

Stream or download the release here: http://syphus.bandcamp.com/album/pro-tect