BLAST THIS: Super Chiptune Genre Busters

[Note: This is the very first article from our new contributor Andy from Dainty Records- we're glad to have him here at A Future in Noise!]

Chiptune. 8-bit. Nintendocore even… You’ve heard of it - it’s that music that sounds like it’s been made on a GameBoy or, in some cases, actually has been made on a GameBoy. It’s dance music that riffs on old school computer games. It’s lo-fi diy electronica made by blipster-kids with laptops. Well, it’s possibly all of these things and more… It’s also been around a while and a considerable ‘8-bit’ culture has built up around it (8-Bit Peoples). It’s already blipping into the mainstream with bands like Crystal Castles and the adorable YMCK along with a huge array of genre bastions such as Henry Homesweet, Sabrepulse, Random, Bit Shifter, Mr. Spastic, Sidabitball and countless others – not to mention ACTUAL computer game music that’s equally as good – check out some of the online games at Nitrome, for example.

So where do I come in? Well, I spend a lot of time attempting to keep up to date with new trends in electronic music and I spent a fair amount of my childhood playing crappy computer games with annoying 8-bit soundtracks. However much of the music labelled ‘chiptune’, I hope it’s fair to say, really does just sound like music from old computer games. I truly admire the genre purity here. It seems that, as with so many important movements, the more limited the music is within the dictates of the ‘8-bit manifesto’ the more respected it may be amongst its peers. However, as with any dance music that is slave to its genre, I find it can spiral rapidly into a headache inducing groove for the casual listener.

This article looks at some of the artists who the author feels are taking the essence of the chiptune sound and then blasting-off into new directions, integrating atmospheres, organic samples, slick breaks and – in some cases – breathtakingly sophisticated compositions. This is the kind of thing I can really get into. Especially when most chiptunes come in at under 3 minutes… more like delightful pop songs than some endlessly long minimal dirge that one often associates with the ‘cutting edge’ of electronica. And for me this is the essence of chiptune, the thing that stands out more than any other factor - it is truly happy, cute and upbeat music that always puts a smile on my face. Perhaps where previous generations learnt to make music with computers, the chiptune generation are learning how to make them sing.

So, in search of those artists breaking new ground in the genre I have scoured the pages of last.fm for some proponents of genre busting chiptune extraordinaire who are still on the breach of breaching the mainstream and, crucially, have a bucket load of free stuff for mp3 gluttons like me…

UNICORN KID
A rising star of the Scottish electronica scene (from whence other exciting acts like Gay Against You and Germlin also hail), of all the artists mentioned here Unicorn Kid is probably the purest example of the genre. To my mind what sets him apart is the rich, layered and symphonic approach to composition – what’s more the tracks have a pop song-like structures with recognisable verse-chorus- middle eight-key change etc. Instead of sounding tinny and scratchy, the Unicorn Kid is shimmering and iridescent.
Choice downloads:
"80900000"
"All I Want"

SHE
She, according to the Last.fm wiki, is not in fact a ‘she’ and, despite being signed to Japanese label Pony Canyon, actually consists of Polish born Lain Trzaska. Confusing, but no matter… She’s releases span the length and breadth of the genre – nearly all of which are available for free from the website http://www.shemusic.org/. What particularly appeals to me are the glossy sounding tracks (see recommendations) which make for an almost ‘club friendly’ strand of chiptune – although the whole catalogue is exceptional.
Choice downloads:
"Supersonic"
"Chiptek"

AMIGA AGIA
Okay you’ll notice a lot of the artists here may more accurately be part of the ‘chipbreak’ subgenre (i.e. chiptune with breakbeats). Amiga Agia, who – from what I can gather - hail from Minneapolis and consist of one person, takes hard amen breaks, familiar happy-hardcore piano and synth lines, drops in a 8-bit blasts and packs it all into short sharp bursts of chiptune heaven. They currently have a new free release called ‘Destiny Reverb’ available from their MySpace page.
Choice downloads:
"Electric Love Death"
"Kid in Corner"

MORAL EDGE
Okay more breakbeats here. In short this music is fast, light, ethereal, fun, upbeat and just irrepressibly likable. Not bad for a Leicester lad.
Choice downloads:
"Engage"
"Golden Age"

GIRLJOY
Midlands based UK act, apparently now producing under the name Flashgirls. The name changes, multiple Myspace pages and inconsistent availability of downloads makes this artist frustrating but also strangely adds to the excitement (in an almost Uffie-esque manner). There are only two free downloads available via Last.fm (apparently there are more elsewhere). The sound is quite hard, meaty electronica, kind of like an ultra lo-fi version of Jackson and his Computer Band.
Choice downloads:
"Smash"
"Bubble Lullaby"

BREAKBEAT HEARTBEAT
Already occupying a special place in my heart. Breakbeat Heartbeat – another Polish artist – whilst adopting some of the Casio-chic of the chiptune genre, isn’t afraid to stir-in lush instrumentation to develop complex compositions, all building up to a short blast of drill n’ bass, which – and this is perhaps where the genius lies – does not interrupt the general warmth of the pieces, just adds a genuine thrill and excitement. Once again the tracks are fantastically short, yet nonetheless densley packed, fully finished products.
Choice downloads:
"Wipeout"
"As the Snowfalls"

FIREBRAND BOY
Firebrand Boy is currently a duo whose releases, whilst all incorporating elements of chiptune, cover a wide range of styles from the more typical bleeps and blips style to very ‘accessible’ pop songs with words and everything. However for me it is the more ambient Oh Deer EP, which is of most interest here. These less beat oriented pieces represent a more compositional approach to the genre, not only taking it in new directions but also clearly demonstrating an intelligent compositional mind at work here, taking these tracks to truly a different level.
Choice downloads:
"In the Warm Mad Night"
"Loud 54"

DATASSETTE
Okay this is a genre borderline, the music doesn’t quite fit in with the other examples above. Undeniably there are 8-bit influences, melded with electro beats and some warp style electronica (the playfulness of Plaid and or a more funky and less boringly stoner-ish version of the Boards). For me Datassette has been one of the most interesting electronica discoveries of the last year or so. The flexible bionic basslines and tight electro beats that underpin the jaunty syncopated bleeps all add up to something sublimely funky, not too cheesy, not too serious, and infinitely diggable– the ultimate soundtrack for funk-bots everywhere.
Choice downloads:
"Eyeballs and Elbows"
"Computers"