Chip Music – A Square Meal

A Square Meal: 光のチップチューンVS闇のチップチューン対決コンピレーション2 (Eng)

It’s widely known the human propensity to classify everything. From the very first words we spoke in order to understand the things that surround us, everything seemed to be sentenced to fall into categories. In those early attempts to organize the world, the most primitive instincts led us to divide everything into two groups: the good and the bad. This way we could keep it simple but in order. That precise method to assign an adjective to all human and non-human phenomena conditioned our understanding, making room for mysticism. Soon, incredible tales of heroes and villains started to emerge. The good was associated with the pure, the immaculate, the heroic behavior, being the light the example par excellence. On the contrary, the darkness was always related to the evil, the malevolous, the prohibited.

Using the duality that the previous word salad set out, しのりゅー, who is an avid enthusiast of chiptune, came back for a second round of tunes exploring all the shades that are between the extremes. The result is an amazing compilation that, once again, features a facet of chiptune that, even when it’s commonly referenced in games, still has a lot to offer.

A Square Meal: 光のチップチューンVS闇のチップチューン対決コンピレーション2 (JP)

English Version
Versión en español
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ご存知の通り「違い」とは人生にスパイスを与えるための必要不可欠な事柄です。このコントラストのおかげで思考、言葉、行動のいずれにおいても、その境界が明白になると思います。今日の社会では、調和のとれた共存が理想とされていますが、時には対立も必要ではないでしょうか。もちろん、異質なものを武力で攻撃するというような敵対的な対立のことではありません。この「違い」の尺度を利用して、数年前から、しのりゅーさんは相反する２つの概念の対立をテーマにしたコンピレーションを企画されています。今回は、「光と闇」というクラシックなテーマを取り上げています。では、「光のチップチューンVS闇のチップチューン対決コンピレーション2」を見てみましょう。

A Square Meal: ‘Licensed & Bonded’ by Harley Likes Music

From time to time, it’s worthy to sit down and appreciate things from a different perspective. The rich contrast that comes from a wider range of experiences satisfies the curious spirits and helps to develop a solid criterion – a rational one. Of course, music is no exception to that. As there is something for every taste is inevitable to fall down the pit of the faulty generalization when something is not of our particular interest. That same fact leads us to miss valuable opportunities to expand the limits of our preferences. Today, I want to share with you a work by Harley Likes Music that will make you give a second opportunity to the rough side of the chipmusic (in case it’s not your cup of tea). The contagious rhythms and the high energy of this music are the perfect introduction to the realm of the crunchy sounds. So let’s take a look over ‘Licensed & Bonded’ by HarleyLikesMusic and released through Pterodactyl Squad.

A Square Meal: ‘カワイイチップチューン VS カッコイイチップチューン対決コンピレーション’ (Cute VS. Cool Chiptune)

Originally posted on the ChipWIN Blog on March 17th, 2020.
Edited by Dan Butler & Brandon L. Hood.

Confrontation is, occasionally, inevitable. Most of the time, however, we can learn from our differences and enrich our own perspective. In some cases, even highlighting these contrasting elements can be a good thing. After a spectacular showcase compilation last year, しのりゅー brings to us yet another incredible release that showcases this pixelated dichotomy. For this chapter, 56 artists explored the contrasting themes of cute and cool in their own unique styles. So let’s take a look over ‘カワイイチップチューン VS カッコイイチップチューン対決コンピレーション’ (Kawaii Chippchūn VS Kakkoii Chippchūn: Taiketsu Conpirēshon), released through novtos.

A Square Meal: ‘Formula Maintaied’ by Robyn A1200

Originally Posted on the ChipWIN Blog on April 16th, 2020.
Edited by Aydan Scott.

One of the greatest qualities that a musician can have is simply the ability to produce a cohesive, memorable piece. In our particular field, being able to express oneself through ‘simple’ sounds without losing a single scrap of eloquence is not only admirable but also an irrefutable sign of capability. However, since the concept of quality is not quite universal, and complexity and capability are not always in a linear relationship, there’s not an exact way to measure the first. Each person has their own formula, which is fantastic, but I think that there are some cases in which we all can agree on the value of a work. Today, I want to share one of those albums. In her latest work, Robyn A1200 offers us a huge variety of styles, mixing chiptune, house, VGM, and synthpop to the delight of her listeners. The result is astonishing, to say the least. So let’s take a look at ‘Formula Maintained’ by Robyn A1200.