Chip Music – Page 4 – A Square Meal

A Square Meal: ‘Silly Snake’s Soccer Blast’ by City Guys

Originally Posted on the ChipWIN Blog on February 18th, 2019.
Edited by Erin Hood.

Nostalgia – just reading (or writing) that word can induce a trance because of the semantic satiation. Like it or not, those nine letters have become part of how the world views chiptune and some other musical genres, especially in recent years. Putting aside if there is or is not truth in those words, today I’d like to take a slice of that cake. While the excessive romanticization of the 80s & 90s games, sometimes, verges on the cliché; City Guys break the line between the ideal good and the actual good with a bright and vibrant album that is a delight not only for the VGM lovers but also for anyone who enjoys music. So let’s take a look over ‘Silly Snake 2: Silly Snake’s Soccer Blast’ by City Guys, released through Pterodactyl Squad.

A Square Meal: The SOUNDSHOCK Series

Originally Posted on the ChipWIN Blog on November 12th, 2019.
Edited by Wayne Manselle.

Beyond all the glamour and pageantry of the blips & blops, a misunderstood way of making chip music has grown and bloomed away from the spotlight of the scene – yes I’m talking about FM Synthesis. Of course, this is not a complaint, as we say in Spanish: “para gustos los colores”. The point is that, most of the time, a lot of cool things happen under the surface, things that are worth talking about and, from time to time, seem to be buried in the huge mass of crunchy sounds. The album series I’m covering today is not that. I can even say that it’s well known by everyone nowadays, precisely because the intention was –and still is– to direct your attention to the music and techniques used by those incredible musicians. Today I want to go back to one of the greatest compilation series centered on the FM side of the Micro Music, Demoscene, and Chiptune. Apt for newcomers and veterans, it will make you move and ignite the fires of love and interest in this particular approach to chip musicin your soul – hoping the inferno grows so big that it encourages you to search for new music or even make your own. So let’s take a look over the ‘SOUNDSHOCK’ Series by Ubiktune.

En síntesis: tempo y grooves en DefleMask

Uno de los parámetros básicos que causan más conflicto al momento de iniciarse en el uso de DefleMask es el de la configuración de tempo. Aunque algunos podrían pensar que es un asunto de sentido común, la realidad es que tiene matices un tanto esotéricos; o en un primer momento así pareciera. Aunque el manual ofrece una explicación, esta profundiza poco en el ajuste preciso de esta función. Hoy compartiré lo que sé al respecto para que puedas comprender un poco mejor esta característica. Claro está que siempre se puede hacer un uso más sofisticado mediante la aplicación combinada de técnicas (como el uso de los comandos 9 y D); pero hoy nos centraremos en lo básico. ¡Vamos a ello!

Tres álbumes para iniciarse en el chiptune

Si bien es cierto que el chiptune puede ser considerado más una herramienta que un género musical por sí mismo, en ocasiones, la línea que separa dicho instrumento de su pasado en las consolas de juego parece imborrable; casi un estigma. No me malentiendan, es preciso saber de donde vienes para saber a donde vas; pero, con frecuencia, esto hace que se nos encasille en un cliché muy fácil y rápidamente. Por supuesto, un divorcio absoluto tampoco parece ser una respuesta adecuada. Por suerte, en este vasto mundo hay un poco de todo para todos. Es por eso que hoy quisiera compartir tres álbumes que podrían ayudarte a tener una visión más amplia del espectro que puedes encontrar en este emocionante medio. ¡Vamos a ello!

A Square Meal: ‘The Lost Backups’ by Beek

It feels so good to be back! From time to time, the Internet can be a strange place, becoming even more strange when you pay close attention to its goings-on. Fortunately, music is an oasis that keeps us sane and helps us find a juncture to make sense of all the gibberish we find out here. Today, I want to share a little escape from all of the things that might be happening around you right now. Last month, Beek released a sweet new batch of tunes filled with funky rhythms, jazzy leads, expressive arpeggios, and notable melodic quality. The result is an enchanting mixture of styles with a nostalgic hint that will make your heart skip and will surely put a smile on your face. So let’s take a look at ‘The Lost Backups’ by Beek!

Continue reading “A Square Meal: ‘The Lost Backups’ by Beek”