Summer fun is distracting, but we have another FMA profile this week, 8gb:
Speaking of globetrotting, this weeks artist, 8GB is a well seasoned world traveler himself, playing shows throughout Europe and the United States before recently returning to his native Argentina. His style owes far more to the electronic and dance scenes then to anything from retro game music, and you need only checkout this release from 8bitpeoples to get a glimpse of his raw beat making prowess.
Many wonderful releases flood the webz over the weekend. First is two great releases from 8bitpeoples:
Can you dig it?
TCTD’s own 8GB has released his all new EP “Pravda“. 4 hard hitting screeds of alien commie chip agitprop enforce the new old tech chip style. From his release:
“Those who lack discipline will be given some. 8GB’s Pravda (The Truth) continues their globe-trotting persuasion that has only one end: World Audiovisual Domination! 8GB’s open-minded approach to chip music twists the barriers of hardware limitations and attacks various oldschool platforms at the same time, while delivering the goods to shake booties all around and convert many chip non-believers to their regime. The Truth is out there, but the question remains: Smozhezh ti’ vi’derzhat’ pravdu?”
Then 8BP dares to up the ante with a secret collab between Coova and Bud Melvin. How they came to meet, is explained on the release page:
!!!!!! – B. Leo
“After meeting in New York at the first Blip Festival, the scheme was hatched. The most unlikely of collaborations, between two of chip music’s most enigmatic individuals, would be conducted in secrecy over the next year. Delicately woven Game Boy loops conspire with hypnotic banjo patterns. Layers of guitar dance over uncanny vocals. This is the EP you might have once heard, far-off in the static between two AM radio stations.
And finally the weekend saw the release of Two 8bit novices:
We kind of let this one slip past this time (I can’t see the newzletter on my inbox. Landed on spam long deleted, or was never sent?) but better late than never, so here’s the January batch of releases from legendary web portal and netlabel Micromusic:
KingAutomatic/CélomalaBit – NapoliRibbonsGameBoyVersion
drx (feat.Tracky Birthday) – Websiiite
vibe/crc – dirty work
La belle Indifference – knit
The Smacker – 2D Lord
The J. Arthur Keenes Band – Rogue
SCSI – End Credits
Binärpilot – Tjaere For Alltid
8GB – Galway Funk
Bacalao – Living Animals [micromusic mix]
Highlights for me?
– Bödenstandig’s DRX delivers a killer tune
– Bacalao’s new album preview track, Living Animals
– J.Arthur Keene’s amazing track, Rogue (my favourite new Game Boy musician)
Akira posted his impressions on 8BC of the Main 2008 Demo Party:
YO yo yo!
Reporting live from the partyplace on the second day
Yesterday night the internet was hard to come by, so we spent our night partying (like if that hurts… )
The night started early with Lithis closely followed by Psilodump, representing the swedish collective X-Dump. Those who know the work of these dudes know they can expect some heavy dancefloor smashers, with these guys’ particular style. It rocked (the soundsystem in the Espace Julien is amazing)
After that I went to check out Dr. Von Pnok. Hailing from Rennes, this GB-powered drum and death dude has heavy shit going on. I can’t get tired of his tunes. Fucking amazing bass coupled with wicked syncopated beats. Just check out his profile and get some music if you never did (why?). But I am sorry to say the Doctor is to be experienced live (videos of yesterday soon) since most of his music is nowhere to be downloaded
A quick refreshment session in the backstage with the swedish crazies, and then we went onto the main stage to get a load of Meneo. As always, the guys rocked the house, and managed to fit all the present audience into the stage at the end of the set (which also included some jamming with friends! What else ya want?). I have to make a special note on Entter’s visuals. This show I spent most of my time looking at the screen, and now that Raul has a wireless connection to his software (he’s controlling it with a portable device), he has more freedom to go crazy on the visuals, stage and audience. I managed to see visuals for lots of new songs (current favorite being “I KNOW BASIC”) and it was fucking kickass.
So now the main space finished its programme, so we reared onto the café space, which is only smaller in size, because the soundsystem is out of this planet. I played a couple of new tunes before Je Deviens DJ en 3 Jours stormed the stage as always. His mix of nanoloop-powered, currently fashionable french electro/techno, is something that will get your ass shaking no matter how tired, shy or lame you are. The show is coupled by a very energetic performance by him, so it has all the elements of a powerful set. One of my current favourites.
After him, Confipop took the stage with his techno mix and circuitbent toys. This guy knows how to rock a dancefloor. Massive dance anthems and amazing LSDJ skills for the local man. We just couldn’t keep dancing with Psilo and Lithis, while trying to take over all the computers spread around the partyplace (lots of Amstrads and Atari STs, a few Amigas, couple of C64s, one MSX, and more), infecting them with the GOVERNATOR VIRUS, which has only been defeated in one machine by, exactly, who else? A swedish hacker xD
After this we decided to ponce around looking for the last drinks of the night. When we realized the party was over for the day, and it was 5 AM
So that’s all for yesterday’s report, today we have my set and the Micromusic All Stars, which will be a massive jam of hours between all the chipmusic artists present at the partyplace.
Suffice to say, if you are in France or close proximity, if you are not here, you are missing out big time!
Summer fun is distracting, but we have another FMA profile this week, 8gb:
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