Tag: Bud Melvin

  • TCTD Links for 2010-06-05

  • 8-bit Operators: Autobahn Tribute

    Almost 8 full years in the making, the 8-Bit Operators have announced W3 B3LV N N0TH1NG, an Autobahn tribute featuring eight no-funny-stuff covers from the German trio’s ludicrous techno-pop album Nagelbett.

    Track Listing:

    1. Saturation – Neil Baldwin
    2. Faking It – goto80
    3. Hit and Run – Bud Melvin
    4. No Way Out – Receptors
    5. Violate U-Blue – Lazerbeat
    6. Beg Me – glomag
    7. Take It In – Patric C
    8. Edelweiss (Club mix) – Herbert Weixelbaum

  • TCTD Awards 2009: Best Artist

    Our final award is somewhat nebulous and warrants a little explaining. It is someone who should be among the foremost names on your list when explaining chip music to outsiders, a person whose skills as a musician and composer are so inspiring that mere words cannot convey their importance to the scene.  The following nominations comprise artists from all the relevant categories. I am happy to present the (last!) award of 2009, Artist of the Year:

    minusbaby – With a stripped down live approach,  quality EPs for 8bitpeoples and rocking pixel work, Minusbaby made numerous TCTD award shortlists. His music becomes more nuanced and engrossing with each release.

    Bud Melvin – An amazing performer with an awesome release confirms my gut feeling that any year Bud is active, he is a nominee for this category.

    4mat – One of the demoscene greats returns to the fold.  Even his WIPs and fragments outstrip many official releases.

    Goto80 – Do you like breakfast?

    Little-Scale – This insanely prolific inventor and composer was the overwhelming choice of the public in this year’s nominations. He is an innovative songwriter, a great live performer and he knows a thing or two about interfacing with his hardware.

  • TCTD Awards 2009: Best Release

    “Release” is sort of an abused term in the chip community. TCTD regards the term “release” as:

    • Contains a number of quality tracks from an artist or groups of artists
    • Album artwork and hosting so you can easily direct friends who might want to learn more about the artist or label
    • Quality tracks

    The nominees this year include a variety of formats, from ROM carts to vinyl to digital to CD. Their common thread is that they are all collections of great tracks by some of the best artists in the game.

    Here are your 2009 Best Release nominees:

    Bud Melvin –  Popular Music / Self Released

    Bud is one of the most interesting voices in the chip music scene, his songs eschew chip music cliches and use a wide spanning soundscape to paint expressive backgrounds for his madcap narratives.

    Bondage Fairies – Cheap Italian Wine / LoboTom

    Sweden’s favorite 8bit, punk rock, robot duo’s sophomore release did not disappoint, with more Pixes flavored Devo-inspired scatologia  that rocks from the first synth warble to the last downbeat.

    Alex Mauer – Vegavox2 / Pause

    The master of the NES ROM album world (and thanks to NO CARRIER, it is actually becoming a world), this ROM showcases Alex’s acknowledged mastery of the 2a03 and gives you a glimpse of his lesser known pixel chops.

    V/A – Blip Festival 2008: 32 Live Recordings / 8bitpeoples and 2playerproductions

    Perhaps the definitive live chip music document, this release showed that the energy of Blip Festival and its performers can indeed be captured and will remain a keepsake of all involved for years to come.

    c-jeff – electric / Pause

    c-jeff’s concept EP shows off his considerable musical chops (with some help from his friends) and is one of the more touching and cerebral releases of 2009.

  • TCTD Awards 2009: Best Live Performer


    Live performance is a bit of a dirty secret in electronic music, and perhaps more so in chip music where far too many artist are happy pantomiming and summoning, and few have the talent or charisma to pull off a genuinely charismatic live performance. This list is far too short, as there were a number of great performers active this year, and those left off were done by the barest of margins. Here are the nominees for Best Performers of 2009.

    Graffitti Monsters

    Sorry for the older video, but even in it’s current incarnation as a two-piece (soon to be three piece), GM are one of the most energetic and fun chip shows around.

    tRasH cAn maN

    Charisma, CHECK, great tunes CHECK, enigmatic and entertaining crowd seductery? CHECK.

    The J Arthur Keens Band

    Youthful musical genius overcomes the odds to become breakout performer at industry showcase. IT HAPPENED.

    Hally

    The world’s best just got better, forever.

    Bud Melvin

    Last year’s nominee keep it rocking with good times, rad tunes, and live music fade-outs.