Miss the days of classic 8-bit video game soundtracks? Indie apps not filling chip-tune desires? World 1-2 might just hit the spot with his mix of modern dance music and classic chip tune sounds. This isn’t just any compilation either, it includes new works by luminary VGM composers including Manami Matsumae (1987 Mega Man, Shovel Knight), Keiji Yamagishi (1988 Ninja Gaiden), and Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill). Of the 5 tracks we previewed, the highlight so far is easily Manami Matsumae’s One Shot, One Kill which does it’s best to make you feel like you’re in your living room again, holding a 2 button controller. The other tracks previewed range from new chiptune compositions to your generic “EDM” meets chiptune stylings which rose to prevalence via sites like OCRemix.
Preview the 5 chiptune inspired tracks below…
World 1-2 is due for release on May 2, 2013 by GameChops via BandCamp. We’re looking forward to hearing the full release and will post a full review then.
DJ Gamers is a new section dedicated to producers and DJs who are also avid gamers. Whatever flavor of EDM you like, be it dubstep, house, techno or electro; we’ll be finding the best DJ gamers out there.
DJ & producer Deathface (aka Johnny Love) has been making noise for many years, spanning many genres including electro house and dubstep. Deathface’s latest release, Six Feet Deep, continues the dark sound he’s known for. His signature blend of hardcore punk violently pieced together with electronic music makes for the perfect rave or rioting music. We caught up with Deathface in order to find out what video games he enjoys.
BabySoftMurderHands: Let’s start off with some history, what’s your favorite video game of all time? Deathface: Probably Final Fantasy Tactics for the PS1, I bought it years ago and now I just got an emulator and play it on my tablet when I travel, I love it.
BSMH: What games are you currently playing? DF: Black Ops 2 and Dungeon Defenders, I try to not bog myself down with too many distractions or else I don’t work on music.
BSMH: Do you ever get challenged by fans online? DF: Not really, sometimes kids will add me on XBL but I try to keep my friends list to people who I play with regularly, though some of the guys in the clan I play with figured out who I am and have become fans, which is kinda funny to me.
BSMH: Do you have a favorite video game soundtrack? DF: Streets of Rage, 16 bit 90s hip house.
BSMH: Have video games ever inspired any of your music? DF: No but some of my music has been in video games and I’ve been making more and more music thats “soundtrack” -y that would probably fit in some cut scenes etc.
BSMH: If you could make a video game, what would it be like? DF: It would be a combination of battlefield, real war, and an RPG, that or a really cool sandbox cyberpunk game but I think Watchdogs is going to fulfill that niche really well.
BSMH: Anything new for Deathface in the world of music? DF: I’ve got some exciting stuff in the works that I cant exactly talk about but theres an album and some more EPs coming in the very near future.
BSMH: How can people keep up the latest Deathface news? DF: All my websites are consolidated on http://flavors.me/deathface.
Thanks to Deathface for the interview. Keep up with Deathface including music and tour dates via his website.
It’s no mystery that Paris, FR is a treasure trove of electronic music goodness with artists like Daft Punk & Justice representing. Another great electro mastermind is Kavinsky, an artist who has performed with both of the aforementioned artists. Hopefully, you’re already familiar with him from his 2006 debut EP, Teddy Boy; or more recently his track Nightcall, which was featured on the movie Drive. You may be wondering why we’re featuring this album on a gaming site. Kavinsky is part artist, part animated story. It tells the story of an undead man who haunts the roads in his red Ferrari Testarossa, like in the Sega arcade game Outrun. Kavinsky’s first album also shares the title of this game, OutRun. Additionally, his music has also been inside of Rockstar’sGrand Theft Auto series, who are celebrated for their soundtracking. OutRun serves as both an album and a “best of” of sorts because it includes the high points from Kavinsky’s discography along with several new tracks.
Kavinsky DJing at Coachella
The album takes you on a cinematic adventure, which tells it’s story through light narration and a series of grimy yet shiny electronic compositions. OutRun is drenched in synthesizers, tinged with gallant electric guitar solos, and backed by tight electronic drums, a signature of French electro. Blizzard and Prototype do not bother to wow you with elevator builds and epic bass drops, instead they allow the walking-beat groove to carry the rhythm while distorted synths dramatically trail off in the background. Odd Look harkens back to 1979, reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder’s soundtrack work but given a touch of strange humanity thanks to vocals by fellow French electro producer, SebastiAn. The late 70′s soundtrack vibe continues into the disco-horror strings of Rampagewhich then ends once Suburbia comes on. A surprising twist, it’s a rap by NY rapper Havoc (of Mobb Deep) about being undead and having a Ferarri. It’s deep synthesized sound somewhat reprises Kavinsky’s Nightcall and serves as a good change of scenery for the album. Testarossa Autodrive then thrusts the album back into it’s 80′s drenched electro vibe, featuring a brisk pace and serious synthesizer sequencing. For many, this was their introduction to Kavinsky and it’s still a damn good track. The pace slows on Nightcall, which includes airy synthesized vocals and hook vocals by Lovefoxxx (of CSS). The glazing on this cake is the co-production by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk. Shifting gears back to the electro 80′s sound, complete with electronic tom drums and synth stabs, Deadcruiser continues OutRun. It leads up to the dramatic Grand Canyon, which is over layed with Vangelli’s like synth pads. Clean drums introduce First Blood, which then gets the guitars and synth treatment in conjunction with the emotive voice of UK vocalist, Tyson. Roadgame continues the story with piano and strings which inevitably get married with tight electronic drums. This track easily could serve as the dramatic finally to any 80′s movie. The credits roll as Endless begins, featuring narration which ends the story of the “dead cruiser.” Lighter and airier than most of the tracks on the album, but no less 80′s obsessed. Once again providing extremely dramatic composition further enhanced by the Moroder-esque production values.
Kavinsky’s OutRun Album Art
As fans of electronic music, this album serves as great listening music. I wrote this post while listening to the album and it was very enjoyable. Furthermore, for DJ’s and the like, the album provides a few mood changers that can be played, although nothing on it is the traditional banger that we’ve come to expect from Paris. Regardless, Kavinsky has a great sound and has made fit an entire album. An album which I enjoyed.
Should you buy it? Yes, we highly recommend OutRun by Kavinsky.
You can preview OutRun by Kavinsky below…
OutRun has been released by Record Makers. You can get on CD & vinyl via Amazon. You can also purchase it digitally via Amazon & iTunes.
Nerd Corner: On an interestingly cool note, Kavinsky posted a picture of Yu Suzuki (the former head of AM2 and creator of classic Sega games OutRun, Virtua Fighter, After Burner, Hang-On, and Shenmue) holding a vinyl copy of his album. So if the red Testarossa and album title didn’t tip you, now you know Kavinsky is also a gamer. Check out the picture on his Facebook.
Got a thing for the undead and classic Italian super cars? Well, you can get your Ferrari-Zombie fetish on with the latest track by French producer, Kavinsky. Kavinsky is a dead person who haunts the streets while driving around in a FerarriTestarossa… at least that’s what his music videos imply. Check out his latest killer tune, Protovision, and it’s music video below.
Kavinsky is popular in the electro music scene, rising to notariety with colleagues like Ed Banger Records‘ Justice & German techno star Boys Noize. Most recently, he’s been announced to be a part of the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto 5, appearing on the radio station Nightride FM (also the name of one of his previous songs). Not only will his music make it in the latest GTA game (again), but he’ll actually be the radio DJ too. Excited? Cool. Protovision is the first single off his upcoming album entitled Outrun. We wonder if he ever played the Sega arcade game Outrun…
