There's a whole school of music that shuns cutting-edge electronic instruments or computer programs in favor of the kind of primitive 8-bit technology found in video games or '80s computers like the Commodore 64. The C64 was sold between 1982 and 1993 and was one of the biggest movers in home-computer business history - more were sold then all the Macs put together - so nostalgia is certainly a factor, but "chip" composers are also drawn to the challenges and inherent fascination of trying to make music with such rinky-dink sounds. The Micro-Music website has lots of tunes you can download, and they don't all sound like Pac-Man soundtracks. Some are hip-hoppy, some suggest reggae dub, some rock'n'roll, but I doubt you'll hear anything better than Duff Fader's
"Chuck-da-8bix"
Glitchy Rich took a rap acapella from the same time period (a 1987 Public Enemy classic), electronically processed it and wrote some new 8-bit tunage as backing. If we must have an '80s revival, may it sound like this.
Sir. First off, really enjoy your blog. Anyway, you could repost this? can't find it anywhere.
ReplyDeletethanks James- I found the Duff Fader track and put it up on divshare (the Micro-Music site appears to still be going) but alas, I don't have the Glitchy Rich track anymore.
ReplyDeleteOk. THank you for trying.
ReplyDelete