Category Archives: ALBUMS

GameChops releases it’s first compilation!

GameChops: Game music record label
GameChops: Game Music Record Label compilation now available from music.gamechops.com

GameChops is an electronic game music record label; It’s first of its kind to release licensed video game remixes. There have been many websites and other sources of great video game remixes, but no organization dedicated to legally clearing game covers and directly supporting those who make them. That is, until now.

I started GameChops back in April of 2012, intending it to be a simple netlabel. But in August of 2012, our album The Triforce of Bass hit #1 on Bandcamp, and I realized that I could do more with this idea. Thanks to the awesome guys at Joypad Records in San Francisco, we were able to start clearing licenses for our remixes with the companies that made the original games. Now, in 2013, we’re making that our mission.

By clearing the rights, it allows us to post our tracks without fear copyright complaints on major music outlets like iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. Furthermore, it allows our remixes to be used in broadcast and syndication, which is impossible prior to clearing the rights. It’s a very exciting idea for me to think about a time when a game company like Capcom or Microsoft might reach out and request a remix for use in their game. In fact, it’s already happening.

This compilation is a collection of our favorite tracks that were produced in our first year, some of them unreleased until now! I hope it can help use raise a little money to help support our operation, but mostly I’d like this comp to exhibit the versatility and scope of video game remix artists. From Ben Briggs’ incredible fun dub take on Sonic the Hedgehog, to my remix of Halo 4 featuring MegaRan, the compilation spans 20 tracks and a myriad of genres.

Titled simply “Game Music Record Label” this album contains new tracks and last year’s favorites! To say Thank You for the support we’ve seen thus far, the album will be set to “Name-Your-Price” for the first week. Please contribute what you can, all proceeds go to cover licensing and supporting GameChops.

Long live #gamemusic!

TFM Music Maker’s Creator Shiru Releases 16-bit Synth Rock Album


Shiru has been contributing to the retro gaming and chiptune scene since 2007 and anyone who has ever wanted to create the classic sounds of the Sega Genesis sound card owe him a huge a debt of gratitude for creating the excellent TFM Music Maker (aka VGM Music Maker).

Aside from making the best Sega Genesis tracker, he’s created homebrew SNES games, NES games and lots of other stuff. Just last week, Shiru released his first album Player Alone, a love letter to the 16-bit synth rock of games like Megaman X and Journey to Silius – that’s what it reminds me of anyways!

I totally love the album cover for Player Alone. It really fits the mood of the album perfectly.
I totally love the album cover for Player Alone. It really fits the mood of the album perfectly.

The instrumental album is a barrage of high speed synthesized guitars and pounding bass. It’s very coherent and has a theme running throughout it:

In the age of digital escapism, it is easy to view life as a video game. One is the hero of his own game. Getting through endless levels of ever changing reality, struggling with the outer and inner, continuing the everlasting chase for elusive dreams. The greatest enemy on this way that should never be allowed to ruin anything is the fear that this game is in fact a single player one.

The album art and music itself echoes the theme with a constant feeling of heroic struggle against the odds and relentless determinism. The album’s great coherency is probably its only weakness; most of the tracks kind of blend together into one long piece with a few exceptions. These exceptions are the highlights of the album in my mind. Extra Puzzle Piece and McBonus Break are two pieces that break the mold and introduce some new elements. Save Yourself has some awesome virtual shredding that is totally amazing. There is not a single weak track. From the title to the end every track will keep you moving and intent on whatever your doing. I need music like this!

Shriu’s album is for free, you can download it here. He is however trying to raise money for cancer research and you can make a donation for downloading his album here. I think we all owe this guy at least a few bucks for all he’s done for the scene over the year, and even more so if its for charity.

Get the album today!

 

BeatScribeFaceBeatscribe is a full time indie composer, musician and writer. By day he creates soundtracks for various mobile gaming companies, by night creates megaman-inspired chiptunes, in the afternoons he drinks tea.  Check out his latest releases, tutorials and retro ruminations at www.beatscribe.com.

Chiptopia: The Best of 8 Bit Weapon & ComputeHer

578468564-1Chiptune pioneers 8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer have released a compliation of the best tracks from over a decade in chipmusic! This Los Angeles based duo has been instrumental in the popularizing of chiptune music in both recorded format and live performance. Working together as 8Bit Weapon, Seth & Michelle have created their unique sound and powerful use of antique hardware.

Operating on her own, Michelle is ComputeHer, having released two full length albums Modemoiselle and Data Bass. And if that’s not enough, 8Bit Weapon also has a 56 track compilation available on Bandcamp!

This is not to be confused with Dj CUTMAN’s Chiptopia mixtape, which shares the same name. Both Cutman and 8Bit Weapon arrived at the name independently, but it was 8 Bit Weapon who first released this song with that name. This 8bit Weapon compilation is brand new for 2013 and features the best songs from 8Bit Weapon’s and ComputeHer’s incredible catalog! Stream below or Download now from Bandcamp!

For more of these awesome artists, follow @8bitweapon & @computeher
Facebook: 8 Bit Weapon & ComputeHer

 

bLiNd – NESteryears

NESterYears-Black-Cover-GCMAGfest may be over, but GameChops is just heating up! This new release is a huge milestone, Overclocked Remixer bLiNd has created TEN remixes based on games from the Nintendo Entertainment System; Final Fantasy, Mario Bros, Castlevania and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to name a few! It’s called NESteryears and you can download it right now!

I’ve been listening to bLiNd’s music for nearly a decade, it is a great honor to have worked with him to release this album. Some of you may remember my bLiNd Trance mix from back in 2010, which showcased my appreciate for bLiNd’s music.

NESteryears is a licensed remix album thanks to a collborative effort between GameChops and Joypad Records.