Tag Archives: jazz

Joshua Morse – VLAD (Castlevania)

vlad-albumcoverVLAD is a 4-track EP, blending the sounds of EDM, Chiptunes, Jazz, and vampires to pay tribute to the Castlevania series. Castlevania was originally released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in the late 80’s. The energetic themes contained in the original games have been referenced throughout the series for over 25 years. VLAD is an artistic reimagination that Castlevania fans will immediately recognize.

Download VLAD on Bandcamp and Loudr.

The classic story of Dracula can be traced back to the historical figure known as Vlad III, or Vlad The Impaler, a 15th century Romanian prince known for his excessive cruelty. Vlad III became the inspiration for the classic novel Dracula, and in 1986 the character reemerged as the antagonist for Konami’s celebrated video game series, Castlevania.

Jazz musician and electronic producer Joshua Morse has created a dark and danceable atmosphere with driving baselines and compelling arrangements. The album features memorable themes such as “Bloody Tears” and “Vampire Killer.” These themes are embraced by both remix artists and cover bands, but Mr. Morse has made them all his own. Download VLAD on Bandcamp and Loudr.

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“The Chip Age” – A Review of Joshua Morse’s “Waveform 4”

 

“Hey buddy, you got chip in my jazz.  Actually, y'know what?  Just leave it there.  It's rad.”
“Hey buddy, you got chip in my jazz. Actually, y’know what? Just leave it there. It’s rad.”

Joshua Morse‘s newest jazz-fusion short release, Waveform 4, has to be the most charming thing I’ve heard in a good while. Jazz has always been my favorite style of music I know nothing about, and any time I come across an “X-jazz” genre tag I get all tingly. And if you’re a little more familiar with jazz and the word “fusion” terrifies you, I say, “Worry not, citizen!” This release keeps it reigned in, being creative and enjoyable without getting avant-garde or just plain weird. As per his own mission statement, Mr. Morse does indeed prove that not all jazz is elevator music.

Now, I do have to admit, it took me a little while to actually accept that this album is jazz-inspired, but that has everything to do with my skewed perceptions. I lay the blame squarely on my college’s radio station, which plays some really pretentious, fringe nonsense when it comes to jazz. I swear, next time I hear a DJ say “post-bop” on the air, I’m gonna call in and give someone a knuckle sandwich over the phone.

But, I digress. Every track on this short album (or EP, or “chipdisk” as Morse himself puts it, or what have you) is a choice cut. The opening track, “Turtle Dance 3,” brings it old school, straddling the line between honest jazz and arcade soundtrack that the retro gamers are incredibly familiar with. It won’t make you think of a specific title so much as like, all of Sega at once. “Fusion Factory” achieves the impossible by throwing a bunch of genres into a blender and creating a coherent product. There’s funk, there’s disco, there’s jazz, there’s chip, I could go on. Use your imagination, and “You Got Me” is the back-beat to an R&B jam 20 years out from now. I really expected Robotic Barry White to roll out at some point, no joke. “Galactic EQ Bands” sounds like something out of an 80s action movie soundtrack, and I mean that as high praise. The way it opens will put you right back into a Beverly Hills Cop shootout. The closer “It’s Like Flying” not only lives up to its title, but brings a truckload of passion to bear as well. You can put your own love-song lyrics to the synth and piano melodies in certain parts; that’s how much raw emotion this track has.

Naturally I’m gonna gripe about the length of this release, because it’s a knockout and I’d love more of it. At the same time, however, I’m rather thankful that it’s only five tracks long. Each track stands high and solitary, being entirely unique with regard to the other four. This is something I can’t really see as being possible in a full album’s worth of material, or at least I would consider it a feat only pulled off on incredibly rare occasions. Yet it works as an album as well because of the common jazz thread woven through each cut. I believe that balance, that “one out of many” quality is what makes this release truly special.

Danwich has begun work on an amateur American Gothic novel.  You can read its beginnings here.  He would love your votes.

Joshua Morse – Waveform 4

Joshua Morse - Waveform 4Hi all! I’ve recently released the 4th installment of my Waveform series, titled “Waveform 4”. It’s made up of 4 original Jazz-Fusion-style SNES/FM chiptunes, and my 3rd arrangement of Turtle Dance, which made its debut on Waveform 2.

If you like Waveform 4, then be sure to check out the other Waveforms:

http://joshuamorse.bandcamp.com/album/waveform-3
http://joshuamorse.bandcamp.com/album/waveform-2
http://joshuamorse.bandcamp.com/album/waveform

I also arrange music from various video games and write music for them, too. Check me out on my Bandcamp page, like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter for more!

aivi & surasshu | The Black Box

aivi & surasshu - The Black Box - coverUbiktune’s new release has me in awe. We’ve covered some of this netlabel’s other releases in the past, but nothing has quite struck at a chord  with me like this release (oh man, that was a music pun… someone summon brentalfloss)

The Black Box is a collaborative album from two artists, pianist Aivi and chiptune programmer Surasshu. Together they’ve woven a beautiful ten track album. What makes this really special is comic artist Diana Jakobsson has illustrated a gorgeous comic book for the album. The fusion of art, music and storytelling is wonderful, and nothing short of inspiring.

Download the release from Ubiktune or Bandcamp right now. As far as progressive chiptune music goes, this one sets new heights for the growing scene. Bravo!