Browsing Tag

8Bit

Lulled by the Digital Tides: Mercy Vibe Strikes an Ambient Polyphonic Chord in ‘So Dreamy’

Posted on 30 October 2024

‘So Dreamy’ by Mercy Vibe is a serene drift along uncharted digital waves. The reggae-infused track marries the unexpected charm of 8-bit-esque polyphonic electronica with the familiar comfort of syncopated rhythms. The real brilliance lies not just in the fusion but in the execution. With oceanic effects gently rustling through the production, listeners are invited to surrender to the track’s cathartic ambience, where nature meets meandering chiptune progressions in harmony.

Mercy Vibe, a Midwest-hailing artist and producer, allowed this seminal single to act as a canvas to exhibit her genre boundary-pushing and future-forward production style. As a thinker and creator, she has mastered the art of imbuing her rhythms with resonance. The philosophy of the instrumental piece is written between the lines: live free and easy, a message delivered purely through the musical motifs that pulse at the heart of the track which allows reggae beats to meet the pixelated pulses of retro gaming machines—a sublime retreat from the mundane, urging listeners to embrace a sonic experience that’s as dreamy as it is revolutionary.

Be a part of the reverie by streaming So Dreamy on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

$chaff the Prophet – TELEPHONE: The Cosmic Psych-Trap Track You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

Posted on 13 June 2024

$chaff the Prophet burst through the bubblegum pop trend and established his own cosmic bubblegum psych trap niche with his second LP for 2024, PSYCHEDELIC BUBBLEGUM.

The standout single, TELEPHONE, is an electrifying synth-driven kaleidoscopic synthesis of 8Bit, trap, hyperpop, and Owl City-esque electronica. If the viscerally hued sonics of the track don’t ensnare you, $chaff the Prophet’s sticky-sweet approach to painting a neon-lit vignette of a lonely protagonist searching for connection while keeping social life in the palm of her hand hits hard enough to bruise.

The exposition of how easy it is to get “lost in information, pixels and tones” couldn’t hit closer to home now given the hyperconnected nature of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. The artist’s signature arpeggios lend themselves effortlessly well to the playful yet empathy-evoking production, which shows just how far $chaff the Prophet has come since the launch of his debut in 2019. Now 11 LPs deep, his authentic sound has become so cultivated that he deserves to be revered as a pioneer in his own right.

TELEPHONE is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

3G Internet – KRASH: An Anti-Pop Alt-Hip-Hop Debut to Lose Your Head To

Posted on 7 February 2024

3G Internet, the Experimental Hip Hop/Anti-Pop duo from Northeast Ohio, literally crashed into the music scene with ‘KRASH’, a track from their debut EP that defies convention with maximum conviction.

KRASH is a 7-minute audacious trip that rips up the rules and scatters the ashes of mundanity through the harsh tonal hues that pay an ode to the legacy of Death Grips and JPEGMAFIA. It’s a chaotic blend of gritty, glitchy electronic distortions and 8-bit landscapes, that makes no apology for launching an assault on the senses.

It’s a whirlwind of ideas, each vying for attention, yet somehow harmoniously coexisting. The duo’s disregard for industry norms is evident in every beat, every synth, and every lyric. In short, KRASH is a  ballad of the bizarre.

The duo’s approach to music is refreshingly honest. They pursue every idea, no matter how outlandish, and the result is a track that’s as authentic as it is avant-garde. In a world where music often feels manufactured and soulless, KRASH is a breath of caustically fresh air.

The debut EP is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast