Nario recently released an original chiptune EP titled More of Me. It is the followup to his 2009 album Most of Me and covers a diverse selection of genre influences such as rock, electro pop, dance and industrial. The wide array of styles is presented through Nario’s distinctive 8-bit soundbed and his ear for harmonic structure. The EP is available through the skrow!media label and on Bandcamp, as well as a physical CD with bonus tracks.

Pterodactyl Squad have just released the Superhero EP by 16-year old Russian artist, R-Sunset. If you like an F-Zero-esque mix of electronica and electric guitar head on over to the Squad and download this release for free!

Inspired by a love of Sega Mega Drive and Marvel comics, R-Sunset took the theme of superheroes as a basis for this EP. Electronica and electric guitar; pulsating beats and calm, chilled-out sequences; retro samples and glimpses of sounds of the future. The various contrasts here reflect the internal struggle between human and superhuman which every superhero must face.

1. Beginning
2. Retrospect
3. Aerowave
4. Stage 4
5. Sunny Avenue
6. City In Danger

Superhero EP release page

This week saw the release of the Dynamite Headdy fan remix album Secret Bonus Point. The album was directed by Dj Mokram and released in conjunction with Nitro Game Injection. Secret Bonus Point is divided into four chapters and designed to play seamlessly from one track to the next. It features 26 arrangements by 14 artists including OverClocked ReMix members FlexStyle, Hylian Lemon, Level 99 and Swann. With such talented people involved, this album is difficult to pass up, and its great to see a game by Treasure getting its due.

If you’re not yet familiar with the best touring group of composers and musicians, giving it their all to recreate some of the best scores from Final Fantasy games through the ages with orchestras around the world, well– you are now! Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy returned to Chicago once again on their 2011 tour circuit, teaming up with the Chicago Pops Orchestra at the Symphony Center for not one, but two great shows. A photo account below, featuring guest singers Susan Calloway, and pianist Benyamin Yuss.

So there are those who like dubstep, and those who do not. I am firmly in the former camp, and in case you don’t believe where my loyalties lie, then just ask me how much I love this new mixtape by Dj CUTMAN. Right from the cold opening of Arion’s Pokémon Dubstep Theme Song as it builds into Pikachu dropping a lightning bolt of warbling bass, I’m already on board for the next 40 minutes.

The Legend of Dubstep heads out from the world of Pokemon to visit my old friend Spamtron with his NES Mix of Lost Woods. We hear more great Zelda remixes from Ephixa, including his own rendition of Lost Woods, and my personal favorite, Song of Storms. a classic Tetris tune by Doctor P, and get a little heavy hearted with remixes of Corrider of Time (Chrono Trigger) and Terra’s Theme (Final Fantasy 6) via Mekamodo, and Yeahdef respectively. Added all together you wind up with over half an hour of pulsating bass and chopped up, remixed VGM.

I highly suggest setting this album to play next time you are throwing down in a round of Mortal Kombat or the fighting game of your choice. I may be a little biased, but I am pretty sure every fight was more awesome with dubstep.

That brings me to a question. What will be the first game to throw down with an original dubstep soundtrack. Although, I hope, with asking the question, someone will point me to an amazing one that has already been made. Then I won’t even have to do any of the leg work.

Anyway, go grab this album via Dj CUTMAN’s website. Then let him know that if he ever does another dubstep mix, that Zircon’s latest track, Ashes to Ashes, included on the recently released Harmony of a Hunter, has got to be worked in somehow.

After having met at Blip Festival 2009, Coova and little-scale signed a treaty to merge their respective battalions and combine their unique combat styles in order to ward off evil enemy forces. Coova’s artillery of choice is the Nintendo Game Boy with the Nanoloop 1.5 ammo cartridge whilst little-scale’s war science research department has developed a weaponised strain of the SEGA Nomad. The result is an armed force to be reckoned with, ready to do battle on any audio playback system at high volumes.

We are going to be playing catch up quite a bit these days, but we will try not to leave anyone behind! Here’s another great album that I missed during the sites recent dry spell. Coming our way by the folks over at 8bitpeoples, Two Warriors from Coova, and little-scale. Considering all the praise I heaped upon little-scale and his older releases, not to mention the oddity and grace that is Coova, who I have been an avid fan of since hearing the eclectic sounds of her 2009 release with Bud Melvin.

If you are anywhere near Los Angeles, or can get here by August 11th without leaving too many ruined lives in your wake, then make sure to not miss out on the return, and upgrading of I Am 8 Bit to the Super I Am 8 Bit art show. The use of the word ‘Super’ is not being taken lightly either. Along with the first new show in a few years, they return with a brand new book release. The show itself is planned to feature the work of over a hundred artists, all of which will be on display in a spacious new venue.

The gallery will run from August 11th on through September 10th, but only opening night will host sure to be amazing performances by chiptune musician and singer Leeni, and chip-hop lyricist A_Rival. While getting nostalgiac as you walk the gallery, DJ R-Rated will be spinning some classic video game inspired mixes to get you in that gaming mood. Finally, no video game tribute could be complete without some interactive art, which will be on display opening night as well, such as an enormous “arcade cabinet” (their qotations, not mine.) and a retro hack for Kinect.

Hot on the heels of the Harmony of a Hunter tribute album, remixer Theophany released his Metroid remix EP Crystal Flash. The release celebrates 25 years of Metroid whilst exploring lush, ambient IDM styles. The track “Avien” from the EP was recently posted on OverClocked ReMix and honors the memory of late remixer Christopher “Avien” Powell. Theophany is planning further Metroid releases with equally striking quality and depth, which is sure to please fans. The artwork for Crystal Flash was designed by Mike Grier based on a sketch by torokun.

The original Metroid was released on August 6, 1986 and went on to become a successful and enduring video game series. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Metroid enthusiast website Shinesparkers released the fan arrangement album Harmony of a Hunter. The release covers various music from the series remixed in a variety of genres.  Some of the biggest names in the arrangement community have contributed to the album, including OverClocked ReMix regulars DarkeSword, Mazedude, The Orichalcon, prophetik and zircon.

Game Music 4 All was given a rare privilege not too long ago– on the day of June 25th, I took up my invitation to shoot none other than the Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy rehearsal, just a day before their latest Chicago show took place. Below are some shots from the rehearsal. The crew combined with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra make for one charismatic bunch!