herr_professor (FMA Admin)

I want to thank WFMU for getting me involved as a curator for the FMA. I'm currently the editor of a Chip Music and Art related blog, True Chip Till Death, and it is my pleasure to show you some of the best tracks coming out of the Chip Music scene.

Knowing the types of readers the FMA has, some of you may have heard of Chip Music before. Documentaries like Reformat the Planet and 8BIT, compilations like 8-BIT OPERATORS, and crews like Micromusic and 8bitpeoples have shown off some of the best and brightest the scene has to offer.The bestest part, however is that the great majority of these tunes are free to download and enjoy (but not for stealing! Bad Timbaland!).

My goal for the FMA is to highlight some of these new releases and classic tracks from the most innovative and exciting artists in the scene. The styles vary almost as much as the use of platforms, from dubstep to indie rock, from the Sega Genesis to the Atari 2600, so there is a lot of ground to cover. Hopefully you'll find some new favorite bands, so lets get started!

Our first featured artist, minusbaby, is a globe trotting citizen of the world, one who's interests are as unique as his takes on the classic video game music sound. Using software that mimics the limitations of various classic consoles like the NES, and Sega Master system, he is seemlessly able to blend various styles of music from hip-hop to samba to afro-funk, and live he expands that sound using an eclectic mix of musicans of all backgrounds and skill levels.

His 2008 release, Saudade for Beginners, released on 8bitpeoples, was a milestone for minusbaby. Alongside his talent at using iconic video game sounds in a way that enhances his composition instead of turning it into a gimmick, he also shows off his visual chops with stunning album artwork and the rare ability to turn electronic based music into something heartfelt and honest.

The five tracks on the release might seem a bit of a tease, so you can check out his live videos which include guest appearance from some of his many collaborators including "Def Jux Records' turntablist, DJ Big Wiz [Aesop Rock, El-P, Mr. Lif], Trackmasters producer, The ARE [Lil’ Kim, De La Soul, K-Otix] and the assembly of a samba school".

Upcoming releases in the series (Advanced Saudade?) should see minusbaby further incorporate these explosive live performances into the resulting recordings. Until then also check out the rarities comp  “O Que Não Tem Juízo [2003–2006]” on his website.

See you guys in seven, meanwhile post comments and questions in the comments!