Post-rock chiptunes?

October 13, 2016 7:14 AM

Let's say I wanted to listen to chiptunes in the style of e.g. Explosions in the Sky or Do Make Say Think or Sigur Ros. Ideally long pieces (7+ minutes?). Any suggestions on where to find these? Is anyone doing this? 100 bonus points if it's actual chiptune (or a faithful recreation) versus "sounds kind of video game-y".
posted by curious nu to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

On the more "sounds kind of video game-y" front, you need to check out Infinity Shred, a band that is so exactly described as chiptune post-rock that I can't believe this isn't a post to secretly promote their new album (out tomorrow).

Balún, especially older stuff like Memoria Textil, also skews pretty post-rock/ambient and is pretty chippy.

I'd also recommend Disasterpeace (especially his soundtrack work) and Jim Guthrie's Swords & Sworcery soundtrack.
posted by sleeping bear at 7:50 AM on October 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

You are describing the music of Dan Friel
posted by theodolite at 7:56 AM on October 13, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm a little confused, so let's try to clarify terminology. Post-rock usually means rock instrumentation with non-rock motifs, rhythms and song structures.

Chiptune in the narrow sense means the instruments are PSG chips.

As written, and literally taken, there can be no such thing as a post-rock chip tune, the instrumentation is mutually exclusive.

But I think maybe you just mean good, long, expressive chiptunes that don't wallow in standard rock or EDM tropes?

My complaint notwithstanding, here is a list the best post rock/chiptunes bands, for someone's interpretations of those words. I hear plenty of traditional instruments when I skim that list, but I agree with sleeping bear that Infinity Shred is one of the closest things I can think of.

Are you familiar with Anamanaguchi?
They are commonly called 'bit pop', but I see some similarities between their simple anthemic melodies and some bits of Sigur Rós, e.g. Endless Fantasy.

Here's someone's chiptune cover of a Sigur Rós song.
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:01 AM on October 13, 2016

For general places to browse on your own, I recommend 8bitpeoples. Most albums will clearly describe what tools were used (e.g. FM synths, NES, etc.), and also some colorful text about the music.

Check out Coova and Bud Melvin: their "Delicately woven Game Boy loops conspire with hypnotic banjo patterns. "
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:11 AM on October 13, 2016

Definitely check out Noisewaves (who are also in the list SaltySalticid linked) and The Depreciation Guild (who should be WAY more well-known than they are).
posted by panic at 9:15 AM on October 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

Cicada did a pair of concept albums that might fit what you're looking for, insofar as they are very much albums — they work more as long-form compositions than as an assemblage of tracks. The first, Technology Crisis is the soundtrack of an imagined 8-bit video game; the second, Technology Crisis II is its 16-bit sequel.
posted by spindle at 10:54 AM on October 13, 2016

I listen to and DJ lots of chill-out chiptunesy stuff, but I'm hard-pressed to think of stuff that's truly similar to post-rock like Explosions.

Two potential things? Spacesounds by J▲M▲T▲R and Good Luck by Robot Science

And (self-promotingly, but highly relevantly and not for money...) I guess see if anything catches your ear in this set I did?
posted by dust_hypothesis at 1:31 PM on October 13, 2016

Does 8-bit Slint fit the bill?
posted by ZipRibbons at 3:24 PM on October 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

Space Town Savior is worth a look, especially "Futures Past Due" and "Starfields and Cityscapes." The tracks are longer, and have that sort of big build-up to them. The instruments are also pretty purely chips (although with a fair measure of postprocessing effects). They might be a little more upbeat than you're looking for, but take a listen.

I also second J▲M▲T▲R, but I might be skewed after seeing it performed live with the accompanying video. :)
posted by brett at 7:00 PM on October 13, 2016

There is a local band in Salt Lake City called VCR5 that might fit the bill. They still put out new tracks periodically.
posted by trbrts at 6:02 AM on October 14, 2016