The third volume in an on-going Chiptune and Chipmusic mix series, CHIPTOPIA is now available for free download and stream via Soundcloud. Featuring music by some of chiptune’s finest writers and musicians, including Sabrepulse, Electric Children, and FantomenK, Chiptopia is a welcome departure from the harsh and dark nature of today’s dance music.
A full tracklist is available here
2/12/12 will mark the release of the next chapter in the ChipTuneMusic saga, which began almost two years ago. Chiptopia serves to be a new chapter in this musical journey, so let’s take a moment to reflect the past two volumes.
ChipTuneMusic is a free dj mix series by Dj CUTMAN, highlighting some of the best chiptune and chipmusic songs from around the world. The first installment, Sounds From 20XX, served as a primer for the world of fun, upbeat chiptune music. Featuing artists from the funk-oriented Mr Spastic, up through dance music marvels such as FantomenK, Sounds From 20XX was based on the breakthrough live shows of a young Cutman in upstate New York. The mix landed him a spot at Otakon 2010, which at the time was his largest show, with an attendance of almost 3,000.
Second in the series was Dubtropolis, released shortly after the Otakon performance in August 2010. It was the dawn of a new era for electronic dance music, a genre called Dubstep was just starting to crack the surface of America. Skrillex had just released his first EP via MySpace and, to most, the style was still unknown. Dubstep influence had penetrated Chiptune communities, and a wealth of dubby chipmusic fueled the production of a new mix from Cutman. Dubtropolis was a clear juxtaposition from 20XX, defined by syncopated wobbles, harsh bass and dripping atmosphere. With a focus on artists adept at creating space in their songs, tracks like Smiletron‘s Gemini and Superspink‘s Robot City set the tone, while ahead-of-their-game producers like Mizuki’s Last Chance blasted through with cutting edge dubstep and chiptune sounds.
Dubtropolis was a particularly significant mix, as it marked an era of collaboration between Cutman and other DJs. Underground dubstep and tech house DJ Doctor Z brought his unmistakable sound mixing talents in the form of a minimix. Doctor Z drew influence from Cutman’s track selection, and created a gritty and atmospheric interlude for Dubtropolis.
Next tuesday, Chiptopia will be released. As the third Volume in the series, it serves to provide yet another view of the world of ChipTuneMusic. Inspired by the place where Cutman first began producing electronic music; a town of infinite venues, shows, and opportunity known as Ithaca, New York.
“When I first came to Ithaca, it was unlike any place I had ever been before. There was music everywhere, nearly every venue and restaurant had a stage, there were performers on every street corner, in every gazebo. No matter where you went, there was new and different live music to be heard.”
Drawing from life experience and a wealth of Creative Commons music from composers around the world, Chiptopia is shaping up to be a promising new addition to Cutman’s repertoire.
Follow Dj CUTMAN on Facebook and Twitter.
I have some big huge gigablaster post of announcements and releases today so without further delay lets get to it!
GAMECHOPS VOLUME 2, the follow up beat-tape to Volume 1 (originally debuted at MAGFest 9) GameChpos Vol. 2 is now available, FOR FREE. This is largely due to those who supported me at conventions and live shows, but it is ultimately my way of saying thank you to all the game composers from the past three decades who made the music we grew up (and continue to grow) with. GameChops Volume 2 features instrumentals from a myriad of games, from revered series like Final Fantasy to unlikely anthems from Ducktales. Some of the tracks have been previously released and others are brand new, all mastered for a full sound, full volume record. Listen, share and enjoy GameChops Vol. 2.
CHIPTOPIA, the new installment of my ChipTuneMusic mix series will be released 2/12/12, and will feature a mini-mix by a world renown Chiptune performer. A contrast from the dark and brutal tracks of Dubtropolis, Chiptopia tells a tale of an 8-bit utopia, where there is music every night, every act gets a free meal, and there is not a hater in the sight. Is this place real, or just a myth? You decide on 2/12/12.
Listen to a preview on Soundcloud.
I CAN HAS THIS DANCE, a remix of producer Benjamin Briggs’ track is now mastered and is available for free download via Soundcloud! I have been a long-time fan of Ben’s work with Overclocked Remix, especially his Super Meat Boy remix. This is a remix of one of Ben’s original tracks, taken in a Chiptune/House direction with inspiration from Deadmau5 and Daft Punk. I met Ben in person at MAGFest, where he saved my life multiple times in the hectic preparation for the epic DJ Showdown.
LIVE@MAGX, my live chiptune, electro and dubstep DJ set from MAGFest X will be available on 1/24/12, as a free downloadable mix from Soundcloud.
If you can’t wait, come out to GREEN HILL ZONE in NYC for an encore performance.
Nerdcore rapper MC Chris recently held a public remix competition for his new album Race Wars. I took the oppertunity to put his acapella tracks together with some of the instrumentals I had been working on for the new volume of GameChops slated for release on January 5th 2012. All the mixes are downloadable and streaming via Soundcloud.
Check out the tracks and remember to favorite, share, and post comments!
DJ El Nino and Noccturnal bring us classic hiphop from the Wu Tang Clan mashed up with the soundtrack to the original Castlevania games. While trolling DatPiff you can find a lot of flipped video game music, but it’s a rare treat to find a concept mixtape that goes as hard as this. Check it on DatPiff.
Working on my set for MAGFest, I came up with this at a coffee shop. Three days of listening to nothing but this, the final mix. is up for download. Please support the artists sampled in this mashup by buying their songs at the links below.
Samples linked below! Get’em!
Support Big Giant Circles!
http://music.biggiantcircles.com/album/impostor-nostalgia
http://www.biggiantcircles.com
Support ZEDD!
http://www.beatport.com/track/shave-it-original-mix/2754762
http://www.beatport.com/release/the-aftershave/830519