Pitch slides used extensively. maybe even a bit too much?
Memorable tune
Simple but effective structure (sparse intro - main theme x2 - break-down - main theme (reduced bass) - main theme (full bass) - no ending!)
Abrupt ending is really a pity, one more repetition of the main theme or a variation of the intro again would have been enough to round out the song.
WTH is the title about?
Spotlight Kyd - Catch Me If You Can
I made extensive use of the (emulated) C64 filter. Consequently, everything except the main lead is a bit too muted, maybe.
I used a bit crusher on many of the voices to give a lo-fi vibe, but I think I should have used it only on 1 or two sounds.
In the slow bridge section the accompaniment/bass is a bit boring / conventional.
Though I do like the main melody (I came up with it making a demo on my Yamaha MODX at the start of composition phase - audio here), I now think that the call-response section in the middle is the best part.
Did anyone notice the "Living on a Prayer"-missing-beat-trick?
athornvoices - chipinmybrain
A few "computer bleeps" and some aimless, isolated square wave melodies do not make a chiptune.
I think the concept of having a chip in your brain, manifesting itself as synthetic sounds, which drive you mad, has potential, but it is not executed well enough here to make a coherent, compelling story or piece.
cieciu - cheap tuna tin
Very minimalist in sound design, structure and musical elements.
Has the typical bleak atmosphere that cieciu seems to gravitate towards.
Kudos for going the 90s Soundblaster FM route. But it could be argued that, though this is related to the chiptune genre, its a different thing.
I could see this work as part of a larger suite of game level background music, but on its own it is not very memorable.
sg75 - chiptune2whitenoise
Not sure whether I would classify this as chiptune. Let's call the genre "industrial chiptune"
On the first and second listen I didn't like it at all, but listening again after a few days I think it is interesting as an experiment in designing and developing a sound landscape and it has a clear progression.
So, maybe a clever evasion of the limits imposed by the challenge theme, but still feels a bit like a cop-out to me.
A-Lin - TinkietPaGeRevien: The title comes from the French "T'inquiete pas je reviens" ("Don't worry I come back" in English). I made this song as I was preparing to leave for a trip and my wife was expressing her worries, therefore the title. That also explains the abrupt ending, I was short in time. The chorus was mostly luck, the first part came upon me all at once, for the second part of the chorus I had to do a bit of musical search but the whole thing fell rapidely in place. The verse however took me a long time, hours of musical search. It's never easy to find a verse that is distant yet coherent with the chorus. Then, as I was tracking the verse I realized Zynayumi was missing a pingpong arpeggio, so I had to go back to coding.
Spotlight Kyd - Catch Me If You Can: Nice composition as usual, nice mixing of chiptuneness and human performance. I like the chiptune-ish noises used as percusion. The composition is solid overall, the only place that felt weird to me was from 01:51 to 01:53, as if the resolution (or the meaning on the hindsight) came too late. After a few more listening I accepted it though.
athornvoices - chipinmybrain: interesting concept song with funny lyrics. A bit barebone though.
cieciu - cheap tuna tin: excellent atmosphere. Would fit a remake of Flackback: The Quest for Identity.
sg75 - chiptune2whitenoise: THAT is a concept song! Very interesting dissonances. Love the second part with the rapid arpeggio and weird effects. Sonically very well put together.
A-Lin - TinkietPaGeRevien
Uplifting, energetic and hooky. I am not sure about the intro. I would have gone all in and started the song around 0:40.
Spotlight Kyd - Catch Me If You Can
Approved chiptune for an 80ies arcade game. Nice call and response structure. Perhaps a little overuse of laser sounds.
athornvoices - chipinmybrain
Crazy effect sections, but not really a song.
My fav at 1:13–1:26: 2D gaming vibes
The last part reminds of my childhood in the 80ies.
Was this the sound at the lowest FM frequencies in the radio??
cieciu - cheap tuna tin
Tasty arps at 1:29.
Not so much a fan of the clicky, massive subbass.
