Whether it’s a streaming video or legitimate download I make a considerable effort when searching for reincarnations of my favorite melodies. Originally I began searching for obstinately retro artists who focus on the remixing of outdated console games. OC ReMix, which stands for ”Over Clocked Remix’, define themselves as an ‘unofficial game music arrangement company’. The produce that appeals to me most are based on the ‘Super Mario Bros’ and ‘Street Fighter’ video game series. As many warm fuzzy feelings that the tunes invoke they also pay homage to simpler time of ambition and innocence. Furthermore that fact that online communities and long-term fanatics (yep, I mean those damn cosplay kids) are still musing over the melodies of a platformer released in 1983 on an 8-bit video game console truly amplifies my original sentiments regarding the integrity and grossly involving nature games.
Colossal hammers, flaming balls of fire and a 20 foot intelligent lizard on a bridge above a pit of lava. Mario took a few second to assess his predicament and thought “Feck this; I’m going home. ”
8-bit music is electronic in style and sounds like its composite parts are the ‘bleeps’ of an aged computer or outmoded domestic synthesizer. ‘We Are the Strange‘, an independent animated film by ‘M dot Strange’ takes this one step further with his fusion of ‘strange’, ‘8-bit’ and ‘anime’ which is commonly referred to as ‘Str8nime’. The music found in the trailer for the said film is chiptune artist (YERZMYEY/AY-RIDERS) rendition of the t.a.T.u. ’30 Minutes’ song. Chip tune artists synthesize their tunes in real-time using a computer or console sound chip rather than using sample-based synthesis. The song itself is resultantly playful but macabre especially due to the vague eerie echoing of children playing in the background.
It suddenly occurs to Blue that her dangerous adventure against bizarre and sadistic 8-bit/stop motion/cgi monsters could all be the product of a bad mushroom trip.
After searching for my favorite Tetris remixes which now boast fusions of hardcore techno and rap artists I decided to switch genres and to unearth remixes of the more recognizable film soundtracks. In my vain attempt to evolve beyond the 8-bit harmonics I inadvertently stumbled across who by now was a YouTube celebrity: Ronald Jenkees (not to be confused with the legendary Leroy Jenkins). The last artist to enthuse and resonate my melodic soul was Muse with their release of ‘Origin of Symmetry’ and subsequent albums thereafter. Serj Tankian came close to this feat though I found myself wanting to enjoy his music more than I actually did.
Ronald Jenkees, a highly unassuming character who usually introduces his own performances, at first impressions is commonly perceived to be mentally slow, socially inept and of some varying degree of mental disability. Others have more kindly suggested that the lad suffers from ‘Savant Syndrome‘ which would suggest that despite overall developmental issues he has brilliance and propensity for musical composition. Such preconceived and binary notions annoy me to no end. Jenkees exhibits a raw and unfettered talent for both Hip Hop, Techno and Rock composites. His social awkwardness and unorthodox appearance (think of the nerds from the classic Saved by the Bell) should not prompt anyone to believe that he is any less brilliant than he actually is.
This is one book you won't want to judge by its cover!
I strongly recommend that anyone who enjoys video game soundtracks or contemporary music in general to review samples of his album from his official site here.
Irish Spud 