C418 "Cookie Clicker" (2021)

 

A return to always be welcome with open arms is that of C418! Creator of wonders such as 148 and the timeless Minecraft soundtracks, excitement always blooms with news of fresh music. Three years on from Excursions, Daniel gives us a short twenty two minute release most alike that of his signature Minecraft sound. These new songs compliment that niche well, as I have learned, binging Cookie Clicker on repeat while residing within the blocky virtual realm. Its five songs connect like a single thread, carrying its main musical theme and melody from start to end.

It's a typically dreamy, whirling affair of progressive arpeggios bustling on with the ebb and flow of surging synths that rise and fall to briefly fly alongside it. Initially percussion is bare bones, building intensity and design with its steady pace as the music moves through several sudden shifts, eventually finding a burst of light for its crescendo. The mood is one of ethereal beauty, lost in a passing day dream.

With Grandmapocalypse that all changes as deep baselines and brooding waveform synths muster a little night life Synthwave flavor to lure us into a lean and dark corridor for the charming main melody to navigate. Danger lurks but one is always safe. Ascend then deforms much of the music into clusters of ambience and soundscape design, passing by before Click Forever brings back the arpeggio for one last swing.

The freshness of this music is exciting but ultimately it is one main musical theme fleshed out and thoroughly explored in its twenty minutes. On an album it could be but one single track. With more repetition I wouldn't be surprised if its magic dulled a little but thoughts aside its just nice to hear this musician again! His sound is still his own.

Rating: 5/10

My Top 10 Albums Of 2018

The year rolls round and another selection of great records are added to the collection. Overall this year hasn't been quite as exciting as previous ones when it comes to top record lists. There were not as many apparent contenders, so it was an easier pick but the quality always emerges and this year has been marked by the trend of brief records. Short and sweet is a lasting formula when done right, six of the records in the list are under thirty minutes and have been the most returned to! I'm personally hoping this trend for curation continues, more of less and less of more!

(10) Zeal And Ardor "Stranger Fruit" link

A highly anticipated released that time will tell us of its greatness. Their new take on Black Metal is fresh and exciting and this new album builds on their notorious entrance onto the scene, becoming a bands band in the space of a few years. Its a mighty piece of music but one that still suggests their are places to groom and grow while in other cracks and avenues it firmly reaches musical peaks.

(9) Kanye West "Ye" link

Kanye leaves his mark on this year with three records in my top list. All of them needed time to grow on me. I liked them all to begin with but Ye took the longest. Its precisely what I prefer from artists of his stature, introspection and of the moment lyrics. It just took me a while to digest them fully but with that time I grew a lot of fondness for the vulnerability and honesty he showed in his words.

 

(8) Ho99o9 "Cyber Cop" link

 

Cyber Cop has the advantage of being in recent memory but since inception it has forged an unstoppable riot of frenetic energy within my mind. This is my workout music! It never fails to get me pumped up and enthusiastic. Unfortunately with any adrenaline fueling music that spell needs more absence to recharge but of the weeks I've binged on its chaotic Punk attitude I am yet to feel any tiredness to its charm.

(7) Pusha T "Daytona" link

At first I found Pusha T's plain tone and clear pronunciation a little dull but with every listen, and those beyond my initial post, I found myself myself being pulled in closer to his craft and growing a true appreciation for the record. His verses are concise and condensed, a series of firm statements and narratives that took me time to chew thru. It also helps to have a banger, What Would Meek Do, to pull you back in again from time to time! I need to check out more of this guy.

(6) Irreversible Mechanism "Immersion" link

 

I think I should schedule regular returns to this record. Its so dense and loaded with complexity, a beast to digest and talk about in my post. Whenever I return to it I am still overwhelmed with that dazzling feel of being mesmerized in its presence. Its truly a marvel of extremity and aesthetic, a reminder that there is always room to push further in the world of Extreme music. It will take many more spins to really wrap my head around. So much of it still takes me by surprise.

(5) C418 "Excursions" link

Its probably both a blessing and a curse to have your musical career kick started by a cultural phenomenon in the form of a video game. Anyone with a keen ear for music will know their is magic in the Minecraft soundtrack that goes beyond the game but that extends to C418's stand alone records too. This beastly one hundred minutes of new music felt like an exceptional stride forward from the strengths already established in his sound that may go unfortunately overlooked by the broader musical community. Its his best to date, a truly indulgent set of songs.

(4) Plini "Sunhead" link

This short twenty minute release is a fine example of curation at its best. With this cut Plini has delivered a gorgeous aesthetic treat of gleaming melodies spliced with chunks of groove and spicy instrumentation on all fronts that makes every second a delight to indulge in. Admittedly it slipped my mind however giving it another spin I hear that wonder and bliss is still firmly intact and charming.

(3) Ghost "Prequle" link

Ghost are one of my favorite modern Metal bands. With this release they flex their musicality into interesting avenues diverging from their roots and they do so with that brilliant ear for song writing at the core. They set them selves up for a great future with this album while simultaneously loading it with unforgettable songs to grace many future set lists. A lot of infectious choruses and grooves laden throughout.

(2) Turnstile "Space & Time" link

Turnstile have captivated me so much this year with their breed of Hardcore that seems to step out of the limitation of the genre while simultaneously maximizing its best attributes. Every time I put this record I find myself pumping fists, singing along infectiously and giving myself a potential case of whiplash! I cannot expressive enough how wonderful these short and animated songs are. Everything this band do just seems to be bordering perfection. Most the songs of this record is gem after gem.

(1) Kids See Ghosts "Kids See Ghosts" link

Guess what baby... I AM FREEEEE!!!!! Hahaha, It was a tough choice but Kanye and Kid Cudi take the top spot. Kids See Ghosts is a stunning collaboration where the two artists get the best from one another. Its sometimes psychedelic and exotic vibes are a refresher and much of what it offers feels like a river gushing creativity. Every track has its flavor and the seven play stunningly together. Its been one Ive gone back to over and over. It still sounds utterly fantastic and thus takes the top spot!

C418 "Excursions" (2018)

German composer Daniel Rosenfeld aka C418 has birthed iconic music and sounds stained into the minds of millions of Minecraft fans worldwide. His unique sound and approach seems an uncanny match for the games engrossing atmosphere, almost to good to be true. Over the years he has released the games soundtracks alongside his own records that mainly dive into the House and Downtempo orientations of Ambient Electronic music, while showing that his flair extends into all degrees of composition hes attempted. With each passing record the wonders are revisited with a degree of expectancy and predictability but always within the allure that his style conjures, resonating and radiating its hypnotic, colorful warmth.

Its not been since my first exposure to his sound that the soothing radiation of warm indulging sounds has been so strong. Even within the realms of familiarity and anticipation, his capability finds an exuberant stride. One hundred minutes of beautifully ambiguous moods and engrossing atmospheres that win me over with a luminosity and vibrancy to these sounds we know all to well. The textures of synth, tones of melody, buzzing baselines, composition traits, the shrink and expansion is all akin to what we love about this artist and its executed wonderfully. One new experiment emerges, the sounds of birds chirping in Cold Summer gives it a wonderfully exotic and mysterious vibe if only for a song or two.

Its hard to dive into details when everything feels so snug and sweet. This is the C418 we know, the songs don't take long to feel like you have known them forever and yet the magic flows forth through a range of songs so typical of him. We have light ambiences led by pianos, quirky ambiguous melodies and banging percussive lines that seem to creep in like the morning sun through blinds. The transitions are sublime, one instance there is barely a beat and moments later the synths have arose, the snap and clap of snare and kick is in full swing. Excursions has flow, zen and sustains its spell for a remarkable length, suspending us in its dimension. Possibly his best.

Favorite Tracks: Cold Summer, Benton, Thunderbird, The President Is Dead

Rating: 9/10

C418 "Dief" (2017)

German electronic producer Daniel Rosenfield, AKA C418, composer of the Minecraft "Alpha" & "Beta" soundtracks, brings us a comparatively short thirty two minute EP under the name of "Dief". Unsurprisingly its a far more coherent listen in comparison to last years "2 Years Of Failure". Mustering his inspiration a collection of calm, soothing and spacious songs emerge with a deeper layer of ambience than expected, based on his distinct identifiable style of modern electronic fused with lush pianos and strings.

"Work Life Imbalance" might be the records most lively track, feeling as if it could fit into many of his previous works with typically sweet and luscious pianos chiming over the driving, shuffling percussive track. From this point, every other track can be seen heard in a Downtempo setting. Gentle yet strident drums keep otherwise lucid melodic notations in motion as lead instruments drift into the layers of ambient synths with a typical dose of lush reverb.

"Blank Cubicle" steers from the path with more prominent, textural saw synths chirping melodies as Daniel brings his voice into the backdrop in an opaque manor as he straddles the line of attention, sinking behind other instruments with quietness. The opening track is my favorite, classic string sections build up a cinematic atmosphere the blossoms into a rich, dense experience as deep, underwater synths slowly engulf the opening strings. The final track revisits a moment of this wonder to tie the seven tracks together, but between them nothing too remarkable occurs beyond establishing a placid and calming tone to indulge with.

Favorite Track: Texture Prayers

Rating: 5/10

C418 "2 Years Of Failure" (2016)

An initial wave of excitement hit as the release of a new C418 record hit my inbox, upon seeing the records name that quickly faded as "2 Years Of Failure" is obviously a packaging of b-sides, leftovers, tidbits and so called "failures". At an hour run time its a fractured record of experiments, unfinished tracks and alternate takes with a hidden gem at the end. "Stranger Think" is a wonderful remix of the Stranger Things theme song. It adds some density with extra layers of sweeping synth and a deep house percussion to absorb. Id almost prefer it too the original as it only enriches the atmosphere without altering or drifting from the original mood.

The record kicks of with six "90s" tracks dabbling in vibes and styles you might not associate with C418. If it wasn't for some of his distinct techniques and manipulations they could be anyone's songs. A touch jovial and with a touch of VGM chiptune these songs breeze past without purpose or direction despite being colorful, bright and enjoyable little numbers they don't particularly amount to more than the sum of their parts. Then follows "Pizza" a more experimental and unusual track, mixing break beats with Italian folk music that had little chemistry for me. It actually reminded me quite a lot of IGORRR, without the demonic, hellish intensity.

Its followed by a couple of halfway there tracks that lay down a pretty solid foundation for memorable songs but they seemed to have been left incomplete. Then rolls in the alternate takes which are a treat if you know the originals well. Its interesting to hear how changes in the composition don't obscure the bulk of the vibe and mood but let you really appreciate the level of perfectionism that went into the final output.

And that's it really. Unsurprisingly there is little cohesion, not much to get excited about in terms of the songs, however there was at least one thing to take away, the Stranger Things cover. I also very much liked the "185 pre", a favorite C418 song of mine. Not much of a tie over, I will always be very keen to hear whats next from this brilliant musician.

Favorite Tracks: Choice Broken, 185 Pre, Stranger Think

Rating: 4/10

C418 "148" (2015)

C418 returned late in 2015 with a lengthy, two hour epic record titled "148", the rearrangement of numbers slightly confusing. Initially cited as a "departure" from his traditional sound I found myself at a loss to what this departure was, with a big dose of new sounds and ideas there is certainly a freshness in the air but this record is about as C418 as It gets. Its starts at a strolling pace with a trilogy of down tempo sleepy numbers breezing in with the sentiment of "I don't need you to agree with me" on the opener. It concludes with a gradual climax as airy, dreamy synths grow around his vocals gently musing the lines along "life's illusion" before returning us to a familiar setting on the next song. C418 distinctive melody style and pallet comes into its own here as it does throughout, often shifting between his more traditional sounds and some of the new ideas this album plays with, which often revolves around the beat.

Its not long before the records longest and most delightful track "185" kicks in and sets us on an electronic dream world journey through a continually grooving baseline led dance groove that plays out like a drone. Unusual quirky synths slowly grow and transform alongside the other instruments while the groove hammers on and on in a trance like state. The following "Jimitention" plays around with sleepy lullaby melodies in the beginning before finding its way to a harder groove following the principles of its predecessor, transmuting and morphing around the core.

"Tsuki No Koibumi 2" brings in one of the albums brightest moments with some beautiful, unusual and softly sung vocal lines from Laura Shigihar and her charming foreign language. After "Friend" the record drifts into a string of House tracks that play out in the typical C418 manor, full of slow and sweeping transitions between steady thudding kicks leading the beat and unraveling synths that stealthily change. They are deep and atmospheric, lengthy, spectacular and having an entrancing quality that's calm and relaxed. The track listing gets broken up a little with some different songs, "Divide by four add seven" bringing some bright bells to the forefront to play a soothing melody directly and the remix of "Beta" an energetic transformation of the classic minecraft song.

Its long, lengthy and full of tracks that take their time and surprisingly it holds up across the two hours. Its the kind of album you can dive in and out of and although their is no overall theme or uniting concept it has a lot of continuity and flow. His traditional style is met with some stronger House and Drum n Bass influences but overall its still the same style and charm we are used to from C418, or Daniel. Looking forward to whatever is next.

Favorite Tracks: 185, Jimitention, Tsuki No Koibumi 2, Aria Economy, Divide By Four Add Seven

Rating: 7/10

C418 "Minecraft Volume Beta" (2013)

When this album dropped it somehow went under my radar, as both a C418 and Minecraft fan, it bemuses me somewhat that I missed it, but i finally made the time, and time is certainly what it is. Clocking in at 140 minutes this may be one of the longest album I've listened to, and for all thats good here, its the length that bugs me. I like albums, I like the listening experience, but it is hard in our busy lives to dedicate that time without interruption. Perhaps this isn't an album as such though, I do believe these are the songs that play throughout the game, however my music setting is muted so I wouldn't know any better!

So whats on display in this album? A lot, theres 30 tracks of lush soundtracks for your imagination to drift into. From quiet moody ambiance to quirky melodic leads and dramatic symphonies, there is a vast range of emotion, style and beauty in this record. C418 has a vast range of instruments and they are all crafted with a character that paints his sound on even the most routine of devices. Every composition here is lovely, in its own way.

For all thats good to be said i felt there was a lack of direction or momentum that took these tracks anywhere. Individually they shine, but as a collective the album drifts through many quiet spaces that drown out the more memorable moments. This makes sense, its a soundtrack for a game where the songs will creep in and out at random, and for that its fantastic, but as an album it's not quite what I'm looking for.

Favorite Tracks: Aria Math, Dead Voxel, Alpha, Ballad Of The Cats, The End

Rating: 6/10