Dance With The Dead "Into The Abyss" (2014)

Californian duo Dance With The Dead are another popular group within the Retro Wave niche that I had encountered a couple years back. I was introduced to the music via the PC game NeuroVoider and its soundtrack composed by Dan Terminus. One of the first observations you may make about their sound is how similar to the Terminus style it is, as if its been cast from the same mold. I'm not trying to make point, I do not know enough about the micro genre to know who the key players and influences are, if nostalgia itself hasn't played a large roll in that. To be fair most of what Ive heard from Retro Wave sticks very firmly to the vibes, aesthetics and theme heard on Into The Abyss, the bands second album which clocks in at twenty four minutes.

With tight pumping EDM kicks, snappy snares making up grooving, thumping dance beats, a warm array of vibrant synthesizers accompanies as the duo repackage eighties Synthpop into a dark and lean nostalgia ride of horror culture and VGM influences that creates this stunning atmosphere fit for neon lit cities in the dark of night. Its ripe with melody and color, the constant roll of thudding dance drums and dexterous melodies chiming over thick unrolling baselines and layered chiming of sharp synths creates a thick, absorbing atmosphere that's hard to resist!

Within the mix are very finely tuned distortion guitars, set to meld into the scenery like another electronic instrument yet having a powerful influence. They help flesh out the monotony of the pitch perfect electronic music and add what feels like the "voice" of this otherwise instrumental affair. With them comes a throw back to eighties Metal vibes, songs like Odyssey and Battle livening up the music with slick guitar leads that sound like they may of been plucked from an Ozzy Osbourne record. They are sleek and tonal licks that guide the music on its path and occasionally swap up the roll with slick keyboard solos. The more rigid notes and pitch modulation gives it away but on the surface they sound almost the same.

Its a short and sweet record, a great introduction to a duo who seem to execute this style in just the right chemistry for my taste! With another four records and b-sides compilation in their back catalog it seems I have no excuse not to work my way through them! I Really enjoyed this one, fast to get to grips with and has a very nice atmosphere fit for particular moods.

Favorite Track: Suede

Rating: 6/10

Izioq "Hey Listen!" (2018)

Within the space of a week we have been graced with two new, short but sweet Izioq records! Late Night Golfing ventured into the spacey, nostalgic world of vaporware and the cutely named Hey Listen! brings us back to familiar territory. Its another selection of warm, fuzzy and carefree songs arriving here, set to relax and wind us down with colorful melodies that breeze through fields of innocence. Much of this record hits on the familiar childhood feels, the mixing of retro textured Chiptune VGM instruments and soft synths with warm piano melodies is as vibrant and characteristic as ever. Another round of youthful and spirited songs play us through the wonders of imagination, Its much of what Ive said before that applies again and so its probably unsurprising that my focus turns to the moments of difference.

The title track erupts with some spice as Latino guitars bustle warm cultural chords, somehow mixing right in with splashes of sound that introduce bright, cheerful melodies on chirpy waveform instruments, the chemistry is wonderful and unexpected. Hermits gets a nod for its wonderfully quirky opening tune that swiftly finds its way into a warm and spirited place as the music so often does, its opening goof diverting expectations. The Album will perk ears with a sampling of Lisa Simpsons voice, the song itself slow and dreamy, drifting in a precarious, slightly dreary but free of danger atmosphere. The final track Happy Meal sounds almost like another project altogether, its deep and rich atmosphere pulling on emotional strings similar to the likes of Sigur Ros, its welcome but feels like a different avenue of mood. All in all its another fine collections of melodies with a couple of sparks from rewarding experimentation.

Favorite Tracks: Hey Listen!, Hermits

Rating: 5/10

Izioq "Music To Play In Your Head" (2017)

Izioq's latest assembly of fantasy, carefree and innocent video game alike music comes to us in two halves, a twenty eight track record split by a four track "Game Jam". Its the sixth full length and the first to potentially aim in a new direction however upon many listens it becomes quite clear that this release is an assortment of ideas and short compositions with no overall objective of theme beyond the usual carefree wonder of childhood Izioq aims to, and succeeds, in capturing with his melodies.

The majority of songs here are instrumental loops with several variations of melody from the lead. None of the songs surpass three minutes and tend to linger around ninety seconds. As a result there is very little progression or musical events at hand but rather moments of atmosphere captured by a small ensemble of luscious lullaby sounds to indulge with. In its first half we have more of the traditional style at work however strong influences of Nobuo Uematsu can be heard in a handful of places, to much delight of course. The middle "Game Jam" section is where the experimentation starts. Quirkier sounds and samples come into play, sequenced drums adjoin and beyond it the second half loosens up with songs like "Chop Chop" bringing a Jazz Hop vibe thanks to a sampled beat and "Organ Doctor" goofs around with a fast thudding baselines and quirky electronic melodies on top.

This second half looses me somewhat as the tracks tend to jump around from one to the next, the instruments, tone and vibes shuffle from one song to the next, dispelling atmosphere. As an album experience this doesn't amount to much more than a snug collection of compositions however the first half does have a lot more consistency that flows well. I hope this experimentation can lead to a more cohesive direction for Izioq as there are many interesting ideas on display here.

Favorite Tracks: Unagi Loneliness, Lost Marbles, Mare E Sole, Past Is Serious, Organ Doctor

Rating: 5/10

Izioq "Hello! I'm An Album" (2017)

I had to look it up to confirm, the first release we covered in 2016 was Izioq's "New Songs For Old Kids" and fittingly so is it this years first record we cover on this blog! Its the French composers fifth full length and one that's self aware. The album name and track titles like "I Can't Make An Album Without A Song About My Cat" and "Nice To Meet You I'm The First Track" make playful fun of the childlike and innocent aspirations for the music. Its no departure or major progression but another selection of tracks in the established style totaling fifty one minutes to make it the longest yet!

With that length and self aware persona comes an unfiltered variety that's loaded with sounds reminiscent of previous records as well as new vibes too. The most pleasing aspect for me where dreamy tracks full of quirky daydream melodies dressed up with lush reverbs and playful drum beats that played homage to the innocence of imagination. On a couple of tracks with more fleshed out beats it started to lean in a Downtempo direction with slow repetitive snare kick grooves which were quite engrossing.

Those more progressive styles where found between tracks with similar formats and templates to previous Izioq songs which weighed the experience down for me. It can be hard to get excited for the same ideas done over, the album opener sounds much like "Retro Life"s opener. The sixth track breaks to Izioq whistling the tune of the songs melody, which Ive heard before and so between some very pleasing tracks are throwbacks and homages that I didn't feel brought more to the table.

 The best moments came from the more cautious and cinematic instrumentation that broke away from the conventional quirky melodies and playful upbeat character. The last songs of the record drifted into a reflective and moody state which yielded the fantastic " Joyeuses Vagues", translated "happy waves", which brings a moving sense of departure and farewell in a serene setting, a really warming composition. "Hello! I'm An Album" is a mixed bag of treats, some old, some new and all things in between.

Favorite Tracks: Doodoon Song, Izioqism, A Nifflas Lecture, Joyeuses Vagues, See You Soon

Rating: 6/10

Izioq "World Of Izioq" (2016)

Time moves by fast! Already we have the second record this year from French composer Izioq. His first of the year, "New Songs For Old Kids", was my least favorite of the four but that's not to say it wasn't a good record, just a tad shorter and a little mellow in its second half as an ambient vibe drifted in. "World Of Izioq" feels like a cross between the first two. There's both recreational melodies of 8-bit wonder and lush, expansive, electronic synths which evolve from the strict set of oldskool video game sounds. In places we hear glimmers of new ideas and inspirations too which become some of my favorite moments in this latest record.

Again its a true homage to the innocence of childhood in the world of retro gaming and spirited imagination. With nostalgic carefree melodies and atmospheres of wonder there is no weight or burden for the listener. Its grounded in that innocence and is reflected so well by the record cover with its cuddly characters and welcoming smiles illuminated in the navy blue night by a friendly fire with the biggest smile. Kick starting the show with the self titled track we are brought into a rather jovial and lively upbeat set of melodies dancing around one another like the title screen of a game. As the mood continues in "Adventure Time" where we hear a distinctive accent as the song breaks for a slower moment. It may be me but I hear welcome echos of Final Fantasy and Nobuo Uematsu's story telling melodies. Again it emerges in the elegant "I Still Haven't Played Minecraft" where a flute like lead calls out a peaceful melody over lush strings and soft pianos. There are other moments where this noticeably different style emerges and it sounds fantastic, fitting in well with the overall theme.

In "The Passiest" there's an adorable moment where the song drops out to hear the clicking of controller buttons and the sound effects of retro games coming though television speakers. Its a charming touch and is very much the point of the record which develops some moodier, slower songs in the second half but never at any moment feeling a drop of sadness, with exception to Phill Collins. As we get to the back end of the record it unwinds with more abstractions and dream like melodies, finishing an arc from start to end that is quite satisfying for the thirty five minutes it runs for. A solid record and quite predictable one too. Although a few bright moments of creativity shone through this was very grounded in what has been established so far and expanded the depths of songs available for that Izioq itch.

Favorite Tracks: Adventure Time, I Still Haven't Played Minecraft, Bangers And Mash, Teenage Dreams So Hard To Beat, Song To My Cat, Mind On The Moon

Rating: 7/10

Dan Terminus "Rêverie" (2014)

For my second dive into the small discography of French electronic composer Dan Terminus I thought this short twenty minute EP would be an interesting listen. "Rêverie"is a break from the norm as Dan stated he would have fun, taking a break from the usual dark themes and aesthetics in favor of something happy and upbeat. Luckily for me that form of "happy" vibe isn't overly chirpy, enthusiastic or free of balance, there is plenty of room for other feelings to populate these generally positive songs however Dan can't help but steer to darker leanings at times.

In comparison to "The Wrath Of Code" we have a very similar production style but with more space in the mix to breath as the textural synths are used more sparingly. They still pack a punch with some deep wave forms but the lack of depth in layers frees the listener of the demanding density. Breaking away from the dark sound Dan still has a heavy retro inspiration that paints techno-electro fantasies with colorful dancing synthesizers. The 80s vibes course through these tracks, most noticeable when the Phil Collins style synth toms come punching into tracks with their rigid tumbling tom rolls.

Between the five tracks there is plenty of variation mainly in themes and leads. Most the tracks take on a similar tempo with momentous rhythmic patterns, as if hurtling down the cyber highway, sun glasses and hair blowing in the wind like a bad ass. Unlike the previous record I checked out the leading instruments shuffle through many more passageways and moments, rarely repeating back on themselves which made for much more progressive and organic tracks that held my interest for longer. Its a warm, breezy record knee deep in the retro-electro nostalgic fantasies that could be associated with early home console era in the mid 80s, however much richer in quality and dexterity. Dan shows a different side of himself here, one I think I prefer.

Rating: 5/10

Dan Terminus "The Wrath Of Code" (2015)

Browsing through upcoming releases for games on steam I came across NeuroVoider, a fast paced rouge-light top down shooter with a dark, atmospheric and synth heavy soundtrack. My ears immediately perked up and with a little research I found the soundtrack was made by one man band, French musician Dan Terminus. It was this record, "The Wrath Of Code" and if it was composed with the games soundtrack in mind? I am unsure but my impression is that this is another record, his third, in his discography that the developers picked up to use as a soundtrack for the game.

What was initially striking about Dan's music was a lack of predictability. Despite being relatively mild and traditional in composition style for modern music, I found myself mostly at the mercy of uncertainty to the direction it was heading. I found this experience extremely enjoyable and now after many listens I can put my finger on it. The "Dark" side of this music isn't what I'm used to, normally I gravitate to emotionally darker music, where minor, pentatonic and other such scales prevail. In this music we find a playful retro fantasy of dark cyber realms where the atmosphere create visions of movie-like heros adventuring through the electronic landscape.

The music itself is well realized with lush electronic tones oozing retro buzz saws and sine waves with a balance of harsh and softer tones that meld together in a smooth array of reverb. The atmosphere creeps through from behind with quiet ooh and aah choral synths playing in the distance and cueing the biggest moments between the the songs lead instruments. The drums are quite contrasting, with highly compressed, cutting snares and thudding kicks that lack reverb or cushion. They cut through the mix and it ends up serving as a key component in the records chemistry, the contrast in style holds the music in a unique balance.

Another notable distinction is the manipulation of dense snarly synths that roar and moan like demonic monsters, they crop up in some tracks and do wonders the further enforce the fantasy cyber world scenarios these songs conjure. I feel i should also mention this is an instrumental record, something I neglect to do as it feels irrelevant, it wasn't until writing this that it crossed my mind. "The Wrath Of Code" has been a fresh and entertaining listen however with familiarity it has lulled somewhat. It was nice to find something new, but despite being a well rounded record, there is a lack of gems or stand out moments to ascend this release into something great.

Favorite Song: The Chasm

Rating: 6/10

Izioq "New Songs For Old Kids" (2016)

The new year has finally landed! Our first record of 2016 is none other than the wonderful Izioq who has been injecting a healthy dose of smiles into my time-lapses and livestreams with the playful and spirited music that plays tribute to the wonder of the childhoods of my generation. I was undoubtedly excited to see this record released and once again suffered from a little of first listen confusion. It is a curiosity to how first impressions can be telling for some and in the case of this record, misleading. Since the second listen I have be loving this one, another warm and welcome dose of soothing, delightful melodies to fill the soul with good vibes.

What this record has going for itself, compared to the previous two, is a current of continuity, a steadier sense of theme and mood which flows from track to track breezing with a calmer and settling vibe, reflected in the shorter track listing and an average of longer songs. The album doesn't encroach on many new ideas and sits firmly in the comfort zone of its predecessor "My Own Private Video Game", with the track "My Cereal Box Song" indulging us in a playful, mischievous throwback to the nostalgic 8-bit sounds of "Retro Life" although its "break" or transitional mid phase lavishes us in an ethereal wash of swirling synthesizers. 

It kicks off with a burst of energy and the cracking "Welcome To Izio Qlub" that delivers the charming, inspired melodies we love with a chirpy upbeat punch and chunky bass-line. Its followed by stunning and dramatic strings narrating the swiftly paced traveling song "Epic Grandpa". Not long after the record calms itself into the quieter, atmospheric songs the other half of Izioq's style explored much on the predecessor. It concludes with the songs most inventive track "Song For Robin Williams". A personal tribute that drifts through an unusual, lost dimension between sorrow and wonder. Its quite the emotion jerking song when you think about who its for.

This record came together well but fell a little short of expectations, a few brighter, energetic melody driven numbers in the latter half would have given it a familiar feel, drifting between two styles but the atmospheric numbers didn't have quite the same spark. That being said, this was a very enjoyable record, that fits right into my Izioq playlist and shows there is more to be enjoyed from this universe of music.

Favorite Songs: Welcome To Izio Qlub, Epic Grandpa, My Cereal Box Song, Song For Robin Williams

Rating: 6/10

Izioq "My Own Private Video Game" (2015)

 It's taken me a while, but I've finally grown into this record and learned to love it. Sometimes it just takes some mindless listening while preoccupied to let the familiarity and mood settle in. When I first spun this one I was initially turned of by the productions change of direction and general versatility. In hits me now like a slap to the face what this records about, on "My Own Private Video Game" Izioq ditches the recreational nostalgic aesthetics of "Retro Life" in favor of his own fantasy video game world. Possessing all the charm of its predecessor, this record plays out enchanting melodies in a new and adapt aesthetic.

Loosening up on the rulebook, the aesthetics in the percussion department see the biggest change, with tightly compressed kicks, snappy snares and tinny hi hats comprising a rigid sense of groove that brings a passionate off kilt groove to these tracks with beats that take control of the ride in the moments they crop into the songs. Avoiding any simplistic or entry level beats, Izioq gives the groove a breath of life that add another level to the songs character, like on "Wallow In Sorrow" with tight shuffling snare grooves or "Soundtrack Of A Soul" where the percussion becomes part of the atmosphere. This change in aesthetics extends to the electronics too which take full use of dense reverbs and a wide range of waves that wouldn't apply in the previous context. The expansion gives much freedom that Izioq flourishes in, "Pixel Cemetery" and "A Link To Our Past" using big atmospheric synths to guide some fantastic moments in the songs.

The chemistry between the texture and the music itself is spot on. As I said Izioq flourishes here and we get a collection of charming songs that dazzle and humble in the delights of imagination. There's warm, uplifting vibes to be felt, all in a relevant and meaningful context that explore many themes. One of the albums strengths is just how much substance there is from start to end and in the middle there's a run of songs that really hit the mark for me. These compositions have a dexterity and creativity that keep these short fresh songs continually evolving and unraveling as many of the multiple layers of melodies play and dance with one another and I just love how attentive the percussion is to this, how it will drop in and out, letting the focus shift without feeling forced.

 After many listens through I barely recognize that initial reaction I had and I find myself truly loving this record and experimentation that has come to this sound and approach. The production is solid, the creative ideas are flowing and the execution is on point. Can't wait to hear whats next.

Favorite Songs: Reset, A Link To Our Past, Wallow In Sorrow, Soundtrack Of A Soul, I Guess I Should Play Minecraft, Seiklus Sky

Rating: 8/10

Izioq "Retro Life" (2015)

Emerging from the from the year 1982 this mysterious musician "Izioq", a name that looks confusing to pronounce, brings us a dose of nostalgic bliss with a retroactive worship of childhood memories inspired by the technical limitations of early computer game consoles. The cover alone gives you a strong sense of what to expect, and behind the hood we find a dazzling production that brings the best out of the buzz-saws, sine waves and digital synths of times gone by. It is not an unfamiliar concept, but on this project the focus is on the charm of the era.

On "Retro Life" the listener can take a step back in time as these songs allure like lullabies swooning you into a simpler, innocent existence, one very familiar for 90s kids with each of the track titles referencing the culture of that time. The titles are direct and so is this music which doesn't over extend itself, yet finds a balance to develop short layered compositions with jubilant, delightful melodies that transcend the simplicity they are reflecting. The compositions are adept with the techniques used in 90s VGM and even finds moments to integrate the ambient and "power up" effects into them. These songs are deep, heart felt and meaningful, all of which is apparent on the glimmering surface of every song which has a story to tell.

The compositions have a grace thats amplified by the gorgeous production, so carefully respecting the original sounds and delivering them in layers with soft reverbs that like them ooze and meld together for a rich and polished tone that can do no wrong. The chemistry is sublime and powerful, allowing the expression to shine through. For all I love and respect about this record it does not suck me in as much as id like. These sounds and the nostalgia it worships are not one I share, but I hear it clearly, on a personal level its a charming listen, but objectively id say a very special one.

Rating: 6/10