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The original soundrack from the mythic Thunder Force IV (Genesis / Megadrive)

Thunder Force IV OST 06 - Evil Destroyer

Next Generation - OUT NOW: po.st/NxtGenLPiT

With Zane Lowe pedestalling the first glimpse into Bensley’s diverse soundscape, ‘Fandango’ was a precursor for this forthcoming debut. ‘Next Generation’ is a bold move; with drum & bass being a genre which has certainly stood the test of time, newcomers have incredibly big shoes to fill. However, Bensley incorporates an innovative and incredibly intricate set of production skills to hold a title of his own.

But what can you expect from an artist who was signed after sending a single demo to revered label head Andy C. That’s despite having no previous releases or having any other music available to stream online. He was somewhat of a mystery.
‘Fandango’ was that track. And it was premiered as a world exclusive on leading tastemaker Radio1, which followed with support from the likes of Mistajam on 1xtra, as well as DJs on both Kiss and XFM.

Already demonstrating his widespread appeal with just one track, his air of mystery is now about to be broken. He’s definitely an anomaly; being only nineteen and having impressed so many people.

‘Next Generation’ is a 10-track journey through an impressively diverse soundscape. Whether it’s half-time breakdowns or the incorporation if cross genre-pollination it shows an astounding ability which will not go unrecognised.
From the opening bars of ‘Wildfire’, to the softly spoken pads and atmospheric note arpeggios of ‘Rain Dance’, then wrapped up by aptly named closing track ‘Aftermath’, there’s no denying Bensley’s masterful artistry.

Title-track ‘Next Generation’ leads you by the hand with snippets of humanistic sample, flowing in and out of its construct. It’s built upon by striking note progressions, a relaying of patterns which chop and change the mix. Carefully placed subs add impact, with emphasis given on each break, carrying the track forward down a steep drop with each slab of bass.

Drawing together a dizzying and fresh array of new sounds, this album indicates why Bensley is a forerunner within the new generation of music comers. Its representative of the fast paced technological setting of music production he grew up around; it also proves that Bensley is able to tap into dimensions which are often unheard of in other bodies of work.

Cold Storage

Trance Beats

"Evil Destroyer" from the 1992 Sega Genesis/Mega Drive game "Thunder Force IV", composed by Takeshi Yoshida.

This is not from emulation. This was recorded from a genuine Model 1 Sega Genesis console with a VA6 motherboard and modded with RCA jacks. This audio was then amplified by a FiiO E6 and captured by a Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro at 24-bit/96khz through Audacity, then losslessly encoded using FLAC. In other words, it's clean and authentic Sega Genesis hardware sound. All credit for this recording goes to "The Iron Goat".

Thunder Force IV - Evil Destroyer

DATA018: THUNDER FORCE IV

The complete score to Technosoft’s classic shooter, newly remastered and pressed on vinyl for the first time.

Originally released on the Mega Drive in 1992 and featuring some of the most ingeniously complex and heaviest compositions to ever be squeezed through an FM sound chip, the music of THUNDER FORCE IV is relentlessly creative and uncompromising throughout; a real technological marvel and a triumph of metal against the odds. It thoroughly deserves the cult status it now holds and we are thrilled to be releasing it.

THUNDER FORCE IV is presented as a triple 180g LP, featuring 38 in-game tracks and 10 unused bonus tracks, all of which were sourced from the original console. It is packaged in a heavyweight single pocket sleeve, accompanied by a lithographic print of the original 1992 US artwork and a foldout poster of the newly-commissioned illustration for the game’s 2018 re-release on Nintendo Switch.

Available in the following editions:

3 x 180g Blue, Black & Grey Swirl Combo (LIMITED EDITION)
3 x 180g Opaque Blue
3 x 180g Classic Black

ON SALE SATURDAY 6th APRIL at data-discs.com

Trance Beats

Soragna Laurent

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