Missing is a work in progress cover song that we had differing opinions about whether or not we should keep working on it. Have an opinion? We'd love to hear it!

Since it's void of lyrics currently, this is a cover of Everything But the Girl's Missing (aka Like the Deserts Miss the Rain) for those that couldn't quite place it.

Missing (Work In Progress)

Our electro-industrial spin on Nights In White Satin originally by the Moody Blues.

If you'd like to download a copy, you can do so from our Bandcamp page!

Download

Knights In White Satin

Tim messing around with his new Doepfer A-101-2 low-pass gate with the Modbap Osiris. ST Modular's EFI filter is also being used for the high pass. All that's going into the Nostalgia for delay and finally the Happy Nerding FX Aid for some chorus. Some modulation via LFO's on Ornament and Crime to modulate the Y wave and timber on Osiris.

That sounds like a lot! But most of the sound is coming from Osiris and the LPG, notably that cool "plucky" sound is the LPG doing it's thang!

Tesing out the Deofper A-101-2 LPG with Osiris and things

Our 2nd song off Chipsurf Pipeline, newly remastered to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the album.

Our 2nd song off Chipsurf Pipeline, newly remastered to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the album.

For the remaster, we didn't just "make it louder" - instead we spent some time reworking the guitars a bit, using a more modern mastering suite, and even bounced it to reel to reel tape to give it a bit more analog juice. The end result is one where we like both the original and this version, for different reasons. This version does sound a bit more "modern" and whole. The original has more of a lo-fi dare we say demo sound to it.

Yakuza Remastered

Fully a work in progress we've had sitting around for a while that I picked back up a few days ago and started working on again. It currently doesn't fit the more industrial sound we've been going for on our next album but I find it catchy and have a bit of a bug to finish this one.

Uses, well, a lot of things! The main bass twangy thing is a fully analog patch off my Eurorack using quite a few modules, but prominently a Fold6. The OB6 is in there doing OB6 things. The I made this cool sound on the Deepmind while trying to make it sound like my favorite Virus patch (I got close but it's different enough to be its own thing, which I like). I also quite like that chippy pluck from the Prophet '08 which is juiced up by Monsoon and a DPLR. MB6582 is handling some SID squarewave action.

I hope to try using the Befaco NoisePlethora (once I finish building it) and spend some time working on the percussion. I don't like the chorus all that much but I like how it breaks things up. I kind of want to extend a few parts too (though it's already a full song length).

Song isn't done and there's so many ways it could go from here, but thought I'd share what it sounds like at this point since it's catchy and fun.

- Tim

Folding Space (Work In Progress)

Remastered in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Chipsurf Pipeline.

For the remaster, we didn't just "make it louder" - instead we spent some time reworking the guitars a bit, using a more modern mastering suite, and even bounced it to reel to reel Capture 914 tape to give it a bit more analog juice. The end result is one where we like both the original and this version, for different reasons. This version does sound a bit more "modern" and whole. The original has more of a lo-fi dare we say demo sound to it.

Symphony of Vengeance is a song like it sounds - about the anger of loosing a loved one and the quest for justice by any means necessary. Like many songs off the Chipsurf Pipeline album, it borrows heavily from themes found in many games found on the Nintendo Entertainment System and other game consoles of the same era. Though dark and heavy, Symphony of Vengeance still has a driving force behind it that makes it both epic and pumping.

Symphony of Vengeace - Remastered

The soundtrack to a good 'ole fashioned 8-bit bank robbery.

For the remaster, we didn't just "make it louder" - instead we spent some time reworking the guitars a bit, using a more modern mastering suite, and even bounced it to reel to reel Capture 914 tape to give it a bit more analog juice. The end result is one where we like both the original and this version, for different reasons. This version does sound a bit more "modern" and whole. The original has more of a lo-fi dare we say demo sound to it.

Bank Robbery - Remastered

Just a teaser for Bandcamp Friday since we weren't able to finish one of several songs we're working on in time but wanted to provide something new and fun for a Friday.

The Unnamed

For the remaster, we didn't just "make it louder" - instead we spent some time reworking the guitars a bit, using a more modern mastering suite, and even bounced it to reel to reel Capture 914 tape to give it a bit more analog juice. The end result is one where we like both the original and this version, for different reasons. This version does sound a bit more "modern" and whole. The original has more of a lo-fi dare we say demo sound to it.

We wanted to round out the album with an epic climax, just like at the end of a properly Nintendo hard game. This is what we came up with!

Chipsurf Pipeline Remastered

Final Boss - Remastered

For the remaster, we didn't just "make it louder" - instead we spent some time reworking the guitars a bit, using a more modern mastering suite, and even bounced it to reel to reel Capture 914 tape to give it a bit more analog juice. The end result is one where we like both the original and this version, for different reasons. This version does sound a bit more "modern" and whole. The original has more of a lo-fi dare we say demo sound to it.

Can't have an epic Nintendo hard battle without proper end credits! These are ours.

End Creditz - Remastered

For the remaster, we didn't just "make it louder" - instead we spent some time reworking the guitars a bit, using a more modern mastering suite, and even bounced it to reel to reel Capture 914 tape to give it a bit more analog juice. The end result is one where we like both the original and this version, for different reasons. This version does sound a bit more "modern" and whole. The original has more of a lo-fi dare we say demo sound to it.

We didn't write anything down about this track on the original album. To use we just kinda thought it sounded like playing the mushroom levels in Super Mario Bros, I guess...on mushrooms? Or something like that. This is one of the songs that made some use of the MidiBox SID in addition to the typical chiptune assortment.

Mushroom Kingdom - Remastered

I went full ADHD on this one, writing this in an afternoon (and it shows :P). The entire song is mostly arranged though I want to add a fill and perhaps a key change. Key change is a good reason to add a new block copy feature (inc/dec notes in a block).

For those unaware, I've been working on writing a music tracker, from scratch, on the Commander X16 8-bit computer. This song was made entirely using DreamTracker and this recording came off my actual Commander X16.

We plan on using the X16 and DreamTracker in the band (alongside our other chiptune instruments of course) for future chipsurf songs, among other things.

- Tim

No Doubt - Running, X16 Edition (Work In Progress)

Chiptune cover of No Doubt's Running composed in DreamTracker, a native music tracker Tim's been writing from scratch for the Commander X16. Recorded on a real Commander X16 to RTM SM911 reel to reel tape and into Ableton for a touch of reverb, EQ, and mastering.

Composed in about two days on a bit of a chiptune binger Tim was on while trying to get over human malware.

The original tracker file can be found as an example song bundled with DreamTracker (https://www.dreamtracker.org/)

For the album cover the tilemap is from Fantasy Sphere, credit to Hollyhart1 for graciously allowing public domain use of it. Characters are from Victim Cache: The RPG though they have been modified.

Also thanks to No Doubt for the original of course. Not sure what was going on with Gwen and Toni at the time but it made for a great chiptune song.

Running

Tim's at it again with another cover/remix. This time Castlevania II's Bloody Tears. We like making new music but covers can be lots of fun, are good practice, and importantly help find bugs and missing features in DreamTracker (a few were indeed found).

Not sure what we'll end up doing with this one but for now enjoy!

Bloody Tears - X16 Remix (WIP)

Folding Space

Tim decided to take some practice sax recordings and run them through Monsoon (Mutable Instruments Clouds). And uhh, this is the result.

Monsoon + Saxophone = Creepy Horror Movie Vibes (Clip)

We were supposed to have band practice today but I (Tim) was feeling pretty crappy after getting my Covid booster. So instead I messed around with DreamTracker seeing if I could make a cover of Corona's Rhythm of the Night. This is what I cam up with so far. Sounds about how I feel I suppose :P

I did uncover a minor bug with the glide effect plus some useful feature requests so it was worth the exercise I suppose. Not sure if I'll get around to finishing it but we'll see.

Recorded from Tim's real Commander X16 computer.

Rhythm of the Night (Corona) - Work In Progress 2

A year in the making, a sizeable chunk of it for making the cover art, a referendum on how the rich and powerful prey on the meek because we (as a society) allow it. In part because of apathy but also because we fail to have a unified voice.

Lyrics:

You could feed us all
Instead we desire your tongue of fire
Drink your words like wine!

We all bowed down,
Sanctified words.
Sold your false crown,
more followers.

(Shut It Down!)
The temple falls when we look away and
We decide...
We decide what's said.

(Shout It Out!)
You can spend your gold on toys
But you will hear our voice...
YEAH!

In your lonely tower...
Your self fulfilling prophecy.
(Hypocrisy!)

The horsemen ride,
Through poor and meek.
You wait aside;
Smile apathy.

(Shut It Down)
The temple falls when we look away and
We decide...
We decide what's said

(Shout It Out)
You can spend your gold on toys
But you will hear our voice...
YEAH!

Despite being a hostile takeover, 
the acquisition has been approved by regulatory authorities.
But critics allege the repercussions to society and freedom will be far reaching.
Profits are expected to soar at the direct expense of the populous, 
especially those below the poverty line.

We've lost our voice
But we can take it back.
Burn his propaganda
Then fades to ash

We plug our ears...
We close our eyes...
A winged God will burn
Our voice survives!

We've lost our voice
But we can take it back.
Burn his propaganda
Then fades to mush!

We plug our ears...
We close our eyes...
A winged God will 
BURN!!!

Pork n' Beanz

I met a man in a rundown bar with a broken ship and a broken heart 
'Said "help fix my ship and find my lost love and I'll fly you so far”
To fix that junk I had to make seven swaps and kill a few beasts to find a few parts 
But Sid was still drunk; I said “do you ever stop?”

Nooo!
He said…

Hold on to your ass 
And drink down another glass 
You can never be too drunk to fly
It’ll keep us in the sky

We made it all the way to the land in the sky 
They tried to shoot us down since we were from the ground 
But luckily Sid knew a secret way inside 
Then we disguised ourselves as slutty barmaids 'cuz Sid already had the costumes for that
And we flirted our way into Sid's flat

Hold on to your ass 
And drink down another glass 
You can never be too drunk to fly
It’ll keep us in the sky

...And there was sadness in his eyes

“I once had a girl, eyes bluer than the sky
Lived in this rundown flat but we had a happy life
She brewed the greatest beer, I delivered it far and near
Before the sky king banned all flight
...and then she died

When I saw her the last time
She gave this to me and said 'I love you, just stay alive'
I swear I'll kill whoever took her life.”

Then he put the sky gem in my hand

Hold on to your ass 
And drink down another glass 
You can never be too drunk to fly
It’ll keep us in the sky

Airship

First song off our forthcoming album, Space Hatchet II, which it itself a companion to our forthcoming game of the same name.

Like all our albums thus far, this one represents a shift in genre. This time we explore a much more synthy sound, largely paying homage to the synths of the 80's and touching on a modern Synthwave sound.

This song makes use of a number of synths in fact:

- Prophet '08
- Virus Classic
- TX81z
- MidiBox SID
- GameBoy DMG-001
- Deepmind 12

Likewise, it is a reintroduction of John's electric guitar work coupled with our tube pre-amp and a Memory Man for effects. Plus some software effects as well but those aren't as fun.

Straight To The Top

A pure chiptune (GameBoy) song composed in LSDJ and recorded on a DMG-001. This is one that really stands on its own but one we couldn't quite fit into our RPG or our Hero album. Thus we decided to release it in all its pure chiptune glory.

The Enemy

Disconnected

Buying Potions is one of the very first songs we started composing together as a band. It was originally meant to be part of Chipsurf Pipeline, but we could never quite make it fit, in part because it sounded more like a hip-hop song (thanks to the prevalent sounds of the 808). Much time passed, and we ran into Famikon via Fiverr who came up with a majority of the lyrics and provided the vocals, thus turning it into a rather awesome chip-hop track.

Buying Potions feat Famikon

Our live rendition of Pink Floyd's classic taken right from our live mixer from one of our practice sessions with just a tad bit of mastering to smooth out the levels and things. It's not perfect but it wasn't meant to be. Rather we wanted to give fans a taste of our live shows while showing off our new sound.

Wish You Were Here is a good, if incomplete, example of our new sound. We've left some surprises for our original songs, which we will debut at our live shows. We hope you like it!

Parts:
John: Lead Vocals, Mandolin
Tim: Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, OPL3 Electric Keyboard, Starts LSDJ
GB: Main Chiptune Goodness (LSDJ)

Wish You Were Here (Practice)

From Victim Cache's 2021 album "Alien Me"

Victim Cache was started in the summer of 2010 by John Quarles and Tim Soderstrom. We are an electro-indie band focused on trying to find new creative ways to integrate electronic sounds into music.

Victim Cache

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