For every genre of "real world" music, there is an 8-bit equivalent. From metal to folk to hip hop, you can be sure to find someone out there working furiously to re-create its hallmarks on a tiny GameBoy or similar retro-music-generating device.
For instance, Cow'p. (Yes, that's "cow pee.") Furuzu Nakano is the one man force behind the rather strange name. His music is slightly removed from what you might automatically think of when you hear the term "chiptune." While apparently 100% GameBoy generated, he seems to add a little of his own special recipe , give his tracks much more oomph than anything you'd normally hear chirping out of the handheld system. Most notable is the massive amount of bass-bin shattering bass. This goes hand-in-hand with his obviously love of reggae and dub. While other chip artists more often than not go for more frenetic and virtuoso performances, pushing their electrons to the bleeding edge, Cow'p takes a much more relaxed approach. His songs are no less indicative of the artform, he just tends to let the bass do the talking, adding in a few rude-boy samples and jungle beats here and there.
Along with the deep, groovy tracks are some more ambient vibes. Sounding a bit like some of Aphex Twin's early AFX stuff, these songs are as much about the production as they are creating electro soundscapes. Cow'p doesn't seem to be at all concerned with impressing people with over-the-top, high energy pop (like, say, YMCK.) His material is a bit more serious minded, while at the same time being very fun and never too self-indulgent. It would seem the audiences agree, as evidenced by his several tours in Europe and the UK. More recently, he'll be making an appearance at one of the biggest 8-bit/chiptune events, the Blip Festival in New York. A true sign of one's arrival on the world stage.
Live 2006
Official Site (with free music downloads)
MySpace
Members:
Furuzu Nakano
Albums:
2002 Gameboy Galaxy
2002 Cow'P vs. Kema Keur
2002 V.A "APA" (CD) from 19-t
2002 "AFRICA" (CD) from 19-t
2002 cowp vs kema keur sprit (12') from adaadat
2003 V.A. "trade&distribution almanac volume 1" (CD) from adaadat
2003 mongol (CDR) ---------------from rdc records
2005 "gameboy riddim" tour CDR
2005 "gameboy gallaxy" tour CDR
2005 "bass emperor" tour CDR
2004 V.A. trade&distribution almanac volume 2 (CD) from adaadat
2006 V.A "????????" (CD) from magic book records
2007 V.A. "GBCD" (CD) from Intikrec
2007 V.A. "8BP050" (CD) from 8bitpeoples
2008 KOCHITOLA HAGURETIC EMCEE’S "HAGULIFE" (tr.10)
Cow'p
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3 comments:
It's only recently that his music has been like that. His debut album, Africa, is incredibly different; very spastic and melodic Gameboy IDM that is all over the place.
Thanks for the info Snacks! All I had to go on was the stuff on his site and MySapce.
Yeah, the label's site (19-t.com) hasn't had any content on it in ages, which is too bad, because it's one of the best experimental electronic labels in Japan, imo.
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