JUST AN 8-BIT OF THIS AND THAT by James Hodson (Skin Walker)
As Fake-Bit pioneers : ( state in their chippy chipper track Twin Chevron Action Flash, the highly acclaimed basis for one of Sabrepulse's best remix works, "8-bit's the way, We're 50,000 strong" and it sure did feel like that last night at Retro Bar, despite the capacity only being able to fit a close 100.
The night started off with an entrance into a melée of gaming systems set up on trestle tables, free to play, and free sweets. The array of games available was mesmerizing, like a small warehouse stock ready to plug in and start up. A DJ booth above the level of the rest of us, such as a pedestal, made these disk jockeys seem immortal, pumping out tunes from Sabrepulse, Nullsleep, Je deviens dj en 3 jours and many more lo-fi floor fillers. Almost a two hour gap between entry and the first set rose the suspense for this monumental birthday night. The crowd began to saunter in, two or three at a time, helping themselves to the treats that were to behold after walking through that door, and the atmosphere seemed friendly. There was rumoured that a journalist from Chimp Magazine was down to review the night, but the promoters were left standing when they realised that that was being replaced with two photographers, Nick Benke and Andrew Haslam, ready to snap anything that moved.
The time is now 10.45pm and I'm just about ready to take the stage. I finish my Stella, have a toilet break, and jump on up. The first song that plays amongst the speakers is Solar, a short 2+ minute track that kicks right into the bass. People took to the floor, contrasting with me, to dance. A quick 20 minutes flies by, six tracks already been fired and the crowd applauds this small town, Greater Mancunian bred 8-bit magician (I kid, I only know from what I learnt out of my Paul Daniel's Magic Set 100). It is now Poisoncut's turn.
This Liverpudlian lad who spends his spare time chipbending vintage consoles and making them sound as if it's being fed through a Korg Electribe
shocked me, and hopefully others who were there to witness. He played a few songs that recently I've listened up on, but then he came out with a new track, a new work and it entirely blew everything else he played before then out of the shark-infested waters. His mix of both core 8-bit sounds and snappy snare-to-bass rhythms really hits home for those who wish to take a break from conventional chiptune imitations. Half an hour passes this time, and Poisoncut gets a standing ovation from a venue that may as well be a shed in the garden of a mansion.
Now is the time. Now is the time for chipzel to step up for her inaugural welcome to this fine night, and this fine establishment. She brought along with her, from what I could gather, some friends from her home country of Northern Ireland. I am not being biased, but those kids really made the night what it was, selling a certain enthusiasm that hadn't been seen from the previous sets, or hours. She was confident, she knew what to do as that stage was hers and she was also a little bit drunk, but who wasn't? And who wants to stop that? She started off with Something Beautiful, a fan favourite that she knew would get this party going. Song after song, the crowd got restless, wanting more and more of this sweet serenade from her and her two Game Boys. Gradually, people began to join, people began to dance and eventually got up on stage, as she blasted out these heartfelt but very hard worked sounds, individually and simultaneously. chipzel is a class act, and just like me and Poisoncut, contributed to what was an intense night of what's-going-to-happen's.
chipzel walks off the stage, cleans up her gear, as I do, and sits back down awaiting the beginning of the MegaByte birthday afterparty. Incredible.