ph00t's favorites 5/1 - 5/14
Our staff member ph00tbag (AKA Sonic Rainboom) wanted to give a shout out to these special tracks this week. We’d love it if you gave them a listen!! Don’t forget that faving and reblogging is key to keeping our features going. Now after that plea, here they are:
Fin - Spectacular
The Electro influences in the drop in this track are fine and dandy. I don't usually go for that kind of stuff, but there's a lot to be liked in the pads during the builds in this track. They've got enough little details and flourishes to give the tune a bunch of atmosphere. This tune is part of the Derpy's Wings III charity album, so if you like it, be sure to go ahead and buy the whole album and help out.
Night Breeze - Eclipsed/Moon
Among the sounds that I'm a total sucker for are Rhodes Organs and their emulators. Eclipsed/Moon brings that from the beginning, and the whole set of sounds in this tune evokes a sense of old Casio Keyboard demo tunes. But that just lets you focus more on the great solos for the instrumental parts of the tune.
Macarou - Midnight in Canterlot
Macarou is quickly rising on my list of favorite ambient and downtempo brony musicians. And that says a bunch, considering how many good ambient artists there are in the fandom. Midnight in Canterlot shows why, with all these sounds that subtly move in and out. The pads at the end are probably my favorite part, with how they slowly move into an expectant chord that never resolves.
Automatic Jack - ScootaChicken DX
Oh hey, Automatic Jack made a tune that isn't about Trixie. This is one of those tunes that reminds me of what the music scene felt like when Bronies were still new. The samples of the show were used because they're just so much fun to throw in. ScootaChicken DX shows us just how much fun can be had with ten seconds of show audio. Apparently about eight minutes. Go figure.
Nicolas Dominique - Burn the Ice
I've always loved it when Nicolas Dominique puts out tunes like this. Burn the Ice captures the raw energy that Trance music had in the early days and brings it out in full force here. It's really to get lost in the tune and realize that although it started out so minimal, it's somehow gotten really epic. That's one of the things that Dominique is excellent at.
(Dynamite Grizzly) Equestria Games OST - Waifu Toss
For those of you who didn't notice, the guy behind the music for the Equestria Games minigame by futzi, Dynamite Grizzly, put all of the OST on his channel. It's all pretty good stuff, but Waifu Toss is definitely my favorite. That bassline is just so funky. I put this on and I can't help but dance. And just wait until that bongo sample jumps in halfway through.
ThatMusicBrony - Enchantress
The lead melody that drops in during the breakdown in this tune is absolutely incredible. I'm also a huge fan of the autotuned Pinkie samples. Of course, dnb is not complete without its bassline design. ThatMusicBrony uses some major Neurofunk influences for this tune, and his bassline is positively juicy.
Reverbrony - Spring Rebirth
Reverbrony always has some really lovely guitar solos, and Spring Rebirth is no exception. The muted riffs in the beginning are great for setting the tone of this tune. They're very light and carefree. The prog rock background of this tune then shows itself, as it slowly builds to an epic climax.
PsykoPink - Not Scientifically Possible
Listen up people. This is Full On Psytrance. It will mess you up. I about flipped out when I first listened to this tune. I don't think Full On this well-produced has ever been done before in the fandom, and for myself, as a huge fan of all things Psy, it was pure unadulterated bliss. My favorite part of this tune is the drop at 2:10 with the "stop time" quote. The rest of the tune is still incredible throughout, though, so be sure to listen to it all.
Pony Music - Mind Fragments (Hay Tea Remix)
This is a really interesting tune. It's got a great trip hop vibe throughout, but then half way through Hay Tea drops a really sick Drum and Bass beat. The result is two different perspectives on the main theme. The vocalizations in this tune are wonderful in their minimalism. It kinda reminds me of Moby's later stuff.
Luna Jax - Without You (Celestia's Lament)
I always like to include stuff that I've not heard much of from brony music. Without You is one such song. Luna Jax brings some real blues for this one, which is just so awesome. Blues is a genre that's all about the things that make you sad, and so Celestia's thousand-year pain of not being with her sister is fitting. It's neat to see that put into a genre that's so underrepresented.
Omnipony - Time is Running Out (Retrotype Remix)
Retrotype has officially closed up shop as a brony musician, so I felt I'd give one last shout-out to an artist that has always impressed me with their flexibility, and their ability to make stellar music in any genre. The title of this tune seems to be very fitting, given the occasion on which it was released. Retrotype is going to continue to make music, mind you, but ponies just aren't where he gets his inspiration. I personally hope he continues to make music and learn more about himself through it, and I wish him the best of luck.