Astralwerks has released a multi-artist compilation, featuring interpretations of classic Kraftwerk songs played primarily on lo-bit handheld gaming devices, vintage video game consoles and obsolete 8 bit home computers. This low end technology revered for the rich and distinctive sound produced by the lo-bit microchips. This video game-influenced branch of electronic music, sometimes referred to as 'chiptune', 'bitpop' or just '8-bit', has developed a flourishing international live scene, and is one of the first new genres of music to use the internet to its fullest advantage, with the advent of home-brewed synth cartridges and hacker influenced musical tools.
As one of the New York chip artists Glomag said in a 2004 Art Forum interview, "We've made Kraftwerk's phrase 'I'm the operator with my Pocket Calculator' more apt than everâ€.
Conceived and compiled by long-time electronic artist and 8-bit composer Jeremy Kolosine(a.k.a. Receptors), the 8-BIT OPERATORS collection features some of the top 8-bit artists from North America, South America and Europe, a selection of the best musical innovators, and several of the inventors themselves.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Chiptune Music
- The creation and performance of music using lo-bit handheld gaming devices and vintage video game consoles offer opportunities to explore the potential of retro technology in contemporary music creation.
- Hacker-influenced Musical Tools
- There is an opportunity to develop new tools that combine music production and hacker culture, as the advent of home-brewed synth cartridges and hacker influenced musical tools has established a flourishing scene for 8-bit music creation.
- Nostalgic Technology
- There is an opportunity to market lo-bit home computers and other outdated technology to a niche audience who appreciate the unique aesthetic and sound produced by these devices.
Sectors Adopting This
- Music Production
- The music production industry could explore the use of outdated, low-end technology to create a unique sound and engage a new audience.
- Gaming
- The gaming industry can capitalize on the growing popularity of retro gaming devices by offering new game releases that utilize this outdated technology.
- Electronics
- The electronics industry could develop new products that blend retro aesthetics and modern capabilities to appeal to nostalgia-seekers and tech enthusiasts alike.
