Various Artists - Diggin In The Carts: A Collection Of Pioneering Japanese Video Game Music [Hyperdub]

Coming up on vinyl via Hyperdub on February 16th, 2k18 is "Diggin In The Carts: A Collection Of Pioneering Japanese Video Game Music", a musical follow up and compilation inspired by the Red Bull Music Academy documentary of the same name. Featuring a large bunch of a total 34 tracks curated by both "Diggin In The Carts" writer Nick Dwyer and Hyperdub head honcho Kode9 we're taken deep into a fascinating and unfamiliar world of early electronic music that was to be heard via entertainment systems like Famicom, Super Famicom, MSXturboR and other consoles or home computer devices popular in Japan throughout the 80s and early 90s. With too many 8bit and 16bit hits on here to review them all in detail our recommendations come down to Konami Kukeiha Club's epic "Opening" taken off 'Cosmic Wars' which is an epic, tension building hit in its own right, fusing both Grime'esque elements and Miami Vice-influences in less than 70 seconds, the deep, melancholic beauty of Manabu Saito's "Telepathy" taken off 'Chatty', the highspeed overdrive sequences of "BGM 3", a Konami Kukeiha Club contribution to 'Motocross Maniacs' or the epic Synth drama provided by Tadahiro Nitta's "An-Un 'Ominous Clouds' - Xak II" as well as the buzzing melodic energy catered by Hiroto Saitou's "Main Stage BGM 1" off of 'Time Cruise II' or the Cold Wave-reminiscing structures of Tadahiro Nitta's "Metal Area" which is featured in 'Illusion City' just to name a few. Highly recommended, this - not only to video game collectors and their affiliated friends.