Skyactivity: Blog

EPOS Game Studios released Crash Commando on PlayStation Network. Go check it out if! The game looks absolutely stunning.

Some screen shots from the game, the engine looks amazing.

If it moves, fill it with bullets! NO PLOT!  NO GIRLS , just pure MAYHEM!

EPOS Game Studios AB was founded in the Summer of 2005 by Staffan Langin and Olof Gustaffson, two veteran game developers who also co-founded famed Swedish developer Digital Illusions (DICE). EPOS’ goal is to produce cutting-edge titles for a variety of platforms.

Sweden’s alfabaz is a producer and musician. Micael Rudenvall a multi talented artist with a heavy artillery of old analogue vintage synthesizers mixed with todays hi-tech audio gear. alfabaz also have made some acid tracks under the alias Dinsyncadelica.

Deliciously simple, dubby electro-grooves. if you love old analogue synths and drum machines, alfabaz is your man.

Some of these tracks are fairly minimal, so those who like a fuller sound might be turned off, however this “middle-aged fat rasta” consistently serves upcsolid grooves for those who like to keep it simple. Any fans of kraftwerk or richie hawtin (aka plastikman) should check this out. 

Creation kicks off with a warm analogue bassline which pulses back and forth between your ears. this is soon joined by a funky electro-style beat. 

A sharp lead melody, reminiscent of computer world era kraftwerk, joins us as the beat drops out. this lead adds a feeling of apprehension to the track, but combined with the bassline, creates an nice groove which should get you moving. the beat is built up slowly with the addition of extra percussion and more kraftwerk-style blips. 

Towards the end of the track, the mood shifts with the addition of some excellent calming pads, which close off the piece nicely. 

Oxis is a simple electro track, but that’s where its strength lies. it starts off with a bubbling acid style lead which is repetitive on the surface but constantly changing. 

Next in is the beat - again, a simple electro affair but it’ll definitely get your head nodding. however, the defining moment occurs at over 2 minutes into the track, when the bassline drops in. suddenly the acid lead comes alive and the beat is grooving. a definite lesson on how each part of a track can affect the others. minimal yet effective. 

Waterdub starts with an electro beat combined with gurgling acid bubbles which tickle your ears. once again the track really kicks off with the addition of a bassline. it seems alfabaz drops basslines like a dj drops beats.

In this case its a groovy dub-style sub-bass. meanwhile chords which are somehow reminiscent of early rave music (at least to me!) combine with the basslines & beats to get the groove going. but it’s that dubby bassline which really makes this track. 

Globant (good ballgame dub remix) is probably my favourite of the four reviewed. starting off simple with a funky electro beat, alfabaz gradually brings in new parts, slowly building the groove over the first few minutes. 

A simple but effective lead introduces an excellent bassline which once again defines the track and sets the groove.

However, this track really takes off in the last few minutes thanks to some incredibly luscious pads which combine with the bassline perfectly. My only complaint about this track is that it ends too abruptly, despite clocking in at just under seven minutes!

Although alfabaz brings in elements of old-school dub, he’s clearly influenced by Techno/Ambient music. 

The music is pulsing and grooves with ecstasy-induced euphoria, but there is an obvious intelligence behind the slinky basslines and disturbing elements of noise.

alfabaz  @ Last.fm

Eno, Brian and Reigakusya with Peter Schwalm - Music for Onmyoji (ltd.ed)

Strictly limited edition in special package, a unique collaboration of ambient music and Japanese traditional court music, inspired by Reiko Okano and Baku Yumemakura’s comic/novel “On-myo-ji”

This piece of Art / Music is a journey back in time. Japanese traditional music is mixed with the five elements and thou i don’t understand what they are chanting i feel like I’m listening to and ancient Japanese tale.

This is an amazing experience I wish everyone could hear it, especially those who are interested in Japanese and asian culture. The picture to the left is both the art and the album cover, it’s a piece of art itself. in fold-out silver digipak sleeve with a hologram picture, wrapped in clear plastic cover.

  ONMYOJI: A practitioner and/or master of “Onmyodo,” the craft which uses the Yin and Yang principle to interpret between natural and unnatural phenomena and astrological occurrences to foresee the fortunes of humans. One of the primary duties of the Onmyoji involved using his occult powers to serve and protect the Heian Emperor, the royal families, and the kingdom from malevolent spirits and demons.

Other terms comparable to Onmyoji are: exorcist, supernatural protector, Yin and Yang master, soothsayer, mage, mystic, shaman, wizard, sorcerer, magician, and even necromancer. HEIAN PERIOD: The Heian period (794-1185 AD) is a significant era of medieval Japan known for the presence of an aristocratic ruling class and a culture of refined lifestyles, whereby language, literature, music, other fine arts and crafts developed and flourished. It was during this period of luxury and grandeur that the famous Japanese literature, “The Tale of Genji,” considered the world’s first romance novel, was authored by a female aristocrat.

The Heian period embodied peace, an elegant society and great prosperity, however, many years later, the absence of a single, unifying administration to rule all of Japan would eventually plunge the country into a long-term civil war between hundreds of feudal lords, all vying for power, glory and territory. THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF YIN AND YANG: This is a philosophy, which explains the existence of all things by combining the five natural elements with the basic principle of Yin and Yang.

The two spirits of Yin and Yang gave birth to the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. ABE NO SEIMEI: He is the most recognized Onmyodo master among the imperial order of the Onmyoji serving the Heian Emperor. Although Seimei is officially sponsored by the ruling family, the Fujiwara clan, he does not reside at the royal palace, but lives on his own private estate. Aside from his highly regarded mystical and medicinal skills, little is known about the enigmatic Seimei.  

He has been described by both men and women as beautiful, aloof, carefree, and not seemingly human, perhaps due to the popular folklore belief that his mother was a kitsune (a magical white fox creature that could impersonate a human being). As with other Onmyoji, Seimei dons a special head ware and robe that signifies his specialty and high rank within society.  

He is often the target of jealousy among other Onmyoji (in particular, his rival, Doson) and avoids becoming involved with their political powerplays. (Historical footnote:  Seimei was an actual real-life person and Onmyoji who lived in the capital city, Kyoto, from 921-1005 AD during the Heian period.) HIROMASA: Full name:  Minamoto no Hiromasa. A court noble and swordsman serving the Heian emperor, Hiromasa befriends Seimei and enlists his aid.  

Hiromasa is attracted to the princess, Sukehime, and is quite fond of playing his fue (wooden flute) during nightfall.DOSON: Doson is the court? elite Onmyoji. With his sights set on higher, sinister ambitions, Doson surreptitiously uses his occult skills to manipulate humans and the demons of the netherworld to do his bidding. Beneath his calm and calculating demeanor, Doson seethes with jealousy over his rival, Seimei and resentment over the Mikado (emperor).FUE: A wooden flute used by all classes of people, from the commoner to the imperial soldier.   Even Onmyoji have found that the fue could be used as a tool to calm and appease demons, through its soothing melodies. HITOGATA: A small straw doll or a human-shaped effigy.  

The hitogata could be used as a tool by humans, spirits or demons to inflict harm on an individual. The concept is similar to that of a voodoo doll, whereby a psychic spell or a curse is channeled through the hitogata to affect the targeted person. KARASUBOUSHI: An ornamental cloth head gear of varying heights, shapes and designs worn by imperial court officials, advisors and other male members of nobility and rank serving the Heian emperor.   It was considered embarrassing to be seen without the karasuboushi on one’s head and the wearer would only remove it from his head when he was in complete privacy.

It was not uncommon to even retire to sleep with the karasuboushi still on. OFUDA: A paper seal, card, tag or scroll used by Onmyoji and monks to enact a magic spell for attack or protection purposes. Ofuda may sometimes have word characters written or symbols drawn onto them with a writing brush.  Depending on the user’s skill, ofuda can even be temporarily transformed into a living thing or an inanimate object.MIKADO: The term for emperor, majesty, his highness, etc. MONONOKE: A general term for evil spirits, ghosts, monsters or demons.

Demons were also referred to as “Yokai.” Vengeful spirits were known as “Onryo.”   In addition to causing panic, pestilence and death, malicious apparitions and demons were believed to be capable of possessing the mind and body of unsuspecting human beings or even creating an alternate body. Onmyoji were heavily relied upon to perform incantations and other arcane rites to either control or vanquish the mononoke.

Tetsu Inoue - Ambiant Otaku is one of the greatest albums in ambient music history.  

This album were originally released in 1994 limited to 1000 copies only, and it was reissued some years later. 

Ambiant Otaku is an atmospheric inner trip. Listening to this album is an out of body experience you feel like you are one with cosmos, traveling without moving. An amazing solo debut! even the reissue is hard to come by, often fetching high prices on sites such as eBay and Discogs.

Biography 

A native of Tokyo, Japan, Tetsu Inoue is an ambient composer whose solo and collaborative works with the likes of Pete Namlook, Jonah Sharp, and Atom Heart are important documents of new school ambient an experimental electronic. Inoue began playing music in high school, starting on guitar in pop/rock cover bands. He began experimenting with synthesizers and early monophonic sequencers, inspired by the fusion of pop, psychedelic rock, and experimental electronic pioneered by groups like Pink Floyd, Tomita, and particularly Yellow Magic Orchestra, and by the mid-’80s was scoring for ballet and small dance groups.

Tetsu Inoue moved to New York around 1986, securing an apartment before heading for an extended stay in San Francisco, where he played guitar in karaoke bands and began working with SF-based composer Naut Humon. He returned to New York soon after, continuing to amass demo material, and headed for Germany in the late ’80s, where he met Uwe Schmidt (Atom Heart) and Pete Namlook.

Although ostensibly on vacation, Inoue recorded his first work for release while in Frankfurt (Station Rose, a collaboration with Schmidt, on Cyclotron) and, upon his return to New York, began working with Namlook on a number of different projects. Although dabbling in dance music styles such as techno and trance during this period, he was moving increasingly toward strictly ambient composition, and Namlook’s noted Fax label would release several of his albums through the early to mid-’90s.

Most of his best solo and collaborative works appear there, including 2350 Broadway and Shades of Orion with Namlook, Electro Harmonix with Jonah Sharp, and Ambiant Otaku, Organic Cloud, and Slow and Low as a solo artist. His mature aesthetic centers around a fusion of by turns haunting and contemplative soundscapes layered with heavily treated samples and field source materials, and occasional, usually sparse percussion. It’s most elegantly stated on such works as MU (with Atom Heart as Masters of Psychedelic Ambiance) and World Receiver.