2014-09-02 4:01:15 ¶ ●

By Marcy Nabors and Corbin Pangilinan

Shortcuts builds a lot of its sound off of the real world – all of the tracks feature samples and background sounds taken from various locales. The source for this song was simple enough: a busy crosswalk with a robotic countdown. Yet from that meager seed comes a really solid little piece of music.

The world slowly fades away into the jam (except for our friendly guide, the disembodied robo-crossing guard). If done poorly, this could easily be called gimmicky. But it’s not done poorly. It’s immersive and clever, and a great, relaxing track to boot. My top track on the album.

The album Shortcuts, by Casual Sunday, is available for purchase at Bandcamp.

2014-09-08 4:01:23 ¶ ●

By Joren “Tensei” de Bruin

This one would fit right in on Strife! As on many of the tracks on that album, there’s a killer metal track backing up a lighter, simpler main melody. Good stuff.

Tensei’s album Songs Unsung is available for purchase on Bandcamp.

2014-09-09 4:01:23 ¶ ●

By William Ascenzo

It’s the first minute or so that does it for me on this track: eerie, naturalistic synth percussion, combined with bombastic bass drum. The choir’s a tad indulgent, but on the whole it’s another cool take on Teal Hunter.

William Ascenzo’s album Rust Apocalypse is available for purchase at Bandcamp.

2014-09-16 4:01:07 ¶ ●

By Michael Guy Bowman

I especially like the jazzy backing set for this one, and the extended instrumental around 3:00 is sharp and… I don’t know, urbane, I guess? Reminds me of a walk through a busy city.

Bowman’s album Comfortable Bugs is available for purchase at Bandcamp.

2014-09-19 4:01:04 ¶ ●

By Curtis Lyon

Bumbling chiptune. It hits just the right wacky tone to accompany a private investigator who starts off trapped in his own office. I like this one a lot.

The album Sepulchritude can be downloaded for free from the Skaianet Download Database.

2014-09-24 4:01:20 ¶ ●

By Michael Guy Bowman

It’s a song about the road (well, a road, anyways), and it’s a driving tune if I’ve ever heard one.

The album Shortcuts, by Casual Sunday, is available for purchase at Bandcamp.

2014-09-25 4:01:25 ¶ ●

By William Ascenzo

Whoa, this is some seriously cinematic, ‘cast the ring into the volcano’ music. Rust Servant made it onto coloUrs and mayhem: Universe A, but I like this one even better. The heavy-metal electric guitar mixed in throughout gives it even more gravity, and a little bit of more modern style.

William Ascenzo’s album Rust Apocalypse is available for purchase at Bandcamp.

2014-09-29 4:01:26 ¶ ●

By Clark Powell

A bouncy, lighthearted remix of his original Serenade, off of Homestuck Volume 8. Just a half-moment’s shift in the lead makes for a whole different tune.

Clark Powell’s album Namesake is available for purchase at Bandcamp.