games  anime  toys
Japanator is anime news, community, videos & geeky J-stuff. Updated daily!   Sign up to comment or blog    |    Returning? Login

japanator logo

Japanator Recommends: FLOPPY - Deus Ex Machina
by Zac Bentz, 09/15/2009
Japanator Recommends: FLOPPY - Deus Ex Machina photo

FLOPPY is a chiptune/8-bit/electro project from Sharaku Kobayashi of Metronome and Hiromu Toda of Shinjuku Gewalt. Since 2004, they've been producing some of the best and craziest chip-fueled electro mayhem around. Their somewhat retro-futurist sound is highlighted by their goofy no-budget sci-fi costumes and the music's dreamy yet chaotic atmosphere.

Their growing popularity is only highlighted by the fact the both JapanFiles and HearJapan are stocking up on the new album Deus Ex Machina, offering it up to fans around the world. You can get it right now on both sites.

If you're still on the fence, or are a newcomer to the FLOPPY world, check out the full Deus Ex Machina review after the jump!

Deus Ex Machina is the second full from the duo, their first major release since their previous mini-album in 2006. While Deus does show a bit of maturation to their overall song-writing approach, it certainly doesn't stray far from their previous formula. The songs are mostly made up of fast beats and stuttering lo-bit bleeps. FLOPPY has always put a little extra effort into their programing, never relying too heavily on loops and factory pre-set sounds. This serves to give their songs a more organic feel, though it can be hard to hear through all the electronic cross-talk.

Deus hits it peak early on with its first single "Everything," followed up with "Kami Hikouki." Both of these are exactly what long-time fans will be expecting. Both songs are very catchy and poppy, burbling with video game blasts and arpeggiated bass-lines. "Setsugekka" is a surprisingly well done slower song, something almost along the lines of a grand Susumu Hirasawa epic. The title track is also top notch, another dance track with FLOPPY's signature cartoon cat chasing a cartoon mouse sort of vibe, all stompy, silly and fun. Of course thought it all Sharaku Kobayashi's voice adds another level of geek-pop, what with his whiny pitch and pouty delivery.

"Pike" and "Void" close the album. The former is a cover of the Hikashu song, itself a cover of a Ventures tune. Polysics also covered it, with better results, but the more rigid and robotic FLOPPY version still has a lot going for it. Speaking of Polysics, "Void" has the air of Hiro all over it, from the gradually ascending blip-scales and pounding surf-rock guitar, complete with the squelchy slide at the end. Am I just hearing things, or is there something going on here?

Deus Ex Machina is another solid release from FLOPPY. While their output may be spotty and unpredictable with the lasting taste of bedroom production and self-release, the songs are very catchy and fun, the perfect thing to round out the collection of any self-respecting chip-tune enthusiast.




(3) COMMENTS



 
 
 

You must be logged in to post a comment. Click here to login or create a user account now


 
Anime news got news? tips@japanator.com
First teaser for Karigurashi No Arrietty shows up
Annotated Anime: Winter 2010 Week 5
What we want from a new Sailor Moon
An Ode to the GARtender: the most manly man among men!
Man Day: Kamina my Love, I love you more than Colette
JapanaTen: Ten shows you that teach you how to be a man
Arrietty the Borrower now dated for Japanese theaters
Sailor Moon Returns! (kind of)
The Otaku Express joins anime and rap in musical rhapsody
Why So Ra No Wo To is failing
Animekaki means anime oekaki which means I'M VERY BUSY
Japanator AM Episode 3: Harem Hijinks
Is Christina Vee the new Haruhi?
Bakemonogatari vol. 4 sells like crazy thanks to lolis
FUNimation licenses Dragon Ball Kai, to release this year
Highschool of the Dead getting an anime adaptation!
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha filmstrips fetch insane bids
Multiple Gundam series streaming online now
K-ON! season 2 coming in April
Guy gets full back Nanoha tattoo, girlfriend and mom cry



New episode: Japanator Radio 121 GET!


Loading
Loading Videos


    Community Blogs   + post a blog   view all


















    TEAM

    Editor-in-Chief

    Brad Rice

    Managing Editor
    Dale North


    Associate Editors
    Chelsea Thompson
    Colette Bennett
    Edward Baylon
    Eva Duenas
    Rio McCarthy
    Tim Sheehy
    Topher Cantler
    Zac Bentz

    Made by

    ModernMethod













    about us and privacy policy