Spikey Wikey brings us his re-imagination of the episode “Wonderbolt Academy” with a dark and intense Drum and Bass track. This song is full of gritty basslines, fast and dirty breakbeats, and vocal samples from the show – a fiery combination that takes you back to the rivalry between Lighting Dust and Rainbow Dash. You can feel all the tension of their relationship permeate in the atmosphere of this complete banger! Rock n’ Roll starts with an uncanny, chopped break loop accompanied by a gloomy Rhodes piano and a quiet sample of footsteps. The track layers more and more instruments including deep bass and a synth that makes a simple, eerie melody. More drums help reach that climactic moment where the vocal sample glitches into the drop. It’s a very good track as one would expect from Spikey Wikey (he’s a master), and with his new song, there is no doubt about that!
Original
[P@D] Tw3Lv3 – Everlast (feat. Scoonie) | Liquid Drum & Bass
Last year was a tough time for many of us, and Tw3Lv3 especially went through a lot of hardships. However, she was also able to look past that to the positive aspects that still remain and channel them into this wonderfully soothing love letter, featured on P@D’s Aurora album last year. With help from Scoonie to bring some thoughts regarding it all to life, there’s also plenty of the chilled out vibes Tw3Lv3 is increasingly becoming known for.
[Album] Brambleshadow4 – Dustcar 2021: The Scraps | Pop/Chiptune
If you haven’t checked out DustCar yet, it may be worth your time to join the Discord server where every two weeks they host a songwriting competition open to everyone as a way to encourage musicians of every skill level to challenge themselves to create something musically. Over the course of 2021, Brambleshadow4 made several contributions to the competition and combined them into The Scraps album which showcases a variety of genres ranging from a singer-songwriter style of just ukulele and vocals, to heavy chiptune, and even a live Christmas remix from TrotCon! This album is a great example of how the DustCar community challenges its participants to try different things in their music as well as grow through the experience!
PSFMer – Unicorn Attack | Techno / Afro-Beat
PSFMer doesn’t stop amazing us with his tracks, especially with his brand new release “Unicorn Attack”, which is centered around the new generation movie! This track is a curious but perfect mix of Afro Percussion and Techno, a rare combination that we have seen very sparingly in the fandom, and features vocals from G5 as well as audio by 15.ai. The whole track is a vibe that makes you wanna move your body! The song starts with a constantly growing and evolving percussion rhythm, little by little layering more percussive sounds, like if the track were coming alive. After all this drum craziness, we got some vocal chops, including Hitch screaming the song title – very crazy stuff going on this track! This is a cool and groovy track, so please don’t hesitate to check it out!
[Album] Skyshard – The Borderline | Synthwave/Indie Electronic
Right after Christmas, Skyshard dropped this huge, immersive album offering an extended look into their dystopian, Equestria Girls world. Though fully instrumental, The Borderline tells the story of a scientist working in a dark future where he finds the truth behind the shady workings of the tyrannical mega-corporation. The album as a whole explores lots of different styles to the synthwave sound and switched back and forth between melodic and often optimistic tracks versus emptier, more barren soundscapes. Every track is distinct form the last, and it is easy to tell each song is written with a specific purpose in mind as it relates to the story! (continued after the break)
Melochromatic Sunset: The first song on the album does a great job imprinting a large, dismal world and industrial turmoil at the heart of it all. The synth work is both excitingly melodic and heavily burdensome when it needs to be. The attack on the instruments perfectly establishes the oppressive feel of the landscape, especially in the deep, echoing drums.
Numbers: About halfway through the album, this track may catch you off-guard. Among a patch of songs defined mainly for their slower, emptier and more pessimistic atmospheres, Numbers sticks out for its flashier melodies and rhythms which are highlighted in the synths and give off an impression of hope in what has been a largely harsh environment.
The Other Side: The penultimate track on the album really brightens up with flashy strings, bright synths in the background, and quicker, more energy-driven melodies. One of the longest songs on the album, this track paces its message well through differently styled sections which all build beautifully through layering instruments as the piece goes on.
There are a whooping 42 songs included in The Borderline, so it is definitely encouraged to get the full album on Skyshard’s bandcamp, for the wholly immersive and incredible experience!
[VibePoniez] BlueBrony & Drummershy – Insomnia (Sprout’s Friday Night) | Jazz
Have you ever had one of those nights where you can’t sleep? And it seems that the only thing you can do is to reflect on your past, your future, and everything around you? Sometimes it’s fatiguing and annoying; some other times are just empty and apparently useless. Well, BlueBrony and Drummershy know that feeling, and deliver to us this fascinating jazz piece, with charming keys, some groovy drums, and a flute melody that is just stunning. The track opens with vocals telling us about a man who fails to fall asleep every night. Then all the instruments come together and enhance the atmosphere, like you were visiting all your memories and ambitions, while trying to get a moment of sleep. Everything cuts out, leaving only the Rhodes, a warm guitar, and a filtered drum kit that slowly and delightfully add more color to the track. By the end of the song, you have gained more experience and are finally ready to get sleep. The whole tune is a vibe, holding true to the compilation album!
[P@D] StealingShad3z – Radio Silence | Pop Rock
It has been a while, huh? This Qilin of Brony music is still breathing, and today I’m excited by some FOE goodness courtesy of StealingShad3z! If a song could set a theme and environment on point, it would be this. For all you FOE fans, you notice right away this is the moment Lil’ pip is out of her stable with a mighty big reality check of the wastelands. Shadz’s melodies with his guitar work and that soft base speak of the horror Lil pip is seeing for the first time. The thump of the drums and Shad3z’s vocal work (which is always a treat) sell the violence, fear, and will to survive. As lyrics tell the emotions, the music aids with this haunting but lovely tone – like there is a bit of hope that a friend could be around the corner, or your end. As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself. It’s good to be back.
Nicolas Dominique – Kites | Chillout / Progressive Breaks
Nicolas is back with a remaster of Kites, and its the first track in their upcoming album LANTERNS due next month! You can always pick out Nicolas’s atmospheres and progressions, and this is no exception! A constant yet mellow pulsing bassline is the backbone for a stunning soundscape and snappy drum breaks that never gets boring. I can very easily see a scene play out of “No thoughts, just kites”, and can’t wait to see what the album brings!
[Equinity] Nevermourn – Summertime Memories | Drum and Bass
A great addition to the Immersion compilation album from Equinity last year, Nevermourn finds a way to bring a peaceful vibe among the madness. True to the genre, Summertime Memories makes use of a wide, immersive soundscape over top of a DnB beat. Throw in some bells, occasional piano melody, and a live recording of some distant noise and you are transported to an entirely different world!
SmD House – Let’s Move On | Progressive Breaks/Chillout
Aaaaaand back with a new writeup! SmD House has released a new atmospheric breakbeat tune that, as the title suggests, is reflective and hopeful. Adorned with an airy soundscape and plenty of chimes, this catchy beat is very bright and knows when to push onward with vigor and also when to reign itself in. T’was a thing to come home to and listen to on repeat just as the sun started rising. Great job SmD! Here’s to more unique and fun pieces in the future!
Horse Music Herald 