This live music review was a submission by me for Brighton based website Blaggg (currently under reconstruction).

Chiptune Alliance Tour, Luton: 25^th September, 2009.

[Sabrepulse; also reaching for the Mojitos…]

“I’m going to go fucking MENTAL tonight!” exclaims my mate – and electronic music enthusiast - Sam, accompanying me this Friday evening on a graffiti-raped train to Luton to witness a showcase of ‘Chiptune’ music down at Bedfordshire’s University Student Union. Broadly, the genre encompasses music written in a format in which all sounds are synthesized in real time by a computer or video game console’s sound chip, instead of using more common sample-based synthesis. Or, more simply; live 8-Bit, Game Boy-type music you can rave to. Considering the venue (and also the fact that it’s a 14+ show), I warn Sam that the audience may consist of a handful of tee-total youngsters, ruining any serious opportunity for a mash up. A clearly excited and nonchalant Sam dismisses my comment and our conversation turns to other topics for the remainder of our rail journey.

We eventually find the UBSU and the bar is full of university Freshers. This is tolerable since we’re not much older, ourselves recently graduating from Brighton University. We investigate where the gig itself is located and - after collecting our over 18’s wristbands so we can booze up - we are pointed in the direction of what I like to describe as a “glorified shed”. And this shed is bombarded by children, a number of which appear to be under the 14 year minimum. My tirade of “I told-you-so” results in an accusation of hipster snobbery from Sam. Well, if apathy to boogie-on-down with horny, scantily (un)dressed preteens hell bent on trying to fuck one another, who wouldn’t recognise a rave if it kicked ‘em square up the arse and the sea of UV filling the room this evening was injected directly into their pupils…then snob I’ll happily be. There’s only one thing for it; regularly accost the barman (that looks as if he is more used to serving pick-a-mix than he is alcoholic beverages) for £1.50 bottles of Mojito and guzzle down like we did in the local park at 15, in order to numb the experience.

First we see Fighter X who impress with their self dubbed “intelligent dance music”. The duos often grimy, Game Boy sound-effect injected trance leaves those young attendees hoping to hear pretty Nintendo sounds scratching their heads but does see the older minority getting into it by the close of their set. Next up is Sweden’s GO TO 80 who is more accessible thanks to a cleaner sound and obvious pop influence. Sam and I are indifferent until he starts to sing during his last two tracks, transforming bog-standard chiptune into something much worse. Disappointing. Headlining tonight is Sabrepulse, both genre pioneer and organiser of the annual Chiptune Alliance tours. It is his 8-bit infused breakcore efforts this evening that fully demonstrate his talent but unsurprisingly, it is the remix of (popular 8-bit-pop MySpace band) Colon Open Bracket’s ‘Twin Chevron Action Flash’ that receives the greatest welcome. Chiptune is a genre that thrives outside of the mainstream’s eye, particularly online and across the music pages of MySpace and this is a probable explanation for the young demographic tonight. It is a shame for neither Sabrepulse nor Fighter X would sound out of place at established electronic music venues but instead they’ve been booked to play what appears to be a school disco. Very bizarre.