#and also metal sonic teams up with sonic and end up being a duo of t4t antihero and amy leads an underground resistance perhaps. girlbosses | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

blackhakumen · 1 year

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Mini Fanfic #1041: Whatever it Takes (Sonic)

10:32 p.m. at G.U.N. High Tech Secret Computer Room.......

Eggman: (Tries Typing in the Access Codes on G.U.N.'s Computer Before Letting Out an Annoyed Glare) ('Ugggh') Of all the lousy-This is the sixth time this heap of junk has kicked me out of the blasted sever! (Lays his Head on the Palm of his Hand) I knew G.U.N.'s security and access systems are a challenge to crack, but I didn't think it would get THIS frustrating......

Metal Sonic: ('Mechanical Scarp Noise')

Eggman: (Rolls his Eyes) Yes, I know we've been in here for the past hour or so, but until we find the necessary inputs we need to bring my little girl back to life, we are not leaving of this room! Now be more patient! I need a few seconds to think.

Metal turns way from his creator with arms crossed as the doctor himself begins take one deep breath to maintain his thought process.

Eggman: Calm yourself, Robotnik. You been in this kind of situation multiple times before in the past, this isn't any different. It's not like it could get any worse from he-

'A-HEM'

Eggman begins to get startled up from his seat and Metal starts getting into battle position as they turn to see Shadow the Hedgehog slowly walking out of the shadows.

Shadow: Doctor, Metal. Fancy seeing you two in here this evening.

Eggman: S-S-Shadow! Uhh....(Smiles Very Awkwardly) L-Long time no see! W-What brings you here on this.....fine evening?

Shadow: Well, I was going to clock out for the night, visiting my family and whatnot. That is......(Glares Narrowly at the Duo) Until I noticed two, very familiar trespassers infiltrating a highly classified computer room in the middle of the night. Care to explain why that's the case?

Eggman: .....Uhh....(Turns to Metal Sonic) We're here for......(Slowly Turns Back to Shadow With an Awkward Smile on his Face) Research purposes?

Metal Sonic: (Starta Nodding to this Statement)

Shadow: (Stares at Eggman and Metal For a Few Seconds Before Letting Out a Sigh) Okay. Let me rephrase that: either you tell you why you two are really here....(Creates a Green Bright Like Energy on the Palm of his Hand With a Menacing Glare in his Eyes) or I'll end your existence in the next three seconds. (Slowly Walks Towards the Duo) One......Two......-

Eggman: Alright, fine! I'll confess! The real reason why Metal and I are here is so we could find the exact coding, inputs and steps needed to restore back my daughter's physical form.

Shadow: You.....(Raises an Eyebrow as The Green Engery Disappears From his Hand) Have an actual daughter.

Eggman: Shocker, I know. But it's the truth nonetheless. Her name is Sage Robotnik. She's an A.I I created with the sole purpose to hack into the Starfall Island to find any secrets that lies within. As well as beating Sonic at his own game as per usual, but that's beside the point. Our....(Starts Scratching Behind his Head With a Bit of a Guilty Look on his Face) relationship hasn't gone off to a good start at first, but hopefully if the process comes out successful, then maybe.....I could do whatever I can to change all of that. May take a while, but-

Eggman starts noticing Shadow staring at him with narrow, doubtful look in his eyes.

Eggman: Wait, why are you staring at me? (Starts Glaring at Shadow) Are you actually going to believe that I'm making all of this up as I go along!?

Shadow: ('Sigh') Look, it's not that I DON'T want to believe you. (Crosses his Arms Together) But you do have a history of being dishonest.

Eggman: ('Scoffs') Oh please. Name one time!

Shadow: Well, for starters, you never bother to give me any details on what happened to me during the Ark. Let alone if I was truly who I said I was or not.

Eggman: I.....never had the chance to give you a thorough answer on the issues at hand. Far too busy.

Shadow: (Raises an Eyebrow) Trying to destroy me and my team?

Eggman: You kept getting in my way! Not as bad as Sonic, but you're a close second!

Shadow: (Rolls his Eyes) Right. Back on the topic of dishonesty, there were also times where you tricked Knuckles into working for you on numerous occasions.

Eggman: How else was I supposed to get the Master Emerald without him suspecting anything? And it's not my fault he kept being gullible.

Metal Sonic: ('Scrap Noise')

Eggman: (Turns Back to Metal) Oh come on. You're still gung-ho about that? It was a long time ago! Get over it!!

Metal Sonic: (Turns Away From the Doctor While Making More Scrap Noises)

Eggman: Don't you dare try and get smart with me, you bucket of boils. I'm STILL your creator!!

Metal Sonic: ('Scrap Noise')

Shadow: Using One of Metal's claws as a backscratcher without him noticing. That's low, even for you.

Eggman: (Turns Back to Shadow With a Sharp Glare) Stay out of this, Hedgehog or so help me-

'Beep Beep Beep'

Shadow: Hold that thought. (Press his Finger on One of the Ear Pieces He's Wearing) Shadow's speaking.

Omega: (Speaks From the Other Line of the Call) Shadow, my tracker reads that you are located inside the classified computer room. Are there any intruders spotted inside the facility?

Shadow: Wel-

Eggman: (In a Hushed Voice) Shadow wait!

Shadow slowly turns his head to the doctor to let him speak

Eggman: ('Sigh Heavily') Okay, look, I know my years of villainy and our countless banters between one another has already proven your suspension of me in more ways than none, but believe me when I say that this is something I DESPERATELY need to accomplish more than anything else right now! For the past few days, I have been feeling nothing but a deep amount of regret and guilt for the way I've mistreated my own daughter since the day escaped from that cursed cyberspace dimension. And I want nothing more than to start over and make things right with her and this computer in front of me is the only chance I have into making it a reality! So please, Shadow. For once......(A Tear Staets Falling Down From his Eyes) let me try and do something right for once in my excruciating life.

Shadow stares deep into the doctor's eyes and Metal's claw softly reaching out for his creator's shoulder as he barely let the words of his name come out from his mouth. Eggman has been known as lot of things to Shadow and most of his acquaintance over the years: evil, curel, calculus, egotisic, selfish, a sore loser, the list goes on. But he never thought would ever see him get so.... sincere and emotional over something he cares about until now, let alone an A.I. he has already considered as his own child. Before he could process this any further, he starts hearing Omega's voice again from his earpiece.

Omega: Shadow, do you still copy?

Shadow: (Place his Two Fingers Back on the Earpiece) Yeah, I'm still here. Sorry I haven't answered back to you earlier, I wanted to make sure there wasn't intruders present in the area. (Turns Back to Eggman Once More Before Letting Out a Sigh of his Own) And luckily for us, there seems to be no else one present in here except me. Tell Rouge I'll meet you two outside in a few.

Omega: Affirmative. Over and out.

Eggman: (Eyes Widened a Bit at Shadow Turning Off his Earpiece) You're.....actually not going to rat us out?

Shadow: (Shrugs) You said you wanted to look for the correct coding and inputs for your daughter's revival, right? Might as well make this opportunity count while you still have the chance. (Raises an Eyebrow) If you're clever enough to find them that is.

Eggman: ('Scoffs') Oh please. Do you have any idea who you're talking to right now? I am the most evilest scientist this world has privilege to offer! I can crack down anything- ('YAWN') In....a matter of seconds.

Shadow: .....Right. (Turns Around and Walk Away) Good luck with that then-

Eggman: Shadow!

Shadow: (Turns his Head Back to Eggman) Hm?

Eggman: (Gives One Sincere Nod to the Ultimate Lifeform) Thank you.

Shadow: (Stares at the Doctor For a Brief Second Before Nodding Back at Him) Have a Happy Holidays, Doctor. (Disappears in a Flashly Green Light)

Eggman: (Takes One Deep Breath) Alright, then. It seems we're wasting enough time as it is. (Turns Back to the Computer and Begins Typing) Let's get back work, Metal.

Metal Sonic: ('Scrap Noise')

The Next Morning, Eggman's Laboratory.......

?????'s P.O.V

????: (Slowly Opens her Eyes as She Wakes Up From What Felt Like Long Slumber) Nrgh.....Wha....(Turns and Looks Around to See a Room Full of Machines and Inventions) W-Where.....am I?

Eggman: (Walks Into the Room) Ah, it seems you're finally awake now, Sage.

Sage: F-Father? Is that really you?

Eggman: In the flesh. It took some time, but we've finally brought you back to your physical form.

Sage: Y....You have?

Eggman: (Moves a Nearby Mirror and Piece it in Front of Sage's Viewpoint) Take a look for yourself.

Sage turns her attention towards the mirror in front her. As she uses both of her hands to place and softly pats on both cheeks, her eyes slowly begins widens in genuine surprise at the sight of herself being real, no longer an A.I. she originally was beforehand.

Sage: Father....you.....(Turns Back to Eggman) truly went out of you way to do this for me?

Eggman: (Simply Nodded with a Small, Sincere Smile) That's right. I wouldn't be able keep moving with my life knowing that my own daughter isn't there to live with me.

Sage places her hand on her chest as heart begins to melt by her father's words in silence.

Eggman: Now, unfortunately, I have to limit the amount of abilities you had when you started out as an A.I. But I was able to bring back your flight ability.

Sage turns her body to edge of the chair she was sleeping on and hops off it before noticing her feet is hovering above the floor. It wasn't long for the awaken girl to her flight to the test by flying across the room causing her to start giggling a little after a few seconds or so later.

Eggman: Having fun up there, my dear?

Sage: Most certainly!~ I've never realize how exciting it would be to fly around in this exact- (Suddenly Begins to Gasps Loudly at the Blue Robotic Figure Walking into the Laboratory) Father! (Points at the Robot in Question) what who in the word is that?~

Metal Sonic: (Raised an Circuit Eyebrow at the Hovering Little Girl) ('Scrap Noise')

Eggman: That, my dear Sage, is one of my greatest creations known to men, Metal Sonic. Created solely to best that pesky blue hedgehog in every way possible with a little mix of mechanical figures of course.

Sage: (Flew Over to Wjere Metal is Standing and Examines Him) Such machinery......(Picks Up Metal's Hand) clever enchantments.......and an overall design that screams intimidation- ('Gasps') Wait. If he is deemed as one of your creations, then....does this .....(Eyes Begins to Sparkle With Hope) makes us siblings?~

Eggman: (Turns his Eyes Towards Metal For a Few Seconds Before Turning Back to Sage) Uhh.....(Smiles a Bit Awkwardly) Y-Yes! You are very much related in this household. In fact, since I've created Metal very much before you were even a thought means that he would be your strong, big brother.

Metal slowly turns his head to Eggman in a disbelief fashion.

Sage: Metal?

Metal turns back to Sage in question.

Sage: Is what father said is true? Are you.....(Eyes Begins to Widened in an Innocent, Hopeful Sense) really my older brother?

Metal turns back at Eggman who motions his hands while silently telling him to tell his daughter "Yes" before turning back to the curious girl, mentally sighing to himself to oblivion.

Metal Sonic: ('Scrap Noise')

Eggman: ........He says "yes" by the way.

Sage: (Let Out an Excited Squeal as She Happily Gives the Robotic Sonic Copy a Loving Hug) This is wonderful news~ I truly hope that our newly established relationship from here on out, will grow and develop ever fondly as the years go by.

Metal makes more scrap noises while slowly and gently Safe on the back as blush begins to appear on his metal cheeks.

Eggman: D'awwwwww~ Are those blushes I see, Metal?

Sage: ('Gasps') My goodness, they are. (Places Her Hand Onto Metal's Forehead Woth a Concern Look on her Face) You're not having a fever, are you?

Eggman: Oh no, robots don't have fevers, dear. He's just happy to have you as your little sister is all.

Metal: (Glares at Eggman While Making More Scrap Noises)

Eggman: (Glares Back at the Robot) Oh don't look at me like that. I know you're enjoying her company already! Anyways, my other creations, Orbot and Cubot, are still charging up at the moment. So you're gonna have to introduce yourself to them later.

Sage: (Let Out Yet Another Gasp as Her Eyes Starts Sparkle Again) More siblings!~

Eggman: (Chuckles Lightly) Yes, yes. ('YAWN') More....siblings.

Sage: (Notices a Small,, Holographic Chart Begins to Pop Up in the Viewpoint of One of her Eyes) Father, my reading are telling me that your exhaustion levels are in an all time high. (Frowns Worryingly) Have you've been getting enough rest as of late?

Eggman: ('Heh') I wish. I've been too busy bringing you back to the living that I hardly got any chance get some proper shut eye let alone ever setting foot on my own bedroom- (Suddenly Felt Something Pushing Him) 'Ack'- H-Hey!

Sage: (Pushes Her Father Out of the Laboratory, Much to Resistance) Appalling. This will not do at all.

Eggman: (Turns his Head at Sage With An Annoued Glare on his Face) Sage Ivo Robotnik, what on Earth do you think you are doing now, young lady!?

Sage: (Pouts as She Continues to Push Eggman) Returning you back to your sleeping area. While I very much appericate your efforts in bringing back to life in, you are in desperate need of a proper rest, mister.

Eggman: (Groans While Rolling his Eyes) Honestly, do you really think I don't know that already? At least let me make you and Metal breakfast first before anything else. You must be hungry.

Sage: (Suddenly Felt her Tummy Growling as She Places her Hand on It) Hm. It seems I am in need of a balance meal at the moment.....(Turns to Metal Behind Her) What about you, brother?

Metal: (Nodded in Agreement With his Thumb Up)

Sage: (Turns Back to her Father) Very well. We will let you make us breakfast for the time being. (Wiggles her Finger Up and Down at Eggman in a Motherly Like Fashion) After that, it's straight to bed with you, Father!

Eggman: ('Sigh') Yes, yes. I hear you loud and clear. Just don't worry about too much, okay?

Sage: (Smiles Softly as She Tilt her Head to the Side a Little) Only if you promise to take more care of yourself for now on, father. Your health is just as important as the both of us after all.

Metal: (Nodded in Agreement)

Eggman: (Slowly Starts to Smile Back his Newly Found Family in Front of Him) ('Hmph') Don't I know it.

@keyenuta

@cyber-wildcat

@ma-lemons

@albion-93

#sonic series #dr eggman #metal sonic #shadow the hedgehog #e 123 omega #sage robotnik #rouge (mentioned)#sonic (mentioned)#orbot and cubot (mentioned)#takes place after the events of sonic frontiers #humor #a bit of angst #found family #sweet family moment #metal is sage's big brother now #spoilers to sonic frontiers btw #christmas stories #kind of #edited

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true-blue-sonic · 9 months

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So I just remembered that the Ifrit can mind control people? In the same game that Silver has psychic control? It was a colossal missed opportunity to not have Silver use his powers to free the other characters from Ifrit's control.

In general, the whole concept of the Ifrit apparently being able to mind control people is tremendously wasted, in my opinion... So wasted that I actually lacked active awareness about it until I read this ask just now! It also doesn't help that it never shows that power for either Shadow and Metal Sonic or Silver and Espio, only for the other two teams. I guess because the former two duos were the only ones who got really actively involved with the whole Eggman Nega revelation, whereas Sonic and Tails plus Knuckles and Rouge never find out about it, as far as I know?

But having Silver just scramble everyone's brains completely to stop against the mind control is definitely an intriguing thought... not to mention a funny one. Considering the way to break this mind control is literally either defeating the Ifrit or defeating the Ifrit while beating the snot out of the controlled character, Silver's psychic control definitely could have come in handy to scramble that character's senses and make sure they couldn't attack the heroes fighting against the Ifrit! And since we don't really know much about Silver's latent telepathic powers, there is a lot left to theorise and speculate about whether or not he could break mind control with it. Though, the way Rivals 2 is set up with the four teams that all fight the same final boss (so who defeated the Ifrit in the end?) makes that impossible, sadly. Still, considering I have a rewrite of Rivals 2 in my drafts, it is something I could definitely consider to see if I can work it in somehow!

#sonic rivals 2 #silver the hedgehog #with active awareness I mean that I know the fact already but just not at the top of my head basically #psychic control generally should return if only because it's going to be a PAIN to deal with and I love that kind of OP!Silver-ness haha

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atangledfate · 1 year

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Plots Please - Feel free to use ANY of my characters for such a thing!

" Well at the top of my list is to continue the Amy and Blaze plotline i think that's the one plot i am most excited for! Outside of that one, i Think it would be really fun to have a plot with Kit and Surge that takes place directly after issue 56. It would give me a chance to explore kit more, and having them as a duo i think would be alot of fun. Where do they go next, what is there plans ahead, all of that is super fun!

Outside of that, we did talk about your mole girl and gold and honestly i adore gold and any excuse i get to rp her i'll jump at. as for Specific Plot i think having gold fall from the sky and end up landing on poor lilly from above would be pretty funny introduction. From there its alot of gold hiding the truth and the council sending bots from the future to try and steal back Gold---lots of fun could erupt around that!

This could be a really fun idea but, i have Archie Verse for Whisper taking place during the EggBoss era of the comics. Where by Whisper is a former egg soldier who defected, but a defect in her cybernetics allows her to continue operations without being locked out by eggman. I'd love to see that first moment that she's brought to sally, despite helping Sonic and the others rescue those fleeing from Spiral Village she's still one of the enemy and how that interaction would go and how Sally would end up helping her, as her old team is hunting her down. Course Archie Tangle could also fit in here as a survivor of spiral village and a young recruit desperate to help after her home was destroyed! all of that would be awesome! I adore this verse ^^

A few other ideas...

Rumble and Silence the anti tangle and whisper running into Scourge could be fun perhaps, helping each other escape from a prison of some kind or simply scourge trying to recruit new members to his team.

Neo Metal and Belle having an actual brother sister relationship i think would be awesome as well. Perhaps him trying to convince her to his way of thinking only it goes the other direction instead.

Surge meeting my Blaze could be interesting! not sure on plot but i know she'd try to help Surge if she knew her story.

anyway i think that's enough ideas =D "

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tigermisty6 · 2 years

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also here’s some headcannons about Bowser Jr. and Charmy being friends :)

Charmy made the first move; it was the Winter Olympics and he had the wonderful idea to go sledding down the hill the athletes ski and snowboard on, but wouldn’t you know it, the boring adults wouldn’t let him go!

That’s when he realized that there’s another 6 year old kid who would probably love to go extreme sledding with him, and could probably get past the adults: Bowser Jr.

Jr was extremely confused why a goody two shoes like Charmy was talking to him, but as soon as he heard the idea he was all in. He worked things around and was able to get them to the top of the hill. During which, they bonded and became good freinds. This was turning out great for them!

and that’s when they found out why the adults were stopping they’re plan: the sled went too fast and they fell off and start tumbling down at a fast rate. Luckily, Mario and Sonic were around while it happened (I’m still figuring out why) and sonic was able to catch the kids before they got seriously injured.

Vector wanted to end the friendship right then and there, but later he found Metal Sonic and Bowser comforting a crying Jr in his shell, trying to reassure him that he’ll find another friend one day, with Jr insisting that his freind ships never last, and they’ll leave eventually. This made Vector feel extremely guilty, and he lifted the ban, as long as they were under supervision.

The duo were estactic that they were allowed be together again! And they definitely follow Vector’s rules and stay supervised and not run off ;)

they play online games like Splatoon and others I can’t think of right now.

Jr will gladly pay things for Charmy. Don’t have enough for tokens at the arcade? Jr will pay. Need a ticket to ride that ride at the fair? Jr’s got him covered. Charmy wants a toy from the toy store? Guess which turtle is paying for it.

Everyone has a reaction to their friendship

Bowser is very happy that his son finally has a friend, and is the one paying for their adventures. He considers Charmy a good friend for his son to have. He also doesn’t care that Charmy is good guy, he just cares that his son has a freind at all. Very supportive of the relationship!

Mario and Peach are also happy for Jr.! They know he’s a lonely kid, and they’re happy he finally found someone as energetic as him. Also very relieved that his friend is a good guy.

Vector is somewhat supportive, but is also extremely worried about the relationship. He doesn’t want charmy to become a criminal, after all! Luckily for him, it looks like Charmy is firmly on the side of good. He also gets along surprisingly great with Bowser! The relationship was shaky at first, but they bonded over adopting and having kids and all the fun that comes from that

Espio will sometimes spy on the two of them to make sure they’re not doing anything too dangerous. Is very protective of Charmy, and doesn’t quite approve of the friendship. Still lets them be together because it hasn’t gotten too bad for him yet.

Eggman

Metal Sonic found out about the friendship and instantly went into Big Brother Mode for Jr.. He’s proud of Jr. for making a new friend, but also wants to make sure he doesn’t screw it up. Will team up with Espio to spy on the two of them.

Eggman is also proud of Jr. but also knows that all future attacks that affect Charmy will make the next Olympics extremely awkward. That doesn’t stop him but still-

Sonic found out and now helps them out with their plans if he has time.

Jr. absolutely loves the friendship, but it’s also kinda changed his view on Eggman…

Jr. and Charmy will take turns talking about their adventures back at home.

They both play Roblox and Splatoon together

Jr. would fight anyone who messes with Charmy.

Chanry would fight anyone who messes with Jr.

a really wholesome and Chaotic friendship!

#Charmy the bee #Bowser Jr.#they’re best friends #Also maybe Jr. is encouraging Charmy to be an arsonist whoops-

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nyoom-boom · 2 years

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Sometimes I wonder what if the writers scrapped what Sonic Forces is right now, said fuck Classic Sonic and Deadly Six, and made the story go towards a whole new direction without changing the theme of the game

What if instead of just Sonic, Tails and Avatar/Gadget were also the duo of the game? Infinite picks up the mask and takes the Phantom Ruby for vengeance against Shadow for his lost team who were also technically family, instead of inferiority complex label lazily slapped onto him, and Avatar meet Tails five seconds in for the fox to save their ass in the Tornado from Infinite with a powerful wispon that Tails trusts to Avatar which becomes their main weapon in the game. The Tornado is later harmed though, Tails staying back to quickly fix it up whilst trusting Avatar with the wispon to being back to the HQ with amazing news.

Tails worked in secret to make an even more powerful weapons that incorporates wisps in them- introducing more game mechanics. Knuckles couldn't tell the others because someone might've attacked Tails and used their own weapon against them- something they definitely do not want to happen.

Throughout the journey there are multiple roadblocks- a small fight against Badniks, a quick detour to save a wisp that joins you, the challenge of avoiding the Illusion Cubes and fighting the lookalikes of the people from the Resistance- more often Shadow. Tails is there to help, pulling up with the Tornado mid-journey after repairing it

It becomes what the writers wanted to achieve- more character being fleshed out, more interaction between characters- not from the perspective of a blue blur loved by all, but from just a someone dragged into this mess of a war for no reason, and absolutely no Classic Sonic or Deadly Six.

(Fuck Classic Sonic and Deadly Six. All my bros hate Classic Sonic and Deadly Six.)

(Also speaking of them- since there's no dimensional fuckery there's a reason for the writers to not put Blaze into the game.)

Sonic has his quills cut, short and jagged- he can no longer spindash. He still keeps his speed, but still helpless in terms of strength to fight against Metal Sonic keeping him prisoner due to starvation and the constant torture of being in the prison. He's fast on his heels, quick enough to send a message- one that reaches the Resistance, and kickstarts Avatar's journey towards Infinite and rescuing Sonic, who can only keep running for so long within the prison until Avatar reaches the prison. Insert stages/stealth mechanics maybe.

Sonic teams with Avatar to fight Metal who eventually retreats after being heavily damaged, his only ability here is to boost their speed, which becomes helpful when the prison is accidentally destroyed from the tremors of their fight, and a running stage with a timer starts.

With a swift escape, they are yet to actually defeat their foes who are still hot on their tail- leading to the ultimate 'climax' point of the original game where everyone gathers to fight against the Eggman Empire, the only difference is there is no Sonic as he has gone after Infinite who pulled Avatar away to the sides, recounting the time he nearly ended the other's life but only to have a young fox to step in and protect him.

(He's angered. Jealous even- he couldn't do that for his own team, his own family.)

The final fight is here, with Sonic wielding a wispon and fighting against Infinite with a huge handicap on his part due to his inability to spin dash, and now- he still wins. He wins with his speed, his determination albeit constantly beaten up over and over, and in the end still teaches the lesson, friendship is magic and boy does it always win in the end.

Just a mess of thoughts at 3am while listening to the Sunset Heights ost after the entire 'Infinite heavily implied to be dead' thing, I unironically really liked Forces though I wished it was taken into another direction

#sonic forces #sth #sonic the hedgehog #tails the fox #gadget the wolf #eggman #metal sonic #robotnik #dr eggman #deadly six #classic sonic #blaze the cat #mentioned? so uh #this is incredibly convoluted and messy and just #admittedly it's not well written #but just a thought and mess of rambles of what could've been #rambles go nyoom

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idw-sonic-fan-blog · 3 years

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The Mandates

Just wanted to share my thoughts on the pro-ported mandates because they cast a shadow on this comic.

“Game characters cannot have relatives unless they were estabilished in the game canon, i.e. Cream and her mother.”

This one is understandable and you can blame Penders for this. Mind you that most licensed comics of gaming franchises don’t actually delve too much in personal family relationships or expand on them. So this is expected and honestly Sega should have put the screws on Archie decades ago about this.

“Game characters can not die. There are workarounds for this, such as being Mistaken for Dying or "Mistaken For Dead”

Again. Yes. Not a big deal.

“Game characters cannot have wardrobe changes unless approved. Chao Races and Badnik Bases has some characters (mainly the female game characters) wear different clothes for extreme conditions. Male characters remain the same.”

This is a useless rule but whatever. I mean Sega, you are the ones putting bad wardrobe choices on the characters so again it’s whatever.

“Sonic can't be shown getting too emotional (i.e;cry)”

This is one that it complained about because it really wouldn’t matter unless it is called attention to. A lot of superheroes don’t cry. But that doesn’t prohibit them from expressing themselves. IDW Sonic has been sad. He has been pissed. He has been furious.

Is this not too emotional?

Is he not expressing himself appropriately?

I don’t even know why this is brought up. When in this comic has Sonic not been expressive or displaying the appropriate amount of emotion? When did Sonic needing to cry be necessary?

“Game characters cannot enter in a relationship.”

Oh GOD YES. Don’t threaten me with a good time.

“All major Character Development must be approved by SEGA.”

Yeah, of course. Let me remind you that Penders and Archie ruined any strand of trust Sega could have in comic media. They played loose at first and all of the sudden, they are involved in a lawsuit about characters in a Sonic comic that they didn’t even know about. They probably lost a video game business relationship because of it. If they want to be involved in the comics, fine. That means that they are now forced to World Build. They have to invest in it now and not just be like Lucas Films and let anybody do anything with their flagship title.

“Much like the post-reboot of the Archie comic, the words "Mobius" is banned—the planet is simply called "Sonic's World". Unlike the Post-Boot, which allowed the names "Mobian" and "Mobini", anything related to Mobius is banned in this comic.”

…Of course but how about you throw the writer’s a bone and I don’t know, name the fucking planet. If it is not Earth, give it a name.

“Sonic must always win at the end. Even if he and his friends are at the losing end in an overarching story (the Metal Virus arc, for example), they must come out on top when it concludes.”

I don’t even get this rule and the knee jerk hatred for it. Why even have it? Why even share the existence of this rule? Archie Sonic didn’t really lose too bad. It’s more on how you frame a victory. The fact of the matter is that Eggman is still actively trying to conquer the planet. Sonic stops him but Eggman still has control of land and has military installations all over.

This rule is offset by this. While Sonic can’t lose, Sonic can’t completely win.

“Characters and material from other licensed properties (Sonic the Comic, Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics), Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM)', Sonic Underground, the OVA, Sonic X and the Paramount films cannot be used. This rule extends to characters and redesigns done by the current writers. The only exception is Sticks from Sonic Boom, and that's because she was created by SEGA themselves and showed up in non-Boom media, but any ideas regarding her use still need to be okayed by SEGA.”

First off I am glad that Sticks was spared by this rule and I look forward to her eventual inclusion. Second, again, this is not much of a big deal as it was expected. Sorry Freedom Fighter fans but honestly deal.

“Male characters, sans Eggman, can't wear pants, which was also a thing in the Post-Reboot, albeit never explicitly stated. The inverse is also true; female characters have to have some form of lower clothing.”

Okay this is a pedantic rule. It is so weird with how precise it is. Like…huh?

“Classic characters such as Mighty, Ray, Nack/Fang, Bean, and Bark won't appear in non-Classic issues, as Sega doesn't want Classic and Modern Sonic to mix.”

One of the most bullshit mandates fueled by the nostalgia boner fans created. Like this is stupid because Archie Modern Sonic has added more character and depth to all of these mentioned characters than any of the Sega Sonic games they appeared in which only amounts to 1 or 2 at most. Why neuter your own potential stories with this stupid limitation?

“According to Ian Flynn, a specific incident involving Shadow's characterization when he's exposed to the Zombot infection was written in a specific way because of Sega mandating that he be written as an "overconfident asshole rival" character, similar to Vegeta. He later followed up with an explanation that out of every character, Shadow has the most mandates and notes attached to how he's portrayed. According to the podcast, Sega says that Team Dark is no longer a thing. The three members are not a team and they have never worked for G.U.N.; Shadow also doesn't even consider them friends.”

This is my opinion is the worst rule. First it’s contradictory to the character Sega introduced us to. Stop trying to be like Dragon Ball for once and actually be your own thing. It’s one thing if we are changing it because Shadow was unpopular because of his personality. But no one likes this Shadow. People miss the somber but reserved Hedgehog that continued to fight in spite of the world betraying him. Hothead Shadow is a cheap Knuckles. And I don’t even understand why Shadow even has so many mandates when he wasn’t the most egregious offender. Knuckles was.

Also, Team Dark aren’t a thing and Shadow doesn’t even consider them to be his friends. First off that doesn’t even fly in your own games. Who outside of Sonic does Shadow interact the most? Rouge. They have teamed up and were a packaged duo since their inception. When Shadow appeared, Rouge appeared right next to him. If Rouge was in a game, so was Shadow.

Team Dark or just Rouge has fought alongside Shadow in every game they appeared in. Who else does Shadow talk to if not Rouge?

“Sega has stated to Flynn that only male hedgehogs are allowed to go Super with the Chaos Emeralds.”

Except in Sonic Mania.

“Ian isn't allowed to directly reference a game, since the comic is supposed to be its own thing.”

Okay. Not only is this rule stupid. But it’s untrue.

This references the end of Sonic Forces.

The first page of comic.

It has referenced Sonic Adventure, SA2, Sonic Generations , and Sonic Unleashed.

This referencing Shadow the Hedgehog.

I don’t believe this rule exists and even if it did, it is dumbest rule since the whole point of this comic is to base it off the games more. The dumbest rule.

“Knuckles is not allowed to leave Angel Island unless he has a very good reason to.”

For decades, people have complained that Knuckles routinely leaves the island. For decades. Now does this mean Sega is going to 1. Use Knuckles and 2. Amplify the importance of Angel Island and the Master Emerald? No. Again, this criticism should be levied at Sega because they often conveniently forget Knuckles purpose and just hand wave it instead of giving Knuckles more to do on the island like I don’t know, have other entities invested in attacking him.

In summary, here is what I think is going on. Do I think most of these mandates are real? Yes. Given what happened to Archie, I do think Sega is doing some brand alignment. I think they got the clamps on.

But what I think is going on is a Japanese cultural thing called Power Harassment. It is normalized abuse of power. Sega of Japan is normally laxxed about their brands. They don’t mind blatant rip-offs of their mascot nor do they get stiff about fandom creations or mods. The comic division, however, is getting tough love because not only did it cost them a publishing deal, but ruined a relationship with a high end developer. So the IDW writers and staff are being subjected to intentionally hypocritical rules and strict mandates that they know don’t make sense until they’ve shown to be obedient.

A lot of the mandates aren’t strict. But some are so asinine that I don’t think they aren’t aware with how stupid they sound imposing those rules. Like Shadow is the most narratively complete Sonic character and yet, Sega puts this tight mandate as if Archie Shadow was the most egregious thing. Archie Shadow was overpowered. He wasn’t out of character like Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails were. They can’t be that stupid or be that intentionally dense. So they want to see if the writing crew can follow orders. That’s it.

But that’s just my take.

#idw sonic #sonic the hedgehog

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thanksjro · 3 years

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More Than Meets the Eye #32 - Nobody’s Ever Actually Dead in Comic Books

Our band of merry guys-who-weren’t-on-the-Lost-Light-in-issue-#1 approach the shattered husk of the Lost Light, in a gruesome scene that is only slightly marred by the graphic design.

Font doesn’t really suggest danger, does it? Here, for comparison, is something I slapped together in fifteen minutes (including recreation of background) using a font I got off a free font site.

Now, one could say that my version is rather derivative, flat, and arguably cliche, but you know what else it is? Appropriate for the fucking mood of having found a destroyed, hemorrhaging ship after everyone you knew disappeared.

I’m available, IDW! Hit me up.

Theorizing that this is the ship that the Coffin Rodimus came from- remember that? It was a few issues ago- the gang flies in for a closer look. The ship blood is actually something called quantum foam, which allows for quantum space travel to happen. It’s not supposed to be outside of the quantum quills, but the ship’s pretty junked up, so it is.

Because the ship is so very full of holes, the gang can set down for repairs pretty easy. They land in Swerve’s, finding it in less-than-pristine condition. They also find evidence of Crosscut having gotten creative, as a poster for the play he was working on is hung up in the room. Considering he was still writing it when he disappeared, this might seem a bit odd. But then you remember that this is a ship from the future, and it stops being so odd.

Because this is a future ship, with evidence that Crosscut did some stuff, it stands to reason that, at some point, everyone is going to come back from being disappeared.

Just to die.

Which is a bummer, but one crisis at a time.

Megatron disembarks the Rod Pod, with Ravage following, and everyone is just a touch put off by the duo. Everyone but Nautica, who proceeds to commit a microaggression.

Nautica, that’s Soundwave’s father you’re petting like a common animal.

Ravage, angered by this over-familiarity, swats at her. Skids questions letting an active Decepticon roam around, but Megatron brushes off these concerns, saying that finding any still-living crew members is more important. With that, the search begins.

The gang splits up to look for clues, despite Riptide thinking this is a horrible idea. They’re on the clock for this one- the quantum foam is liable to explode if it touches anything, and there’s an awful lot of the stuff floating around right now.

Nightbeat and Nautica leave the rest of the group to their own work, seeing as Nautica has the most appropriate alt-mode for traversing the gaps in the ship.

Man, that’s pretty cool. Wish Nautica hadn’t been regulated to being “girl best friend” for her character arcs, I would have loved to see her do some neat stuff for her own development. Guess that’s what happens when you get introduced as main cast late, and have to compete with all the faves who had dozens of issues to be established and who also don’t have to deal with the whole “token girl character” thing.

The rest of the gang- Megatron, Ravage, Riptide, Skids, and Getaway- start looking in the area they’re already in. Seems a little lopsided, but whatever.

Ravage finds someone almost immediately, identifying Ultra Magnus through smell alone. Only, it isn’t just Ultra Magnus.

The Magnus armor lays not terribly far away, having had its hands cut off to prevent the recall signal from being activated before being gut-murdered.

Gut-murdered wiTH A FUSION CANNON, MEGATRON

Of course, Megatron was forced to destroy his fusion canon after it was decided he would be joining the Lost Light, but you can buy these things off the black market like it’s nothing. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Brainstorm had a few stashed in his lab.

As it currently stands, nobody can trust the guy who has a storied past of killing Autobots, on a future ship where the only folks who could stop him are dead. Megatron, at least, has the good sense to not argue this fact, and suggests that the boys lock both Ravage and himself up until they suss out exactly what happened.

Meanwhile, over with Nautica and Nightbeat, we run through all the weird shit that’s happened in the last day or so.

Nautica, you’ve been on this ship for months now. How did you miss the fact that the only couple within 800 miles got annihilated by way of Phase Sixer? I feel like that attack might have come up at some point.

Since they’re on the subject of spouses, Nightbeat asks Nautica if she’s married, or if she has friends. Though noting that such a direct line of questioning might get him slapped with someone else, Nautica reveals that she is single, though she does have a best friend. Nightbeat is also single, probably because he pulls shit like this.

While this conversation is going on, Nautica uses her Sonic Screwdriver wrench to open a door with the literal push of a button. Brainstorm tricked out her wrench so hard it turned into a magic wand, which is good, because they’re going to need all the help they can get now that space is literally warping around them thanks to the quantum foam.

Nautica kicks something on the elevator, and that something turns out to be Brainstorm’s mysterious briefcase. Too bad Swerve is gone, he was so invested in what it contained. Luckily, Nightbeat is just as interested.

Back over on the other side of the ship, it seems as though Megatron kept his word about not resisting, as both he and Ravage have been locked in a cabinet. Wonder how that’s going for them.

Oh, better than I expected.

Ravage is fucking pissed that Megatron joined the Autobots, thereby turning his back on everyone who supported his cause during the last four million years. Despite this grievous betrayal though, the Decepticons haven’t stopped moving. Turns out, Galvatron’s in charge now.

But only if Autobot Megatron isn’t some sort of ploy.

It’s at this point that we learn just why Ravage is here to begin with- to see if Megatron’s truly given up the Decepticons, and if he has, to murder him. But first he’d like to know why this is happening.

Megatron views himself as a monster, having perpetuated a war that ended the lives of billions, destroyed the Cybertronian way of life, ostracized his race from the rest of the universe, and killing just to have something to do. He doesn’t like feeling this way about himself, so he decided to walk away from that life by joining the other team.

Don’t think it’s quite that easy to do, but okay.

Ravage isn’t so sure that this change of heart is going to stick, still convinced that Megatron will snap back to his old self with just a bit more time. Problem is, Megatron may not have a ton of that resource left.

Didn’t they build that body in like an hour so you wouldn’t die? Yeah, no wonder it feels as ill-fitting as a twenty-dollar suit. Thing’s probably made out of pig iron and duct tape.

The lights come on before further self-reflection can be done, and the duo realize that they’ve had guests this whole time.

Someone put the kettle on.

Obviously some fucked up shit happened on this ship. Megatron isn’t so sure that it’s him who did these dirty deeds, however, as he reaches into Ratchet’s mouth and pulls out his brain. Which feels like something that doesn’t really absolve one of guilt, but okay.

Also, ew.

Back with Nautica and Nightbeat, things are getting weird.

Now, this sequence might seem confusing at first blush, but this is because the laws of reality are collapsing around them. Going by clues in the background, we can find the proper, linear progression of time, and thus is conversation. This is what is actually happening:

With the mystery of Brainstorm’s briefcase eluding us once again, we move on to see more graphic aftermaths of violence. Poor Tailgate has been nailed to the wall with a chunk of a metal beam that’s almost as big as he is. The mood lighting for this scene is gorgeous, but I’ve hit my limit for exposing y’all to gore for this issue, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one. Then they find something even more interesting.

Who’s ready for Under Cold Blue Stars… 2!

Back over on the opposite side of the ship, Riptide’s found something nasty. It’s a bunch of dead bodies!

Including, uh, Pipes.

Who already died a while ago.

Hm.

All the bodies in this room are in their alts, and it looks like they’ve all been shot and drilled into, for some reason. Skids brings up that he had a friend who could identify the placement of any robot’s brain module just by knowing what they turned into. Then he reaches into a corpse to see what the drill-hole’s all about. It makes him sick, though maybe not for the reason you might think. He gets on the phone with Nightbeat, who’s called to tell them that they’ve found Overlord.

Still locked in his weird body harness.

And decapitated.

Megatron is on the other line, calling because he’s figured out the same thing Skids has. Someone paid a visit to this ship. Someone nasty.

The gang regroups, and Nautica gets the basics on the DJD, because I guess nobody’s mentioned them even in passing in the last six months, either.

God, what do they even talk about on this ship? Certainly not their feelings.

The reason that one room was filled with alt-modes was because of Tarn’s addiction to transforming; t-cogs are easier to remove when they’ve been used recently.

We get a quick 4/5ths-page gore-fest, then it’s back to making it all about Megatron.

Maybe you should have thought about that before you FUCKING DEFECTED, YOU POOL NOODLE.

Nightbeat’s beginning to put two and two together. There’s an Overlord in the basement. That shouldn’t be, because Overlord got exploded by Chromedome when he mercy-killed Rewind. Something is off about the past of this ship.

Before he can establish his MTMTE everybody-lives-but-then-dies AU though, the quantum foam fucks with the ship. These sons of guns need to get the hell out of here, pronto.

Oh god, what now?

Ravage smells someone inside the Magnus armor, someone who isn’t a part of the usual nesting doll lineup. Megatron reaches into the Crackerjack box and pulls out one hell of a prize.

HE LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES

Chromedome would be so thrilled, if he still existed.

#transformers #jro #MTMTE #slaughterhouse #issue 32 #maccadam #Hannzreads #incoming analysis #text post #long post #comic script writing

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krissiefox · 2 years

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Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog - The Robotnik Express (Screenshots 1 of 2)

In this episode we get lots of action, and the introduction of two characters who get to reappear in later episodes! The story starts with us meeting "Da Bears", Mad Mike and Big Griz. For a long time I didn't realize that their team name was a reference to Saturday Night Live skit, so whenever I heard someone say "Da bears!" I thought they were referencing this cartoon.

Da Bears are out in the desert, sitting in their cool little cars when they see Robotnik's train, "The Robotnik Express" going by, and they decide to try and rob it so as to make life harder for the Doc. At the same time Sonic and Tails are also in pursuit of the train, which is being controlled by Scratch and Grounder as they are delivering a shipment of explosives to Robotnik. They see the heroes coming and quickly work to secure the train, though in doing so early they accidentally end up on the wrong railroad. But then, In a rare bit of fortune for them, Scratch and Grounder actually manage to catch our heroes - briefly. Sonic manages to break free from the...medical tape(?) that the badniks wrapped him and Tails in and slam the badniks hard enough into a metal wall that they become embedded in the dent (looks like Tails is not the only one who is way stronger than you might expect from a kid!). I guess the badniks used medical tape just in case Sonic and Tails got hurt in the scuffle, which was very thoughtful of them!

As Scratch and Grounder were cheering that they had captured Sonic and Tails, Da Bears overhear this and head towards the caboose to try and rescue them. But by the time they get there, only the badniks remained. Having never seen the badniks OR Sonic and Tails, they mistake Scratch and Grounder for the heroes, and Scratch gets the idea to play along so they can use Da Bears' muscle against the heroes. This leads to a funny scene later where Grounder's belly phone starts ringing and he has to pretend he's just gassy from eating onion rings, and on the other end Robotnik is listening to a conversion about food and burps with no context, which was pretty amusing. :)

Meanwhile Sonic and Tails have been continuing to follow the runaway train, unable to stop it since the badniks secured it in advance. Zooming ahead of it, they realize there's a new problem - due to being on the wrong track, the train is headed towards a unfinished bridge that goes over a canyon village! The duo frantically try to fix the situation, all while being repeatedly hassled by the badniks and Da Bears. Sonic gives all four them a good clobbering several times over, but eventually when Da Bears get separated from the badniks, Sonic chooses to save Da Bears from getting plowed through a patch of cacti. I found this kinda odd, seeing as previously Sonic didn't hesitate to slam them into rock walls or clothesline them on metal beams, but maybe he was panicking about scratch and Grounder at the time? Regardless of Sonic's reasoning, Da Bears are surprised that Sonic saved them, and this gets them to finally stop and talk with each-other. Eventually, Sonic and Tails are able to help them realize they' been deceived. Sonic and Da Bears work together to quickly adjust the broken bridge into a ramp, and Tails sassily lures the badniks back onto the runaway train in one of the episode's cutest moments. The village is saved, and the runaway train ends up crashing right into it's destination - Robotnik's Emporium of Devastation, Destruction and Demolition. That sounds like it could be a really fun place to shop, but we'll never know for sure because this crash blows the place sky high as our heroes watch the fireworks and say farewell to their new friends.

The Sonic Says segment teaches about stranger danger, as Scratch and Grounder, wearing Groucho glasses, try to lure Tails into a car with them, but Sonic intervenes and teaches Tails never to run off with a stranger.

This episode was definitely better than the last one I watched! It had lots of fun action, introduced 2 new recurring characters, and had some really cute and funny moments for both Tails and Grounder. Good stuff!

#Aosth #Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog #Da Bears #Saturday Night Live #Scratch #Grounder #Sonic #Sonic The Hedgehog #Tails #Miles Prower #Mad Mike #Big Griz #Homestar Runner #Homestar #Ina-pro-pro

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newmusickarl · 3 years

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Album & EP Recommendations

Album of the Week: Grapefruit Season by James Vincent McMorrow

“I’m trying to be less prepared” stated Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow this past week at his Rough Trade Nottingham In-Store show. This was mentioned in the context of McMorrow telling the audience of his decision to “wing it” for his first gig back post-COVID lockdown, rather than intensely rehearsing as he would previously. It turns out this new laidback outlook on life has been key to McMorrow coping better with the anxiety he has dealt with his whole life, but also to unlocking the songs that are to be found on his fifth album, Grapefruit Season.

During the Nottingham show to which I was lucky enough to attend, McMorrow made a point to say that this new album, his first in four years, is the one for which he is most proud, as he felt it was him being as open, honest and care-free as possible with his audience of listeners. This is evident almost immediately on second track Gone, which feels like the tone-setter for the rest of the album, centred on a striking refrain of “I give less f*cks than I used to, still give a lot of f*cks.” Discussing the track with Broadway World last year, McMorrow said:

“Gone is about the disintegration of relationships. In my case, the disintegration of my relationship with myself. No song or lyric I’ve ever written has come as close to this one at capturing how I feel about life - how I hear it, my fear of it, my obsession with it, my belligerent belief that I can control it, my quiet acknowledgment in the middle of the night that I will never control a single thing. And there’s nothing wrong with any of it. There’s absolute beauty in embracing the chaos and the decay.”

This freedom and “embracing the chaos” attitude have clearly helped McMorrow to hit a new creative peak, with many of the tracks on this new collection some of the very best he’s written to date. From the soulful guitar grooves of Planes In The Sky, the string-tinged piano ballad Poison To You and the infectious downbeat pop melody of Hollywood & Vine, McMorrow is constantly found in fine form. However, arguably the album’s finest moment comes in the form of Headlights, a gloriously produced, synth-driven track, which also features some wonderful gospel-like vocals and bluesy guitars towards the back end of the track. It’s quite dazzling, much like almost every track here.

James Vincent McMorrow has always been an immensely talented songwriter, but thanks to his moment of personal enlightenment he is sounding better than ever on this latest album. With unfiltered, sincere lyrics and inventive sonic explorations, Grapefruit Season makes for quite the audio journey.

Listen here

Montero by Lil Nas X

Rapper-singer Lil Nas X seems to cause controversy through simply being unapologetically himself and as a result, his debut album Montero has been one of the most hotly anticipated pop albums of 2021.

Having burst onto the scene with his breakout single Old Town Road, Lil Nas X has since delivered several massive singles in the build-up to this debut, with each one accompanied by a cinematic or visually extravagant music video. The reaction to these by some narrow-minded folk has been that of shock and outrage, with people seemingly appalled and astounded by Nas X’s openness with his own sexuality. Off the back of the bold, tongue-in-cheek video for the title track, some even suggested the singer was actively promoting Satanism through his work. This is all of course nonsense and if they were to listen to his debut album with an open mind, they would find that Lil Nas X is just a pop star that is willing to be refreshingly honest and candid about who he is and what he wants from life.

Both introspective and confessional, Nas X proves across every track on this record that he’s not only capable of writing great pop music, but he’s also not in the least bit afraid of showing his vulnerability to the listener either. This can be seen on recent single Sun Goes Down, where Nas X offers insight to his struggles growing up and fitting in, conflicted by his complexion, his homosexuality, and finding himself lonely and isolated as a result. There are several quite tender moments like this, including the brilliant guitar-driven rock ballad Life After Salem, however they are evenly balanced out with more upbeat moments like horn-backed single Industry Baby. There’s also some pitch-perfect collaborations to be found here with Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Miley Cyrus and, most notably, Elton John, all lending their talents at appropriate moments.

However arguably the strongest moment comes when Nas X dips his toe into some pop punk for the album’s sort-of centrepiece, Lost In The Citadel. With some stylish production, heartfelt lyrics and a killer mix of guitars and synths, it’s just a mightily well-crafted pop song.

Overall, this is a star-making first outing for Nas X, who was already well on his way to global success before this record had even landed. However now he is well on his way and importantly with this debut, he has shown he is not just a flash in the pan but a truly great popstar in the making.

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Silence by Alexis Taylor

And finally this week, Hot Chip frontman Alexis Taylor released his quite stunning fourth solo album, Silence, a record that comes from the other end of the spectrum to that of his electronic outfit. Built entirely around Alexis’ soulful vocals, a piano and some well-placed, understated string arrangements, there is no dance to be found here but rather a beautiful collection of ambient ballads.

The pick of these is the title track itself as well as Violence, the latter of which offers one of the most haunting tracks I’ve heard all year. Ending quite unceremoniously with the gentle crashing of the Wollongong Waves, if you need something peaceful and reflective this week then I can’t recommend this album enough.

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Tracks of the Week

Let’s Get The Party Started by Tom Morello & Bring Me The Horizon

Kicking off the singles front this week is a rock collaboration of gargantuan proportions as Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine teams up with Sheffield metal behemoths, Bring Me The Horizon. Built on goliath-sized riffs and an anthemic chorus, this one is a straight up rock banger that will have you moshing out in no time.

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U&ME by Alt-J

Elsewhere, Leeds-based trio Alt-J marked their return this week with the first single from their upcoming fourth album, The Dream, which is due to drop early next year. My initial thoughts are that this track feels a lot like more of the same, with Joe Newman’s quirky vocals backdropped by some folky harmonies and guitar melodies. It is not a dramatic comeback or shift in style, but fans of their sound will no doubt still enjoy this one.

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Hall of Mirrors by Let’s Eat Grandma

Also making their comeback this week are the brilliant duo of Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth, otherwise known as Let’s Eat Grandma. Hall of Mirrors is their first new music since their phenomenal 2018 sophomore album I’m All Ears, and sees the duo shift away from their experimental electronica over to the dreamy synth-pop melodies that they first started introducing on that wonderful second album.

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Godsend by Sundara Karma

Also returning with new music this week are Reading-based indie outfit Sundara Karma, who continue with the pop experimentation they started on last year’s Kill Me EP. With a heartbreaking chorus and some soaring instrumentation, it’s a comeback that’s both immensely moving but also quite triumphant.

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Earthlings by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis have also announced a new B-Sides & Rarities album this week. Due for release in October, it pulls together all their best lost gems from 2006 to 2020, including this stunning off-cut from Ghosteen that features gentle tribal chanting over some truly transcendent synths.

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FAKE by Lola Young

Singer-songwriter Lola Young continues to be one of my favourite discoveries of the year so far, with this new single seeing her channel the late-great Amy Winehouse for this soulful and bluesy ballad. If you’ve not heard Lola sing yet, just check this one out and I guarantee you’ll be blown away.

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I’m Sorry by Josef Salvat

Australian singer-songwriter Josef Salvat also released his brilliant new single I’m Sorry this week, a pulsating synth-driven track with a wonderful neon-glow and 80s-style pop shimmer.

Listen here

Set You Free by Kyla La Grange

And finally this week, Kyla La Grange made her long-awaited return to the music world, releasing this absolutely amazing and completely unique cover of the N-Trance classic, Set You Free. Also comes accompanied with a typically artistic and colourful video from La Grange, which you should find the time to check out.

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dustedmagazine · 4 years

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Dust Volume 6, Number 7

Stars Like Fleas

The summer rolls on in a very peculiar way, with masks and zoom calls and brief, furtive trips to the grocery and the growing realization that normal is months, if not years, away. Even so, the music remains excellent. Thank god it’s downloadable and accessible even in these strange days we inhabit. Here writers including Bill Meyer, Jennifer Kelly, Jonathan Shaw, Ian Mathers, Justin Cober-Lake and Ray Garraty consider improvised drone, precocious alt.country, experimental banjo tunes, rap metal and jazz. Enjoy.

75 Dollar Bill — Live at Café Oto (75 Dollar Bill’s Social Music series)

Live at Cafe OTO by 75 Dollar Bill

Before 75 Dollar Bill put out those widely revered LPs for Thin Wrist records, Che Chen and Rick Brown made a series of tapes. You could pick them up at shows, packaged in a clamshell case with a business card advertising their services. 2020 is a plague year, so it’s going to be a while before anyone hires them for another party or a parade, but this download-only release fulfills similar functions. It captures the band at a particular moment in time, and it gives you a chance to throw a few bucks their way. Do so and you probably won’t be sorry, because the late 2019 tour documented by Live at Café Oto was unique in 75 Dollar Bill’s history. Chen and Brown did the whole run of shows with double bassist Andrew Lafkas, but they also did nearly all of them without essential gear. It wasn’t until near the end, when they played in England, that Brown was reunited with the big wooden box that is his main percussive instrument. Spread across three sets, this three-hour long album shows how swell they sound when they’ve got a committed agent of swing adding his subtle shift to their Bo Diddley meets Mauritanian wedding music groove. If you know I Was Real, you’ll recognize many of these tunes, and you’ll likely appreciate the differences that 75 Dollar Bill works and reworks upon them.

Bill Meyer

Bandgang Lonnie Bands \ Bandgang Javar – The Scamily (TF Entertainment \ Empire)

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After Bandgang broke up, Lonnie Bands made a successful solo career. His only misfortune, apart from a murder rap prosecutors tried to stick him with, was that he picked up a no-talent partner Javar. Here, surrounded by aggressive but undistinguished artists Mascoe and Paid Will, Lonnie hasn’t learned lesson. Thankfully, Javar makes his presence on The Scamily scarce, and the second half is basically Lonnie’s solo effort with some guests. As usual, Lonnie makes himself busy in illegal activities: drugs, scams, pimping, firearms. He neatly sums up his bad deeds on “Me Too”: “You on that bullshit? Me too.” The Scamily is not that focused as last year’s KOD but Lonnie, with his slick rhyming and catchy hooks, always reinvents a bad man’s lexicon.

Ray Garraty

Sammy Brue — Crash Test Kid (New West)

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Sammy Brue is no longer quite the wunderkind he was when he released his first full-length at 15, but he is still quite impressive here on the follow-up, hitching the spit and fire and wordy angst of, say, Ezra Furman, to the downhome pyrotechnics of Bob Log III. “Teenage Mayhem” explodes with teenage aggression, building out a twitchy blues riff into a monumental rock chorus, while “Crash Test Kid,” is softer sonically, but just as unflinching in its narrative. “Skatepark Doomsday Blues” is epic and grandiose but carries it off, infusing an old man’s blues progressions with the eruptive feelings of young manhood. All the signs point towards Brue growing into his art. He’s already channeling raw emotion into sharp song structures and lyrics without sacrificing their force. It’s a drag getting old, but it doesn’t have to be a step back.

Jennifer Kelly

John Butcher — On Being Observed (Weight of Wax)

On Being Observed by John Butcher

English saxophonist John Butcher has a deep and diverse discography, much of it on CD. Since the standard of his playing is so high, and the settings and accompanists he selects so diverse, they’ve never been merely about documentation; you’d have to look hard to find a dud on the shelves. But as format preferences, economic shifts, and that damned virus turn everything upside down, Butcher has, like everyone else, found himself suddenly with plenty of time to comb through the hard drives and reassess the music stored there. And since CD manufacturing and distribution has been snarled up worldwide, what better time to transfer some of it straight to yours? On Being Observed comprises six solo performances recorded between 2000 and 2006, and you could not ask for a better introduction to what he does on his own. It features him in the studio, at a jazz festival, and in some unusual acoustic environments which afford a number of ways to understand what it means to read the room. Whether he’s playing to an audience or a 20 second delay in a dis-used gas storage facility, acoustically or amplified, using a soprano or tenor sax, Butcher’s tone is unmistakable, and his sense of how long to develop ideas and how to develop them is peerless.

Bill Meyer.

Carling & Will — Soon Comes Night (self-released)

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Carling & Will (banjo player Carling Berkhout and multi-instrumentalist William Seeders Mosheim) have spent the last few years working out new twists on old-time music. Their debut album Soon Comes Night takes another a step forward from their previous, more traditional sound. Much of the album relies on the interplay of banjo and electric guitar. The pair don't go for outre sounds, but Mosheim provides textures for Berkhout's banjo playing. “Lillie's Lullaby” offers a highlight, not only in its prettiness, but in its revelation of Berkhout's idiosyncracies as she shifts in and out of more typical patterns. The album in itself makes for a lovely collection of songs, but it has both the ups and downs of an act starting to find itself. Carling & Will have a distinct voice, and the more they work to develop that (probably by letting Berkhout get odder and Mosheim explore his voicings a little), the more impressive they'll become. If the pair decides to just focus on smaller updates to mountain music, they've already shown a worthy artistry in that.

Justin Cober-Lake

Cloud Rat — “Faster” (Self-released)

Faster by Cloud Rat

Like a lot of us, the folks in Cloud Rat have been cooped up behind walls, watching the world burn. But that hasn’t stopped them from making some terrific music. This new track, “Faster,” has been posted to Bandcamp as a benefit for Black Lives Matter-aligned organizations. The song is somewhat in the mode of their most recent EP, Do Not Let Me off the Cliff (2019). That record traded in the band’s characteristic grindpunk intensities for some weirdo experiments in dreampop, noise and gauzy gothic nightmare soundtracks. “Faster” isn’t quite as far out there, and longtime listeners of the band will recognize some of the textures of tracks like “Moksha,” “Raccoon” and “Luminescent Cellar.” The song starts and ends with some lovely acoustic finger-picking by guest musician Andy Gibbs of Thou. In between, there are clean vocals by Madison Marshall that border on the ethereal, and electric riffs that build and build toward majestic heights. Good cause, great tune.

Jonathan Shaw

Drakeo the Ruler – Thank You for Using GTL (Stinc Team)

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Recorded through a phone line from prison, with beats later provided by JoogSZN, Thank You For Using GTL right after its release was named best prison album since Penitentiary Chances, by now classic joint effort by C-Murder (still incarcerated) and Boosie Badazz (now free). It was too strong a claim to be true. On that duo’s album you can hear a sense of doom hanging over them. When all hope is lost, there is only a prayer, and even that can get lost on its way to God. There was no tomorrow. Drakeo the Ruler, on the other hand, raps like there is tomorrow. Even rough sound of voice recording and “This call is being recorded” tags are more like a necessary sound effect and a gimmick rather than an effect of reality (he couldn’t do it any other way). Strip this tape of all these effects, and you end up with an ordinary rap album, exactly like others released by dozens every week. Maybe there is no reason to thank GTL. It did us a disservice.

Ray Garraty

Holy Hive — Float Back to You (Big Crown)

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These super laid back funk soul cuts stay well inside the pocket, except when they veer unexpectedly into indie-folk. The funk parts come from one-time Dap King Homer Steinweiss, whose loose but transcendent way with a groove can be best heard on “Hypnosis.” Paul Spring, the singer, brings in the psychedelic falsetto, more Justin Vernon than Curtis Mayfield, but still radiant and chilling. The title track plays like a lost 78 soul classic, Spring’s mournful melody wafting skyward as big loopy bass notes and splayed jazz guitar chords drop into a slink and strut of snare drum. That’s maybe what you’d expect from Steinweiss’ Brooklyn soul revivalist resume, but elsewhere, there are surprises. “Red Is the Rose” sounds like Tunng, all space-bopped folk magic and electro-pinging drums, and “Be Thou By My Side” is lattice-picked folk without the slightest hint of syncopation. Both sides of Holy Hive have their sweetness, but only the funk stuff buries a stinger.

Jennifer Kelly

Dustin Laurenzi’s Snaketime — Behold (Astral Spirits)

Behold by Dustin Laurenzi

Here’s an irony for you. Composer Louis Hardin, whose habit of dressing up like a Viking and hawking his wares on the streets of mid-20th century NYC turned him into a bona fide attraction, may have conversed with jazz musicians, and shared a record label or two with them. But he didn’t really like jazz. Nonetheless, jazz musicians liked his music back, and they still do. The melodies are graceful, but malleable, and the Bach-meets-powwow rhythms have plenty of productive implications for a percussionist willing to work between the lines. After years of study Chicago-based tenor saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi formed Snaketime, a project named after one of the composer’s rhythmic notions, that turned seven of his compatriots loose upon the Moondog book. Maybe loose isn’t quite the right word, since Laurenzi’s arrangements show deep respect for the original melodies and their exotic vibe. But there’s not a lot of music that can’t be made a bit better when you ask bass clarinetist Jason Stein to improvise from its foundations. This half-hour long tape adds four tunes to the seven on last year’s excellent LP Snaketime: The Music of Moondog, and any one of them could have made the cut if Laurenzi had been given enough rope to make a it a double album in the first place.

Bill Meyer

MachineGum — Conduit (Frenchkiss)

Like its Pepto-Bismol-pink cover, these songs seem a bit over-sweet and undernourishing at first, but damned if their synth and disco and art-rock grooves didn’t start to catch on after a few listens. The project, launched in New York City with the mysterious appearance of pink gum machines, is not what you’d expect from a Strokes offshoot, but give Fabrizio Moretti credit for branching out. Here tight, “O Please”’s sleek, wah-wah’d guitars and fat-fingered bass throws off a funk shimmy, but soft, dream-y choruses add an element of electro-pop introspection. “Act of Contrition,” by contrast, swells and swirls with gothy new wave drama, but also vibrates with indie earnestness; it’s like the National playing a New Order cover. If you’d told me a month ago, that I’d be enjoying a super clean, super precise synth-dance album by a member of the Strokes, I’d have laughed, but here we are.

Jennifer Kelly

Phosphene — Lotus Eaters (Self-Release)

Lotus Eaters by Phosphene

Portland’s Phosphene drifts and drones in a satisfying vintage 4AD-ish way, the serene vocals of Rachel Frankel wafting out over intricate tangles of shoe-gazey guitars as Matthew Hemmerich pounds out motorik rhythms on the kit. This album, the band’s second, was written in the turbulent aftermath of the 2016 election, but it exudes a murky calm. In “Carousel,” for example, Frankel sings about how “everyone gets lost in their own power,” but the temperature remains cool, dream-like, lit by arcs of guitar sound and undergirded by a thudding mantra of bass (Kevin Kaw). The two singles run closest to pop. Bright, upbeat “Cocoon” is spiked with Spoon-ish piano chords, while “The Wave” damn near bubbles with girl pop exuberance. I can see why they’re leaning on those cuts, but I like the cloudy radiance of “Seven Ways,” the morose moods of “The Body” better.

Jennifer Kelly

Sara Schoenbeck / Wayne Horvitz — Cell Walk (Songlines)

Cell Walk by Wayne Horvitz/Sara Schoenbeck

Bassoonist Sara Schoenbeck and pianist Wayne Horvitz built to their first duo release slowly. They've been playing together since the previous decade in Horvitz's Gravitas Quartet, working together in various styles. The bassoon doesn't necessarily lend itself to jazz, but Schoenbeck's experience with artists like Roscoe Mitchell and Anthony Braxton — as well as in various orchestras and symphonies — has revealed her fluency in different languages. Horvitz and Schoenbeck develop that approach on Cell Walk, mixing composed and improvised tracks, moving from jazz to classical and back again, happily residing in a new music space. The pair's chamber background comes to the fore more than anything else, but the artists' experimental ideas and Horvitz's occasional electronics keep the duo moving forward. The album mostly stays cool, although a few tempo shifts and Schoenbeck's varied tone create unexpected energy any time the disc starts to settle. Schoenbeck and Horvitz fill an unlikely niche, but they also make a good case for expanding it.

Justin Cober-Lake

R.E. Seraphin — Tiny Shapes (Paisley Shirt)

Tiny Shapes by R.E. Seraphin

Ray Seraphin makes sweet, sharp songs out of guitar jangle and whispers that seem to nestle right in your ear. His first cassette under his own name after a stint in the slightly more abrasive Talkies kicks up a power pop dust and haze a la Luna or, more recently, Plates of Cake. Like these bands, however, he envelops smart, coiling melodies and wild spiralling guitar hijinks in daydreaming inchoate jangles. In “Streetlight,” Seraphin vamps and caroms in spike-y mid-temperature anthemry, crooning “And I won’t feel a thing,” and indeed there’s a misty, nostalgic remove around most of this album’s emotional content. Yet there’s also a classic pop shape that can’t quite be obscured by muttered, offhand delivery. “Fortuna” is the best bit, to my ears, a summer radio megahit heard from several rooms away, bittersweet and slipping away even as it plays.

Jennifer Kelly

Stars Like Fleas — DWARS Session: Live on Radio VPRO (Amsterdam) (self released)

DWARS Session: Live on Radio VPRO (Amsterdam) by Stars Like Fleas

New York collective Stars Like Fleas are still gone, but the tracers and streamers left in the air by their passing continue to be entrancing. Whatever collapsed in the wake of their work on the follow up to their epochal LP The Ken Burns Effect can perhaps be glimpsed a little in the bulk of this first (and hopefully not last) release from what they describe as “a huge archive of live and session material.” As the title indicates, six of the 11 tracks here come from a radio session they did during their final tour (coming apart and leaving the final album unfinished upon their return to America). Along with a couple of Ken Burns highlights that session is all new material and it is as rich as anything they released during their lifetime. The collection is rounded out with some brief improvisations and another track intended for the final album, the 7” single “End Times”, and a wonderful performance of “Falstaff” from a Toronto show. Perversely and beautifully enough, the result is not only a must listen for fans of the group, it makes an excellent introduction for anyone who missed them the first time. Bring on the archives!

Ian Mathers

Thecodontion — Supercontinent (I, Voidhanger)

Supercontinent by Thecodontion

A death metal band entirely devoted to songs about ancient, paleolithic lifeforms and geological history? It’s not the most harebrained musical concept you may have heard — it even makes a sort of sense. What better musical genre to address such massive, atavistic and lumbering forms? Supercontinent is the Italian duo’s first LP, following 2019’s Jurassic EP. As its title suggests, this new Thecodontion record goes way, way back, to primal landforms, before continental drift assembled the earthball’s map into its current shape. Appropriately, the longest track on Supercontinent is “Pangaea,” named for the unimaginably huge late Paleozoic landmass. Thecodontion’s featured instrument is Giuseppe D’Adiutorio’s bass, which he variously thrums, hammers and shreds. He gets some pretty amazing sounds out of it, sometimes producing the soaring, moaning, keening sounds that Greg Lake coaxed out of his bass on the early King Crimson recordings. The proggy reference is pointed; Thecodontion’s high concept project smacks of prog’s grandiosity. But where prog shoots for the heavens, Thecodontion goes bone hunting. It’s interesting work.

Jonathan Shaw

Various Artists — Building A Better Reality: A Benefit Compilation (JMY)

Building A Better Reality : A Benefit Compilation by Various Artists

As Bandcamp’s choice to waive its portion of transaction proceeds in favor or certain needs and causes has evolved from an occasional to a monthly event, releases have started to appear which take advantage of both the event and the rapidity of production when no physical objects are being produced. George Floyd died under a policeman’s knee on May 25; this compilation was released just 24 days later, on Juneteenth. Brent Gutzeit of TV Pow secured 106 contributions from friends, friends of friends, and customers of friends — and that’s just the parties that this writer recognizes. They range in length from Kendraplex’s 58 seconds of metallic shredding to Joshua Abrams’ half hour of mournful clarinet and cathartic double bass. You’ll find acoustic protest music, swinging jazz, harsh noise, hip-hop, and a sound collage that includes sounds of protest and mourning. The participants include Simon Joyner, Jsun Borne, I Kong Kult, Jesse Goin, Chris Brokaw, AZITA, Keith Fullerton Whitman, and the Jeb Bishop Trio, along with many, many more. Have I listened to them all yet? Of course not! But the thing with a set like this is that you don’t need to. Put it into your shuffle play and it’ll yield surprises for years to come. Income goes to Black Lives Matter, NAACP Legal Defense Fund. and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Bill Meyer

Michael Vincent Waller — A Song (Longform Editions)

A Song by Michael Vincent Waller

At first listen, you might not guess that composer Michael Vincent Waller’s new EP/song A Song is an improvised piece, and as the surrounding material on Bandcamp makes clear, that’s kind of part of the point. Composition vs. improvisation is the kind of duality where both sides are never really distinct, and Waller is both interested in the history of composers improvising and (possibly naturally) improvises in a way that’s not a million miles away from his compositions. Which also means that just on that first listen the 21 minutes of solo piano found here are frequently beautiful, whether patiently probing a set of arpeggios or momentarily going somewhere a bit darker and deeper near the end. Whether considered as work done around or between more composed ones or in its own right, A Song makes for both a fine follow up to Waller’s 2019 collection Moments and a brief thesis on the always permeable boundary between two methods of creation.

Ian Mathers

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theteenagetrickster · 4 years

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MVMB talk Phase 01, their amazing psychedelic techno album

MVMB presents Phase 01, out now on IbogaTech Records.

www.pierreekman.com

Martin Vice and Michael Banel are two names that need no introduction, as both their solo projects VICE & BEHIND BLUE EYES have gained these talented producers a strong following, which has seen them travel and perform at some of the biggest festivals around the globe.

But it was a calling to explore the boundaries between techno and progressive psytrance that made MV and MB join forces and craft a new soundscape best described as deep, driving and hypnotic.

This music is intently crafted to take listeners on a mystical journey of interstellar travel that will reconnect you to that true trance dance sensation that can only be experienced at an outdoor festival.

Under the expansive wings of IbogaTech, MVMB bring you their sophomore album, Phase 01, out now.

We chatted to the dynamic duo…

We are expanding on the initial ideas of fusing Psy-Trance and Techno and going down in tempo along the way.”

With multiple projects, a crazy tour schedule, co-owning one of the biggest Psy-trance labels (Michael), hosting a radio show (Martin), and balancing family life; how did MVMB even find the time to craft a masterful album like ‘Phase 01?’

MV: First of all, thank you!

We have gotten into the habit of being very focused and very productive when we find time to be in the studio.

Luckily, I feel we both get plenty of inspiration through the many aspects of work that we have, and we are very good at planning out what kind of tune we want to create, but in the end, we just have a lot of fun with it and go with the flow.

Talk to us about the meaning behind “Phase 01” as an album name? The 01 implies the start of something, so what is it the start of, seeing as this is your sophomore album?

MV: Well spotted.

The name phase 1 comes from our decision to evolve the project from a more psy-oriented project to a more techno-oriented project.

Having spent a few years learning how to make a more solid techno sound we feel that we finally got to a level where we could collect tunes and make an album in the lower bpm tempos that could be the start of what was to come, hence phase 1.

The album features 2019 versions of the tracks “Sneaky Fox” and “Twilight.” With a vast discography of music magic, what made you decide to refurbish these tracks in particular?

MB: When we initially started working on the ideas of going for lower bpm, the first tracks we finished were stuff like “Twilight” and “Sneaky Fox”.

When we got closer to completing the album, we realised what a huge development in our sound we had gone through.

That is why we felt that some of the older tunes needed to be re-worked if we were to include them on the album, to get a more coherent sound on the album.

We were super happy about the final result and actually felt we managed to get a better result than we expected.

It has also meant that an old dream of mine finally came to life. The opening of “IbogaTech”, with focus on Techno, and with flavours of trance elements.”

In 2014 the MVMB project was set in motion after realising you both had the vision of fusing hypnotic trance and techno together.

Not long after that, “The Sleeper Must Awaken” was released. Intelligent, hypnotic, driving. Your vision was a huge success and the marriage of the two genres is a match made in sonic heaven. Now you’ve just released your second album.

How has your journey evolved while exploring this hybrid sound and what has it opened you up to?

MB: We are simply trying to create sounds that comes from the heart.

We are expanding on the initial ideas of fusing Psy-Trance and Techno and going down in tempo along the way.

It has also meant that an old dream of mine finally came to life. The opening of “IbogaTech”, with focus on Techno, and with flavours of trance elements.

The label just passed the first year of existence, and we already have a solid base of artists and the awareness is growing fast these days, which is awesome, and it looks good for the future of IbogaTech.

We have a term we use here at the office; ‘techno for tranceheads.’ Phase 01 fits this perfectly in our opinion as every track has multi-layers of psychedelic soundscapes underpinned by a solid techno groove. Are you guys comfortable with that assessment?

MV: I guess it couldn’t be better!

Since we are coming from trance, we also perceive our techno as being hypnotic and a bit psychedelic and trance.

Nailed the assessment guys!

…we do not really care too much about genres at all when we write our tracks.”

Techno, by definition as a genre, is quite sparse yet your melodic trance-inducing techno is anything but sparse.

I am sure your plans are to reach a broader audience via Ibogatech, than only the trance and progressive community. How much does your music, and indeed the label’s catalogue, manage to impact on the more traditional techno and progressive house loving fans? Are you making inroads into these or do you think the music is still largely appreciated by the trance community who know and trust you?

MV: Our goal is to reach the more traditional progressive house and techno fans and also hopefully show some of the trance heads the techno and house genre.

MB: We do realise that we are somewhat falling in between two chairs.

However, to be honest we do not really care too much about genres at all when we write our tracks. We feel that it’s about good music, and we are sure that fans of any of the “genres” would find some of our tracks enjoyable.

The phrase, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”- True, or not so much? What’s a misconception people have about the producer/DJ life?

MV: TRUE.

But, the amount of effort and work we put into what we do along with the travelling and time away from our loved ones is something that people might not think about.

I’m personally in a situation where I’m living 650km away from our studio, so I travel for weeks at a time to Copenhagen to do very intensive work periods to be able to pull off the different rolls I have in the Label.

It’s been like this for years. I feel it’s always tough to be away from home, missing the Mrs and the cub.

Thank god we have the most bad-ass families and friends who support us. Eleonor and Silke you are legends!

When thinking of Scandinavian countries, most people think of heavy metal and such. How did the electronic music scene in Denmark shape your respective music careers? Is the scene strong there?

MV: The scene was very small, but luckily through good organisers and a great crowd Denmark has seen a huge growth in electronic music, more so in trance music than in techno and house, but recently we are seeing more and more interesting parties.

Personally, the scene changed my life, introduced me to some amazing music and festivals (mostly abroad) that I would travel to with some fellow trance heads.

As I recently moved to Stockholm, I can only say that I’ve found a city, very vibrant with techno parties and also landed a bunch of local gigs. Heya Sverige.

Quickfire round:

What’s playing in your car?

MV: Spotify, 80s hits, Karaoke in the car like no one is watching.

MB: Son Kite – Colors album

MV: Can eat said tacos pretty fast

Pick a dinner guest? (dead or alive)

What is the message you would like to convey through the music of MVMB?

MV: We just want you to get loose and join the trip 😉

MB: We want people to feel that our music is taking them on a journey, we want that people get inspired.

Shout outs to family and friends and to our amazing followers and listeners. We love you.

Be sure to check out MVMB – Phase 01 – it’s an album for techno lovers and progressive psytrance fans alike. Highly recommended from the IDM Mag team.

This content was originally published here.

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buttonholedlife · 4 years

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MVMB talk Phase 01, their amazing psychedelic techno album