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Honing his skills for years from the wizards of synth before him, Mr. Rainbowdragoneyes has emerged from the depths of a pixelated time loop to deliver us this scroll of finely crafted notes and free us from the demonic grasp of time. This is The Messenger.

Bamboo Boogaloo

Pixelated bamboo groves clank in the distance as an Eastern and rocking synthscape emerges from time and space. Hypnotic bass beats and electronic hums come to life as Rainbowdragoneyes’ wizard-like notes run across the wall like tiny notated ninjas. Running from grooved wall to grooved wall, the needle thrashes into Rainbowdragoneyes’ symphony of 8-bit tones. Transforming as it spins from side to side, the evolution of sounds here is truly mesmerizing as the 16-bit tones take over and bring a completely new facet of sounds to this already rocking score! The dynamism this album possesses is a complete and utter treat to the ears, and one experience that must truly be witnessed. Whether it’s traipsing through a blissful bamboo laden creek or creeping through the crevices of diamond studded peaks, there’s one thing for certain, the depth an complexity of this game is shown tenfold in the compositions through which Rainbowdragoneyes has lovingly perfected.

Bamboo Boogaloo II

The dual scores presented here are absolutely breathtaking. Getting to experience two completely different and wholly complex soundtracks that have similar composition and tone creates a unique listening experience that I don’t think I have ever had the privilege of experiencing before on this format. The genius hard work of Rainbowdragoneyes is pressed well into these gorgeous purple and blue grooves; it truly encapsulates that late 80’s and early 90’s nostalgic cartridge-driven tunes that defined an entire generation of music. The Messenger is truly an experience of metamorphosis, and one that I think everyone should go out and pick up. As this thing spins, you can really feel the hard work put forth into creating this electronic experience. The nostalgia here is truly palpable -- don’t miss it!

The Shopkeeper

iam8bit are well known for their video game soundtracks and creating highly artistic packages and artwork for their vinyl releases, and this one does not disappoint. Featuring artwork from the extremely talented Peter Mohrbacher, a stunning visualization of the games stylistic graphics was created. Displaying the past and future ninja on the front and back cover, the duality between these two soundtracks is ever present in this albums presentation. The gatefold depicts the in-game, pixelated art style, beautifully showing the magical wizard’s music studio and collection of rare records and instruments. This is a truly charming part of the whole experience, and is where the tracklist is shown for both Past and Future variations. The mastering here is very well done and is honestly one of the better iam8bit pressings I have heard. The clean and crisp sound of each note is delivered beautifully with rocking bass that will make anyone reach for their volume knobs for full effect. This is without a doubt one of the most superb iam8bit releases to date, and it shows through every aspect of its design all the way down to the gorgeous colored discs and awesome labels. Do not sleep on this limited release -- you won't want to wait another 500 years, would you?