The next instalment in Curaga Records’ Video Game LoFi series takes on the behemoth that is Pokemon. Producers Besso0 and Save Point bring us ten tracks running the gamut of older entries in the franchise, pressed on classic black vinyl. The cover is the series standard holographic card with a nice shiny finish.
The first of five tracks on side A is a remix of the main theme from the OG, Pokemon Red & Blue, and sets the tone for the rest of the album: we get a dreamy keyboard-driven wander through muted breakbeats and pizzicato-ish plinks. Rustboro City is up next, all chiptune atmospherics with a glockenspiely island vibe. The filtered beats and textures of Lavender Town, from the Blue & Red instalment, keep things moving before we hit a Pokemon Gold & Silver duo to finish off the side. The pleasant piano-and-bass-driven Azalea Town is up first, fading into New Bark Town’s reggae-reminiscent percussion and wobbly bass. So far, so LoFi.
Side B keeps us right back in the old school, with four of the five tracks coming from the original Red & Blue. Bicycle Theme opens things up, with ambient keyboard washes underpinning the gentle beat and main melody. Pallet Town is one of the more famous themes from the series, with the main keyboard line wandering over a standard downtempo break, but is probably charming enough to be the album highlight. Pokemon Gym’s acoustic guitar and woodblock accents take us down to the beach for a quick siesta.
Lillie’s Theme (feat. Pokekellz) is up next, with the gentle vocal backing up the piano and keys for a dreampop-flavoured excursion, before the album closes with Pokemon Center, with the main piano melody overlaying a heavily-filtered beat and soft bass guitar to provide a fitting end.
As usual for the series, this album delivers the lo-fi goods. It’s definitely one for you if you’ve ever dallied with the ‘LoFi Girl’ Youtube subgenre, and for everyone else it’s pleasant enough to have as an accompaniment to, well, pretty much anything where your attention is required elsewhere. Vinyl, CD, cassette and digital are available on Bandcamp, and you can also listen on streaming services.
PURCHASE LINK: 🔗
Video Game LoFi: Pokémon - Besso0 & Save Point (1xLP Vinyl Record) (materia.store)
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