Official Vaporwave and Mallsoft Discussion thread

[Viricide Filly]

ENGAGE ULTIMATE HIPSTER MODE

So for quite a while now, an internet music and cultural micro-phenomenon has been circulating Tumblr, Bandcamp and (god help us) /mu/. called "Vaporwave".
What IS Vaporwave? Vaporwave is a sort of sickly-sweet plunderphonic throwback to the 90s, as well as a sort of black-mirror bleak view into the future, where "virtual-plazas" and Japanese eco-friendly malls and workplaces rule the world. Everything's trademarked, remixed, re-done and everything is controlled. Music, media, internet feeds are fed into your mind on a daily basis. We're Always watching™

So, the music part?
Well the vaporwave hype started when albums such as "Chuck Person's Eccojams Vol.1" and James Ferraro's "Far Side Virtual" were released. Although Eccojams is literally only on tape and online as a tape rip, it's probably one of the best Vaporwave albums to date.

You MIGHT have heard of artists such as "Macintosh Plus", "ECO-VIRTUAL", "Internet Club", "情報デスクVIRTUAL" etc etc though.

I'd better give you examples of these.


Chuck Person - "A3" from Eccojams Vol.1. My favourite from the album. I tried to spoiler this like all the others but for some reason it wouldn't let me even though I did it right. Thnx BBCode.

Spoiler Global Lunch by James Ferraro from Far Side Virtual:

Considered "Proto-Vaporwave" by uber-hipsters. and /mu/. Can't forget /mu/.

Spoiler Floral Shoppe by Macintosh Plus:

The titles are all in Japanese so it was easier for me to find the full album...Mac+ is also an alias of "Onetrix Point Never" who is also "情報デスクVIRTUAL" I believe.

Spoiler Vanishing Vision by Internet Club:

I really can only give you the full album because I think this is something to be enjoyed for a while with eyes closed.

Spoiler Home by PrismCorp Virtual Enterprises:

http://beerontherug.bandcamp.com/album/home
Beer on the rug's a really good Vaporwave Bandcamp label by the way, as is "fortune500".

Those are p much all my favourites. So, what do you think? Do you think this is another pointless hipster genre or are you really into this kinda thing? And if you already are, please post your favourites and discuss the genre here. ^^

(psst I did a vaporwave album; https://viricidefilly.bandcamp.com/album/pony

EDIT: I FORGOT TO MENTION MALLSOFT
I don't know what to say about this other than it's a small side-thingy of Vaporwave.
So I'll describe it through this album: http://disconscious.bandcamp.com/album/hologram-plaza
there you go

[itroitnyah]

Yup, sounds like music to me.

But lawdy, could somebody explain the point of this genre to me like I'm five? As somebody who really sucks at classifying music in any which way, this really just sounds like it could really have a different genre tag on it and that people just wanted to make their own genre to be unique or something.

[Freewave]

Yup, sounds like music to me.

But lawdy, could somebody explain the point of this genre to me like I'm five? As somebody who really sucks at classifying music in any which way, this really just sounds like it could really have a different genre tag on it and that people just wanted to make their own genre to be unique or something.

Here's 2 big sources for understanding and exploring more. First is the rym box set a friend of mine drew up http://rateyourmusic.com/list/MarilynRo ... vaporwave/ and here is the 12 page thread on the same forum. I was really big into Hypnagogic Pop, Chillwave, and Hauntology which are also equally prev decade plundering but haven't truly given Vaporwave a listen (as its the most recent).

Nice to see this thread Viricide.

Kinda makes me wish that some brony would raid the G1-3 MLP vaults to make some quality Vaporwave brony throwbacks. Since all that stuff is available thru yayponies and such i don't see why it cannot be done.

[OfficeBats]

http://saintpepsi.bandcamp.com/album/gin-city

Saint Pepsi has some good stuff like this.

I also like that idea of the whole G1-G3 vaporwave stuff. That would sound really fun.

[GunInYrFaic]

I think vaporwave might end up influencing my production style. Also...I think I should introduce vaporwave to a couple friends, granted they'll probably go like "hehe its a ripoff of seapinkchillwav wats de diff lol" or something like that. It's also funny how it all started with an album of "ringtones". XD

[Viricide Filly]

Been doing some searching, and ESPRIT fantasy has recently released "Virtua.zip", probably one of the most definitive vaporwave albums of this year.
It's different because it's almost entirely non-sampled. It's sort of trying to take vapor in a new less plunderphonics, more actual production style. For those who think "dats not real vapor m8", keep in mind there's already several styles of vaporwave anyways.

For those interested in the album, it's here: http://espritfantasy.bandcamp.com/album/virtua-zip

His other albums aren't bad releases either.

[GunInYrFaic]

keep in mind there's already several styles of vaporwave anyways.

Indeed.

[Lying Pink]

[...]and James Ferraro's "Far Side Virtual" were released.

I wrote an "OMG have you heard of James Ferraro he's amazing" reply and then re-read your original post and was like oh :/

But yeah Vaporwave's a lot of fun. Looking forward to seeing what people do with it when it gets mixed up with other genres. Agree with eery about VHS head as well.

[ponytron]

The classic Eccojams are great, sort of like chopped & screwed. I am getting into the newer vaporwave now, like VHS Logos, Famicom Fountains and Google Glass. This genre is great to study to!

http://famicomfountains.bandcamp.com
https://infinitevacancy.bandcamp.com/album/google-glass-remembers-the-ipod-classic
https://vhslogos.bandcamp.com/releases