Retrograd, by Balkan Bleeps

Retrograd

by Balkan Bleeps

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lithobius Like living in the cover art Favorite track: Over There.

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1.	Pico Pico Piccolina 04:03	buy track
2.	Over There 03:42	buy track
3.	Autumn Leaves 04:14	buy track
4.	Before Dawn 04:17	buy track
5.	From Vardar to Triglav 03:52	buy track
6.	Pico Pico Piccolina (DMG Mix) 04:03	buy track
7.	Over There (DMG Mix) 03:42	buy track
8.	Autumn Leaves (DMG Mix) 04:14	buy track
9.	Before Dawn (DMG Mix) 04:17	buy track
10.	From Vardar to Triglav (DMG Mix) 03:52	buy track

about

"Retrograd" is an exploration of adapting "Starogradska Muzika" (old city music of the Balkans) to chiptune. Blending tremolo pulse waves with tamburica and sweeping square wave melodies with electric violin, a new sound is created infused with multiple levels of nostalgia. From Starogradska Muzika classics to other Balkan tunes adapted to the "Retrograd" style, all carefully designed to work equally well with or without live instruments, at a banger chiptune show or from the comfort of your living room hi-fi (or lo-fi) set, this release is the most ambitious project of Balkan Bleeps yet! And to top it off, the tunes shine in the companion game, Skadarlija Scramble, available to play here:

vacuumbrewstudios.itch.io/skadarlija-scramble

Pico Pico Piccolina, originally "Moja Mala Nema Mane" meaning "My Girl Has No Flaws," is a pretty standard starogradska muzika number. "Mala" meaning "small" is used to refer to the singer's girlfriend/lover, in the same way "baby" might in English - as such, "Pico Pico Piccolina" is a play on words as "Piccolina" can also be a term of endearment, "Pico" means small, and "Pico Pico" can refer to chiptune music as a genre.

Over There is originally the tune "Tamo Daleko" meaning "Over There, Far Away." It was a WW1 Serbian song about soldiers longing to return to their homeland. In America, we also have a famous WW1 song titled "Over There" - it's interesting to note the differences in these songs - the American one is a bombastic, optimistic song about going to war, while the Serbian one is a somber and sad song about trying to leave war. This arrangement maintains a soulful violin melody, but otherwise opts for energetic chiptune dance vibes.

Autumn Leaves originally comes from "Songe d'Automne" meaning "Dreams of Autumn," a tune by an English composer which has made its way into both klezmer and starogradska muzika repertoire. It's rumored to have been one of the tunes being played on the Titanic as it sank. The starogradska muzika version is titled "Jesenje Lišće" meaning "Autumn Leaves" and is a sad love song.

Before Dawn, originally "Još ne sviće rujna zora" meaning "the rosy dawn has not yet come," is a very sad, but iconic, Montenegrin folksong. The version here adds some starogradska muzika vibes with the tremolo Game Boy and tamburica lines.

From Vardar to Triglav originally comes from "Jugoslavijo" - a patriotic tune from the '70s about Yugoslavia. It has become a staple of Yugo-nostalgic music. This version is upbeat and cheery, with vibes not unlike those of a Kirby game, with a melancholic, yet hopeful, ending.

credits

released March 1, 2024

Nikola Whallon: Arranger, Performer
Perigee James Vitz-Wong: Mixing, Mastering
Lana Wanderwood: Album Art

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about

Balkan Bleeps Seattle, Washington

Chiptune and VGM veteran Nikola Whallon throws together a new project of "Balkan Chiptune" music, showcasing groovy traditional folk tunes and multi-instrumental prowess.

discography

Retrograd

Mar 2024
Sombor Summers

May 2023
Mostar Mixup

Mar 2023
Insomnia

Mar 2022

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