Showing posts with label Stranger Things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stranger Things. Show all posts

Monday, January 14, 2019

First quarter of 2019!



Here's a mammoth update for the first quarter of 2019! First off, the two-track Gladiatori dell'Apocalisse (edit) digital single, originally released for Groupees.com's California Wildfire Benefit, is now available to stream and download! 

Featuring two previously unreleased tracks, the long-play single sees me revisit and finalize an Italo-flavored outtake from the 2016 Gladiatori dell'Apocalisse 12" EP sessions, with Andrew Claristidge (of Acid Washed) providing a remix of the b side track The Ravagers. Available via Bandcamp and all streaming platforms, teaser video here.

Second, the physical version of my six-track EP tribute to John Carpenter's iconic 1982 classic The Thing - Outpost 31 Isn't Responding - is finally available! 

Originally released in the fall of 2015, the 2018 ’redux’ version saw the digital single completely remixed and remastered, and expanded with session outtakes, one freshly-penned track, plus my reimagining of Ennio Morricone's Humanity Pt. 1 added as bonus tracks!

Manufactured on snow-white cassettes with full color A and B side stickers, the "cassingle" comes with a wrap-around sleeve featuring Van Davis' gorgeous original artwork printed on premium recycled card stock. Available via Bandcamp! Teaser videos here and here.

Finally, having received the news that my Test Subject 011 EP is mentioned in Kevin J. Wetmore Jr's book Uncovering Stranger Things, I decided to print up a limited-edition sleeve for the 7" vinyl version to celebrate! 

The VHS-inspired alternate artwork, featuring Stranger Things character Eleven in an action pose, is printed on 130 gram folded paper stock, comes in a plastic sleeve and is hand numbered to 50 copies! 

Only available via Bandcamp here, it includes a download of the digital EP version that now adds the alternate mix of Test Subject 011 (from the Choice Cuts 2014 - 2018 album) as a bonus track!


Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Uncovering Stranger Things!


Pleasantly surprised to get the news Videogram and the Test Subject 011 EP being mentioned in Kevin J. Wetmore Jr's book Uncovering Stranger Things: Essays on Eighties Nostalgia, Cynicism and Innocence in the Series!
This collection of 23 new essays explores how the show reduces, reuses and recycles '80s pop culture--from the films of Spielberg, Carpenter and Hughes to punk and synthwave music to Dungeons & Dragons--and how it shapes our understanding of the decade through distorted memory.
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing, the book is available via Amazon and Target, to mention just a few. Check it out!



Friday, October 19, 2018

Bundle of the Damned!


It is the spookiest of seasons so get your thrills on with Groupees' special Halloween-themed Bundle of the Damned! Launching today, the bundle includes game titles from Joystick Knights, Seven Sails, Igrodelsky, comics from Antarctic Press, and tracks culled from my Stranger Things-themed Test Subject 011 EP as well as the all-new Jesse Breckon-Thomas collaboration Michael!

For the next two weeks, the bundle is available here for a minimum of $3 - with some of the proceeds benefiting charities. Check it out!

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Vinyl of the Month!


Extremely excited to receive the news that Performer Magazine picked my Test Subject 011 7" on SelectaVision as their Vinyl of the Month!

Reviewing the single, they sum it up as "an open love letter to not just Stranger Things, but everything in the 80's VHS Horror world", with the A-side sounding as "a long-lost Italian disco version of a vintage John Carpenter soundtrack," and the B-side as "if Fabio Frizzi had scored The Neverending Story"!
For fans of old school slashers and those who miss browsing the aisles of Blockbuster for the latest horror releases on VHS, this contemporary re-imagining of a lovable niche genre is just the ticket to bring you back to those glory days.
Again, this is very exciting news. Many thanks to Ben and the rest of the staff for this honor. Read the review in full here.


Monday, February 19, 2018

Performer Magazine!




Pretty excited to see U.S. musician's resource Performer Magazine giving Videogram's Test Subject 011 7" a shout-out on both Facebook and Instagram today! Review coming in the next issue. More info here.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Two Headed Dog!



I'm excited to announce that you can order my Test Subject 011 7" on SelectaVision via Two Headed Dog in the U.S.! The two-track 7" - with a bonus intro - features the title track that recently appeared on Rue Morgue's They Came From Rue Morgue horror synth compilation, and an Italo Disco-influenced B side - both drawing inspiration from Netflix' Stranger Things series!

Two Headed Dog are dedicated to providing the very best in classic and contemporary experimental music and rare soundtrack releases committed to vinyl, compact disc and cassette. They specialize in titles that can't be found on most websites or in your local retailer, and aim to provide fair prices, prompt and courteous email replies to inquiries and a fine selection of goods to be bought and sold. Order your copy here.

Monday, January 29, 2018

"Test Subject 011" 7" available via Bandcamp!


New week and I'm excited to announce that my Stranger Things-themed Test Subject 011 7" on SelectaVision is now available via Bandcamp

You heard the title track on SomaFM, Krypton Radio and Rue Morgue's They Came From Rue Morgue digital compilation! "Tight 'n' tense", "laced with a retro Moroderesque back beat", "groovy and damn good!" (Cinema Retro), the 7" "totally embodies the otherworldly sci-fi eeriness of the show and characters, both in sounds and in it’s artwork" (Popcorn Horror), and offers an "upbeat sensation that has that synthesizer sound from the old school highlight days" (Yeah, I Know It Sucks).

The two-track 7" single (with bonus intro) is pressed on black vinyl at 45 rpm for maximum audio punch, housed in a white inner sleeve, and wrapped in a two-color sleeve printed with gloss finish to enhance the artwork.

Purchasing the 7" includes a bonus download of the four-track digital EP! Order yours (€10/$12.40, plus ship) here!


Monday, January 15, 2018

Psilowave!


Just received confirmation and am excited to announce that, if you're in the UK, you can now order my Test Subject 011 7" on SelectaVision via Psilowave! The two-track 7" features the title track that recently appeared on Rue Morgue's They Came From Rue Morgue horror synth compilation, and an Italo Disco-influenced B side - both drawing inspiration from Netflix' Stranger Things series!

Psilowave are Old Skool specialists in Soundtracks and Film Scores (especially Horror and Sci-Fi), Electro, Ambient, Electronica, and all things psychedelic. Hard copy enthusiasts dealing in luxury pressings, rarities and limited editions, they trade in both new and used product, with every title in stock carefully curated to fit within the culture and the ethos of the label. Order your copy here.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

All-new "Test Subject 011" review!


Head on over and check out UK's Yeah I Know It Sucks' review of my Stranger Things-inspired digital EP/7" Test Subject 011!

Summing it up as "much less gory or horrific", the EP's "more like a upbeat sensation that has that synthesizer sound from the old school highlight days", noticing the slight Donna Summer vibe (the Moog-esque bass synth pattern of Test Subject 011 is directly inspired by her Giorgio Moroder collaboration I Feel Love.)

Adding that "dancing happened" while listening to Dr Brenner and its "fanatic groove", Hawkins National Laboratory (Outro) is "massive" and "almost classical" in its style, "ready to impress anyone that sucked it up", the review is wrapped up with a recommendation to purchase the 7" version on SelectaVision.

Read the Yeah I Know It Sucks review in full here.

Friday, November 3, 2017

"Test Subject 011" 7"!

I'm excited to finally be able to announce that Videogram's Test Subject 011 7" has been sent off to the pressing plant, thus officially launching the SelectaVision label! The preliminary release date is set to January 2018 and pre-orders are being accepted!

The two-track Stranger Things-themed 7", that totally embodies "the otherwordly sci-fi eeriness of the show and characters, both in sounds and in it's artwork" (Popcorn Horror), is available via SelectaVision's page on Qrates, and comes with a bonus download of the four-track digital Bandcamp EP. There's a limited amount available to pre-order, so you better act fast! Stores and distributors should get in touch for wholesale orders.

Make sure to check out the all-new Test Subject 011 video as well. Heavy on the sci-fi influence, you'll find it on both Videogram and SelectaVision's official YouTube channels here and here. Make sure to follow SelectaVision on Facebook here to stay up to date!


Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Popcorn Horror!

Head on over to Scot horror magazine Popcorn Horror and check out their review of my recent Stranger Things-themed Test Subject 011 four-track EP.

Summing it up as totally embodying "the otherwordly sci-fi eeriness of the show and characters, both in sounds and in it's artwork", the write-up also features a sum-up of my discography, highly recommending it if you're planning a Halloween party, or wanting to get into the spirit on a Halloween night.

As an added bonus I am thrilled to announce that Videogram's music will be featured in the club night portion of the Glasgow Horror Festival on November 4-5 (hosted by Popcorn Horror.) Two days and nights of horror entertainment, the festival will offer Q&A panels, cartoons, horror shorts, free-to-play retro horror games, vendors and much much more! Check out the event here and order your tickets here. Act fast 'cause the 2016 festival was a sold-out event!

Read VIDEOGRAM is a Perfect Addition to your October Playlist! in full here.



Friday, September 1, 2017

Test Subject 011!

September 1st marks the release of Rue Morgue Magazine's all horror synth-themed digital compilation They Came From Rue Morgue!

The compilation features twenty acts from the current horror synth scene, including artists such as Tangerine Dream's own Thorsten Quaeschning and Ulrich Schnauss premiering a track off their all-new Synthwaves album, Umberto, Zombi, and an all-new track by Videogram.

Although this compilation is a free download, all proceeds will be donated to charity, so please consider adding a couple of bucks when getting it as it is for a good cause. Available until October 31st, 2017, you can get your copy here.

To coincide with this I am releasing the all-new Test Subject 011 EP! With a title track written specifically for They Came From Rue Morgue compilation, the four-track EP features additional tracks written during that same time period, all with a Stranger Things theme.

A bit darker than my previous efforts (Retro Gaming Magazine sums it up as "gorgeous" and "darkly intense"), the EP sees an expansion of the Videogram sound, injecting it with a healthy dose of both Italo and Space Disco, but also reaching outside genre boundaries by adding live string arrangements to the tracks. You can get it via Bandcamp for 3 Euro (approx. $3.60).