Wikipedia’s entry on commodore 64 computer system (whatever that means) says that in the 1980 decade, this personal 8 bits mechanisms possessed, between certain qualities like their 16 color pallet, the possibility of connect them directly to joysticks (there were also a number of games, apps and multimedia to have fun with the computer), tv and some other ports.
(I even remember some friend of me had one and we used to spend entire evenings playing some game about some olympics edition I can’t recall).
Now, commodore 64 computers, were a big deal, a big part, of the 80’s. And of course, a number of artists and musicians were influenced by this machine.
(And now we make a big geographical jump to Chicago Illinois)
This American city (Chicago) is home for another band I ran into via myspace: The commodore 64 orchestra. Anna Astley, in behalf of Nico (lead member), shared with me this information:
Nico Demonte (from Chicago), is part of a generation of musicians influenced by this machine - first computer ( Commodore 64), and Commodore Vic-20 computers with 5 1/4 floppy and tape drive.
“The 1980's sound is a religion for the group. Nico coined the genre Chip wave, fusing new wave, Chicago house, italo disco, and 8 bit sound of the Commodore 64 computer. Nico always had a fascination with Chicago house music, and let it known through his collection of the Trax Recorhip Waveds Chicago label. Early tapes written in assembly language were combined with the SID’s 64 kilobytes of RAM and sounds of the VIC-20".
(Nico dixit)
‘I was the kid programming his Commodore computers while my friends were into the Atari ST. I guess that was fine for them. But my love has always been for the Commodore 64. The SID sound and graphics were so amazing that I started to program sound and graphics to go along with the compositions like the Blade Runner and Tron movies’.
In 1982, when the C64 came out, programming in ‘basic’, and then assembly language, was important to develop the sound that is nowadays called ‘electro’ by some groups (Early traces of Italo Disco music like Giorgio Moroder, Kraftwerk, Human League, etcetera, for example).
“It was Kraftwerk's masterpiece, The Man Machine (1978), and Jean Michel Jarre's Oxygen EP's that formed the inspiration for the ‘Man Machine’ classic. Kraftwerk's "Showroom Dummies" also formed the creative direction for Nico's ‘Mannequins in Alleys’ singles”
Known to be a bit reclusive, refusing to be interviewed and closing off their studio , Commodore 64 orchestra, owns 6 (Commodore 64) computers that they actively use for recording albums and special remixes.
“ The programm is self written and is a prototype SV8000 program that is a tracker program equipped with midi and sampling capabilities at 8bit sampling rates".
"Commodore 64 Orchestra has been working with engineers and with hardware and software programmers to test pilot new technology and vintage computers such as the Commodore 64, 128, and Amiga, SuperPET, Plus/4, sound on the 6510 Central Processor, GEOS Operating System, C65, SXE MIDI Music composer synthesizer, C-One, Commodore SX-100, Executive 64 with 170 KB floppy, Commodore 264, Commodore C16 / 116, Commodore 364, Commodore 232”.
(it’s a little bit technical).
Commodore 64 orchestra are also busy with programmers who have developed a MOS Technology 6510 cross-assembler: ‘ We are using this for our upcoming album Commodore’, says Nico (via Anna, via myspace)
About (+and new) media , Commodore 64 Orchestra has worked with other coders like Starpause of mp3death and has performed: “ Their unique 8 bit electro on radio stations 92.9, 93.1 and featured mixes on Death Disco Radio. We anticipate an album to be released exclusively through a magazine as a 5 1/4 floppy edition”.
“The band released the Model on MP3 Death in October 2006. The last record was Computer Love in 2004; Computers and Humans was relased before (2000), as there were also Robots (1995), Superman (1988), and the cult classic release Commodore 64 (1982)”.
¿What is Commodore 64 orchestra currently up to?
"Commodore 64 Orchestra is working on the Parallel Super Computer Project. High performance computing makes its way from the vintage world of computing to the music studio. In a bold move towards the future of parallel processing, the VCF or Vintage Computer Festival envisioned connecting Commodore 64 computers together to form one massively parallel Commodore 64 Super-Computer.
"Chicago Based Commodore 64 Orchestra's use of mutliple Commodore 64 computers was a perfect fit for this project and for the Chip Wave movement. Date for completion has been set for 2014”.
“Commodore 64 Orchestra is also directly involved with programming sprites and video graphics for video installations at galleries, fashion shows, and museums".
'We are working with 11:01, 000000000001, Euro Lipstick and Mr. Dada to create fantastic video shows that work with the 8 bit genre in ways that can now be realized through Hi Definition television' (Nico).
"You can see some of these 3D visuals at upcoming shows like Dance Quest, XIT system, and on TV across the United States. the Commodore 64 Orchestra plans on a 2009 tour in the United States and 2010 Tour in Europe. the group launches the TV show, Commodore 64 TV across the nation in 2010". This will combine HD TV with the Commodore 64 8 bit music.
With no possible justice from any closure, is pertinent to enfatize that people from Commodore 64 Orchestra are obviously prepared and ready. And we probably should take a moment and try to follow. I also recommend anyone with the means and resources to go check out, personally, the vintage computer festival, or any gig on their tour, at least.
Gracias y buenas noches.
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