We, at the Future of Music Taskforce of the Institubes Foundation, are proud to present you with our latest finding: TEAMTENDO. As you know, what we look for in music is that elusive but powerful future shock. We selected the “WE” EP for its time-bending capabilities.
We were six, ten or fifteen year old, in love with our Nintendo and, unknowingly, lab rats for a new musical conscience. What seemed mere noise or repetitive drivel to parents and older siblings scored some of our best days. Those cheap chip tunes were music to our ears.
During our heated weekly debates in the boardroom of the INS R&D Department, we often wondered why such a fabulous reserve of sounds and feelings was sitting there, untapped. Then came the so-called chiptune revival. And it sounded stale in that sad stillborn way specific to novelties. Now that the second 8-bit wave is sweeping the world, with TEAMTENDO riding on top, we are confident that chipmusic will find its tunes.
Coming from 8bitLand – land of the pixels, home of the sprites – the two animals, their padded paws, starry eyes and custom gameboys were sent to Europe as diplomatic and cultural agents, to further the cause of the 8-bit Chip. In addition to their beloved vintage gameboys, they use custom-built electronic devices we couldn’t get security clearance for and primitive software we’re not at liberty to divulge. They make “mass-produced music for specific people”. The TEAMTENDO headquarters are located at DJ AÏ’s Parisian condo. Their official translator is PEE. The two are their court-appointed guardians.
It would be so easy for us to say they fuse dancefloor structures and video games sonics but, alas, the same song can morph from pixellated wall of sound to drip-dripping arpeggios.
“Got the Tendo” is sheer sonic wealth, sensory overload, full of disruptive tactics, 4x4 beats of the German variety, levelled at the very idea of sitting still. Hey, is that a girl ? Yeah. Girls *heart* TEAMTENDO. Please get the Tendo.
At 2:29, “Kore Kore” is almost a garage song. Somebody said post-punk funk? Plus, those propulsive effects always make you feel like shouting SCHUMACHER!!! like in that old hardcore track.
“Philippines Volunteers”. You know there must be a story behind that title. We wish we could tell you. You get stop/start-teased for a while, then get ten power-ups in a row, storms brew, clouds get peeled off and it’s pure joy all the way to the level boss. Each second packs at least three contradictory feelings.
“Straight Up Bit”: this is sosodefgabber. The story goes like this: Jermaine Dupri is, for some reason, in Rotterdam. He finds himself in a huge rave, gets blown to bits by the 200+ bpms. Then, struggling to regain his footing, he spots a sosocute gabber girl, so elegantly balling on a budget. They kiss, he swells with a new understanding of music, and love engulfs all.
This record is for the Dance-Cry crowd. Let’s call it Kawaiicore. For those who now that cute is a weapon.
The “WE” EP (no pun intended) is TEAMTENDO’s first proper release, after a string of appearances here and there:
- remix for COSMO VITELLI, “Robot Soul” on the Alias 12” (Labels)
- remix for TTC, “Game Over 2099” on the Dans le Club 12” (Big Dada)
- "Real Food" on the Boy Playground compilation (Relax Beat)
