#;THE DIFFERENCE IS NIGHT AND DAY. (v: sonic unleashed)

[suprsonic]

tag drop so i can access them easier

;GOTTA GO FAST ! (ic) ;HE'S THE FASTEST THING ALIVE ! (visage) ;LONG AS THE VOICE INSIDE ME SAYS GO I WILL ALWAYS KEEP ON RUNNING ! (aesthetic) ;I WON'T GIVE IN WON'T COMPROMISE 'CAUSE I ONLY HAVE A STEADFAST HEART OF GOLD ! (musings) ;I’M COMIN’ AT YA FULL SPEED! (v: sonic x) ;THE DIFFERENCE IS NIGHT AND DAY.  (v: sonic unleashed) ;THIS IS MY POWER AND I’M NOT USING IT TO RUN AWAY ANYMORE. (v: sonic wachowski) ;TAKE OFF AT THE SPEED OF SOUND BRIGHT LIGHTS COLORS ALL AROUND ! (v: genshin impact) ;A HERO’S JOB IS TO RISK HIS LIFE TO TURN HIS PROMISES INTO REALITY! (v: bnha)

[randomvarious]

Today's mix:

Movement - Perpetual Drum & Bass Motion by Bryan Gee / Ray Keith 2000 Drum n Bass / Jungle

Whooo boy, this one here was absolute fire, folks! Back in 2000, Movement, one of the best club nights in the world for both drum n bass and jungle, decided that they were going to expand beyond the confines of their regular Bar Rumba venue in London and take their show out on the road. And in order to do that, they set up their own small label so they could release mixes, and used this super dope double-disc debut in particular to promote their upcoming inaugural tour.

So what we have here with this pretty slept-on release that I can't even find decent album art for (😩) are a pair of sets from consummate dnb legends: one from Bryan Gee, who along with Jumpin Jack Frost founded the stalwart V Recordings, and the other from Ray Keith, an early pioneer in the jungle and dnb scene too. Together, the two of them provide us with a glimpse of what a night at Movement sounded like, with Ray Keith laying down a more nostalgia-tinged 'classics' set, and Bryan Gee mixing up a slate of 'currents.'

But what might be confusing here is that, if you didn't know any better, you might get these two discs confused, because while Bryan Gee's mix is chronologically the more contemporary one, it really doesn't sound like it! My man strings together a whole bunch of deliciously chaotic jungle jams from a then-present day, but being that jungle was a predecessor to drum n bass in the first place, his selections make his set feel a whole lot more vintage than it actually is. And what's more is that you might think that the 'classics' disc would be the better of the two as well—because, well, they're classics!—but the newer disc that sounds older is definitely the better one here, because while Ray Keith does a good job of keeping things steadily chugging with a slew of similarly constructed dnb selections until his final, far more intense leg, it's Bryan Gee who goes full-on bananas with his session by leaning far more heavily into that raw, atom-splitting, junglist bliss 🫨.

There are a total of 19 tracks in Bryan Gee's mix, and from its fifth one—Krust's "Kloakin Device"—to its fifteenth—The Pedge's "Whats Up Now Partner"—he manages to unleash an absolute, brain-battering barrage of mostly y2k jungle fury, sublimely putting on full display why Movement was one of the greatest club nights in all of dance music at the time. Ray Keith's contribution here is pretty damn good, but Bryan Gee is just on a whole different level with his disc; and part of the run that makes his set so incredible includes a banger from Ray Keith himself too! Gotta love that!

And for those who might be unfamiliar with the sonic differences between jungle and drum n bass—a topic that is perpetually up for debate in and of itself—here's a 90s jungle playlist post I did sometime ago where I tried to explain it as best I could 😅.

Listen to CD1 here. Listen to CD2 here.

Highlights:

CD1:

Breakbeat Era - "Ultra Obscene" Shy FX - "Bambaata" Reprazent - "Brown Paper Bag" Marcus Intalex & ST Files - "How You Make Me Feel" Reprazent - "Watching Windows (DJ Die Mix)" Swift - "The One" Bad Company - "The Nine" Souljah - "Fade 2 Black" John B - "Salsa Remix" SS - "Lighter VIP 2000 AD" Renegade - "Terrorist (Dom & Roland Remix)" Digital & Spirit - "Phantom Force"

CD2:

Dragon - "Noodles" Q Project - "Champion Sound (Total Science Mix)" DJ Krust - "Kloakin Devices" Ray Keith - "LFO" Twisted Anger - "Dread Come 2 Conquer" Digital - "Ease Off" Phantom Audio - "Remote Control" Digital - "One Ton" Wots My Code - "Dub Plate (Total Science Mix)" Ram Trilogy - "Titan" Bad Company & DJ Trace - "Tumpa (Flashback)" The Pedge - "What's Up Now Partner" Supply & Demand - "Love the One You're With" J Majik Feat Kathy Brown - "Love Is Not a Game (Original Mix)" Solid State - "Just a Vision (Marcus Intalex & ST Files Mix)" Peshay - "Nu Jack Swing"

[beevean]

Poll over!

The obvious winner is Ice Cap, and what can one say about this legendary track, only slightly behind Green Hill and City Escape in terms of sheer popularity? Not even bothering with a joke about Hard Times lmao: I love how the cold of the place is conveyed here through that triangle-like sound, the synth and the arpeggio that you can hear better in Act 2.

Press Garden Act 2 is in second place, also expected because well, it's Sonic Mania :P I'm the odd one who prefers Act 1, but for the sake of this poll, both the act and the music are unique for their style. Overall this track is a just a whole ~ v i b e ~

Third place, my pick, Cool Edge Day! My favorite Day track in Unleashed, always loved the combination of guitars and icy chimes, really making you feel like you're running at high speed in a frozen, but beautiful land. The end of the loop is something else too. Shout out to its amazing remix in Team Sonic Racing <3

Fourth place, appropriately, Cool Edge Night. Choosing between this one and the previous one was a struggle lol. I am in love with its smooth bass, the wind chimes that feel a cold breeze, and overall the peaceful quality of it.

Fifth place, and a bit surprising, Snowy Mountain. I didn't think it would get much love, as it is severely overshadowed by Be Cool, Be Wild, Be Groovy. But it is a lovely track, much longer than the portion of stage in which is plays. Like Cool Edge Day, it features a combination of calm "ice" sounds and electric guitars, even with its own solo.

Tied for sixth place, Snowy Peak and Blizzard Peaks. The former is one of my faves and I wish it got more love! One of Mariko Nanba's finest, catchiest pieces, with an old-school square wave as the lead over a dance beat. Blizzard Peaks is another underrated gem that always makes me visualize the snowboarding section - not very icy, but certainly very cool with its sirens and bass.

Tied for seventh place, Diamond Dust and Twinkle Snow. The former showcases the fine work that is 3D Blast's OST, with soft sounds coming out of the Genesis; Act 2 in particular sounds lovely. The latter feels, appropriately, like a middle ground between Ice Mountain and Ice Paradise: it's fast paced, but with nice icy sounds. The map track is one of my favorites in the game :>

Eighth place, Ice Paradise. The two acts are very different, but I would say that they're both festive - and man, that organ! Especially Act 2, which sounds out of a Christmas movie with those bells and harmonica! also yeah yeah raise your hand if you first heard act 1 through ultimate flash sonic :P

And finally, ninth place, Ice Mountain. This is a crime >:( Act 1 is simply beautiful, with that sweet celesta leading the track; it's perfect for the view of the, well, icy mountain and the lake below. Act 2 is more lively thanks to brass, but still sweet overall.

[suprsonic-a]

casually drops some verse tags

[fuumiku]

Catharsis

This thing legit took me like 2 months bc it got corrupted twice and I had to start over again and again haha,, But I finally got my new ipad + apple pencil!! So you know this is the first thing I’m going to finish with it hah. Y’all can have different versions as a treat because I’m indecisive af ALSO I KNOW that the way I drew Metal’s upper quill isn’t right, it’s heresy I know I know, I prob won’t draw it this way again but I just wanted to. It’ll also be higher resolution next time I swear... Dropping 2 Metal Sonic angst fics I wrote here too bc why not:

Forget Me Not:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/39893574  “Sometimes, even though Metal Sonic has an infallible data card with undeletable memory files, he wishes he could forget. “ / Soft angst about Eggman being an abusive parent. No metamy

(And so,) I Mourn the World and Myself:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/40428456 / angst with a touch of comfort, major theme of suicidal ideation and depression, pre-established metamy.

There’s something paining about how Metal Sonic can’t cry. Like...

"Crying is an excellent way to release stress and pent-up negative emotions and turmoil.” Metal: haha, guess I’ll die

It’s pretty much canon that Metal channels his pain into (emotionally-drive) impulsive self-destructive acts and goals, and ties it all in a neat bow of anger that hides envy and bitterness. What I love about Metal Sonic particularly is how he’s so fully denied any sort of catharsis. His only parental figure shuns vulnerable emotions like sadness and compassion and pushes him to be an hypercompetent tool of war. He physically can’t cry, talk nor make facial expressions, so he can’t even talk about himself or his feelings at all, he’s so isolated with his own thoughts, he has so little capacity for self-expression. What else is there than smashing things up to be seen? He has no one, people wouldn’t lend him the ear he needs even if he could talk probably, and the person people assume is his biggest ally and most positive relationship (Eggman) damages his mental health more than anyone else. He seeks catharsis through unleashing anger, but it makes him make bad impulsive decisions that cost him both victory and his own health, that feel unsatisfying after the fact, and that reinforce the evil image people have of him. He struggles with his identity, self-esteem, rigid thinking and world view, and his parental figure set the basis for that from day 1 and encourages his instability, he ends up coping through delusions that become huge and so destructive most notably in Sonic Heroes. He wants to be free. He wants to be someone. He wants to be seen and acknowledged for all the efforts he makes and all his objectively great achievements and abilities. Mostly, he wants to be loved, hoping even through his self-delusions that one day he could be, without having to always prove that he’s worthy of it

So yeah I wanted to do something with that, I really like the idea that he’d cry through electricity discharges like this. It’s a system dysfunction, like an uncontrollable overspill of emotions and energy, it’s big and bright because of his subconscious & vulnerable want to be seen, and it’s dangerous and angry like the power he wants to emanate. Harsh rough inhuman edges that scare, but in truth it’s just very sad and desperate. Loss of control my beloved, he’d either be so afraid of that or convinces himself that he intended it all along. Meltdown? Meltdown. (Anyone love how meltdown is a term used with nuclear reactor dysfunction as well? Me too) 

Might as well say this too but usually when Metal is "crying", tbh moreso having a metldown yeah, but like needing to externalize his pain and sadness, I imagine him a lot like Whitty from Friday Night Funkin’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU4jB8OIG-U&t=34s&ab_channel=ChrisuGaming You love to see a guy break down because of an overwhelming mess of emotions, because anger is a bad ✨coping mechanism✨. I just imagine Metal a lot like some silent pariah, crying in a way that is so invisible, until he explodes. Which, for this pic it’s definitely more on the silent pariah side, but pretty much on the verge of cracking yeah.

Tldr: Mob psycho 100% meltdowns is just autism culture

Also if ya like the vibes of this and how I see Metal, here’s my spotify playlist of  him if you want to listen! I’m huge on the theme of emotional suppression and breakdowns heh: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2IzscWh2HsWPZE5sgJUbt1?si=2bc8943c91474476

[ghoststowertour]

I really want to get back into Sonic, but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any suggestions?

you can start ANYWHERE n play in any order really,, but if you play for the game mechanics/gameplay or for the story,, read below the cut for some recommendations,,

i started with sonic heroes which is great if youre looking for funky game mechanics, fun level design, interesting storyline and boppin tracks!! theres four stories you can play (team sonic/dark/chaotix/rose) and theres no particular order in which to play them so go crazy!! the bonus stages are always a blast n this one holds a special (stage) place in my heart,,

if youre aiming to play in chronological order story-wise, theres sonic adventure & sonic adventure 2, which are more story-oriented n have super neat game mechanics (climbing/gliding/racing/ t h e   c h a o   g a r d e n /etc.)!! the soundtracks for both of these games are REALLY good,, (heroes is a sequel to sa2 and references some events that had taken place in the latter)

i havent done much of 06 but its got a pretty solid storyline!! i cant say anything for graphics or gameplay as ive yet to play it, but it looks fun!! 

the storybook spinoff series (sonic and the black knight/sonic and the secret rings) are SUPER fun to play and are VERY story-oriented,, they introduce some funky new game mechanics n the level and general game design is v nice to look at n play with!! 

the shadow the hedgehog spinoff game is p entertaining because of its whacky storyline and different paths that you can take as you play through the game - good luck finding that DAMN fourth chaos emerald,,

i havent played rush shuffle or rivals but they all seem to have super neat game mechanics of their own as well as fun interactions between characters!!

generations is definitely a good place to start if you want to go through all of the fun stages throughout the games n play with both classic n modern mechanics!! its got lots of fun challenges you can do too!!

havent played colours yet but it looks SUPER good!! its got some funky new game mechanics (wisps) which look REALLY really neat!!

unleashed is fun to play if you wanna try smth a lil different from the usual sonic gameplay,, its more action-oriented as you fight through the night and dash through the day - v good storyline and the cg opening cinematic is to DIE for,,

mm,, oh!! and forces is v v fun and has both classic n modern gameplay as WELL as letting you create and play as your own sonic OC!! which can be v cute or make for some funny cutscenes,, also the bosses are SUPER fun and each level is always fun to go back to n play over n over again!!

if i missed any or if you guys have any recs feel free to add on to this post either via rb or in the comments!!

[girlsagainst-archive]

One of our reps, Emma, interviewed DOLLS in preparation for the IWD gig tonight at the George Tavern in London!

DOLLS are a grunge-punk two-piece, who’ll be joining The Tuts and Peach Club at The George Tavern for International Women’s Day this Wednesday. Girls Against got hold of Jade and Belinda to talk to them a bit more about their music, girl bands, and gig-going.

So, I love your single Audrey! Could you tell me a bit more about it?

Bel: Audrey was written after Jade was really inspired by a certain someone. It was one of the first songs we wrote together and was a break away from the bluesy riff based songs previously released. 

Do you have any other new songs on the way?

Jade: Oh yes! We are writing new songs all the time. We should hopefully have some new songs unleashed to the world in the near future. Stay tuned! 

A lot of bands in this scene, including you guys, are sometimes being referred to as “Riot Grrrl revival”. Do you consider yourselves a Riot Grrrl band? Do you have any thoughts on the original 90s movement?

Jade: We are definitely inspired by the movement but I wouldn't consider ourselves as a Riot Grrrl band specifically. I think the original movement did a lot to change people's perception of feminism and empower women but there is still more that could be done.

Bel: I really believe the 90's movement consolidated a huge step in feminism and female presence in the music industry. We are definitely inspired by it and still believe we need to keep fighting for equality. 

I’ll ask the obvious question, because everyone always seems to be interested – who do you find yourselves inspired by?

J & B: We are inspired by a variety of bands, books and films. We love Sonic Youth, Pj Harvey, Pixies... the list goes on. 

When was the last time you were at a gig? What’s the best memory/story you’ve got from a gig?

Jade: I was at a gig on Friday and I am going to another one tonight. I try to go to as many gigs as possible. I went to a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds gig a few years ago not really expecting to enjoy it as I didn't love 'Push the sky away' on first listen. I ended up in floods of tears by the second song and left with them becoming one of my favourite bands. 

Bel: I also like going to gigs regularly and I try to combine bigger ones with my friend's gigs. It's so important to support unsigned and independent artists, because I know it can be so hard to break through and it can really demotivate people. I always have a great time at Mac DeMarco's gigs. At Field Day he crowd-surfed over me and broke my sun glasses. It was really the highlight of my week!

What’s your favourite part about performing your songs up in front of people? Do you think being women makes a difference to your music and how you present yourselves on stage?

Jade: My favourite part is being able to express myself on stage. I find it is a good release. I also love seeing people really enjoying our music and singing along. 

Bel: I don't think being women directly affects our music any more than just how normal life affects any woman. I love being onstage because I truly feel so comfortable and happy! I've always thought that drumming is like breathing to me. Also I love playing with Jade and that's what makes a big difference. 

Do you have any personal opinions on what we can do to encourage diversity in the indie music scene, and to make gig-goers comfortable?

Jade: I think the fact there are more female fronted nights now encourages diversity. I have also seen workshops that focuses on girl musicians being able to be in bands together which is great! 

Bel: And about gig goers, I know how awful it can be for girls sometimes in crowded rooms or arenas. I think the main point is to speak out about any uncomfortable circumstances and raise awareness (and respect). 

For those who miss you on Wednesday, when can people next catch you?

J & B: We are playing at the Tooting Tram and social on March 17th for Radio X's John Kennedy.

 To hear more from Dolls find them at @thisisdolls and on Instagram at dolls_music

You can check out their new single “Audrey” on soundcloud now (https://open.spotify.com/album/3o0B6ysVimu7nIjq61D2uT) or watch the music video on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mteUr5z8JiI).

 Interview by Emma (@pokemma), for Girls Against (@girlsagainst)