ChipIII by Ghouls n Eggs: A Techno-Chiptune Odyssey That’ll Warp Your Brain (In a Good Way)
If you’re into music that sounds like it was brewed in the basement of an arcade haunted by robots, then ChipIII by Ghouls n Eggs is your jam. Released in 2010 under Brazil’s Chippanze label, this album smashes together techno and chiptune with the reckless abandon of someone who just discovered both genres at once. And honestly? It works. Like, really works.
The artwork—courtesy of www.escaphandro.net—is as chaotic as the tunes themselves. Think pixelated nightmares meets neon glow sticks melting in slow motion. Perfect for setting the mood before diving into tracks like “Castle Esfincter” and “Falling Q-Bert.” Spoiler alert: these two are my faves, and I’m about to tell you why.
Track Highlights
Let’s kick things off with “Castle Esfincter.” This one hits like a laser beam fired directly from an alien spaceship’s soundboard. The beat is relentless, looping around your brain until you start questioning reality—or maybe just whether you left the stove on. There’s something oddly hypnotic about how the melody builds; it feels like climbing stairs in a video game only to realize there’s no end in sight. Did they mean to make it feel like sonic vertigo? Probably. Do I love it anyway? Absolutely.
Then there’s “Falling Q-Bert,” which might as well come with a warning label: May induce nostalgia-induced seizures. If you’ve ever lost hours playing retro games while mainlining Mountain Dew, this track will slap you right back to those glory days. It’s bouncy, glitchy, and somehow manages to capture the exact moment when Q-Bert tumbles down his pyramid in defeat. But instead of feeling sad, you’re too busy nodding along to care. Bonus points for making me laugh every time I picture poor Q-Bert face-planting mid-drop.
Why You Should Care
Sure, ChipIII isn’t perfect. Some tracks blur together after multiple listens, and yeah, the production has that DIY charm that screams “we recorded this in someone’s garage during a power outage.” But isn’t that part of its charm? It’s raw, unfiltered, and dripping with personality. Plus, coming out of Brazil—a country better known for samba than chiptune—makes it even more intriguing.
And let’s not forget the label, Chippanze. Whoever thought naming themselves after a genre mashup deserves a medal because it’s genius. Pure genius.
Final Thoughts
Listening to ChipIII feels like stepping into a parallel universe where Pac-Man DJs parties and Tetris blocks have feelings. Sure, it’s weird. Maybe even a little messy. But life would be boring without a little chaos now and then. So crank up the volume, grab some snacks, and prepare to have your eardrums pleasantly assaulted.
Oh, and if anyone knows what “Esfincter” actually means, hit me up. I’ve been losing sleep over it.
