PICE – Seasons Review

What does PICE sound like?

8-bit chiptune synths with extremely crunchy fakebit beats.

The review of ‘Seasons’ by PICE

Creeping in at just under 14 minutes, ‘Seasons’ is a short EP released by chiptune and fakebit composer PICE. The Swede captured so many retro game music vibes with their 8-bit style as each track represents a season. There was something so wholesome and whimsical about it that I had to buy it and write about it.

The EP opens with ‘Snow’ – a song of duality. The synths are thick and cool as they twinkle and sparkle like icy tendrils of a snowy village. Underneath it hits a chunky bit crushed drum loop from 1990 that’s beefy, and bold and adds a playful snow crunch to the whole track. ‘Spring’ is more laid back, finding its tone somewhere between a lo-fi beats track synth-wise but with the beats landing harder. Lazy but with SNES groove and a whistle, it’s a vibe.

‘Summer’ uses a synth voice and playful plinks to bring joy and smiles to the song. It transitions halfway through into an electronic banjo pluck for added summer feels too as the beat gets beefier over time. It’s still laid back though, which is surprising as ‘Autumn’ packs more of a punch. This track has a jazzy Sonic Casino land approach to swinging beats, upbeat chiptune synths and shuffling the cymbals. I get PS1 arcade game credit roll energy from it. That comment applies to the entire EP, to be honest. As a bonus, there are two more tracks. ‘Spring (2021)’ is a pacey mixture of fake synth guitar and uptempo rubbery synth beats. It is a nice ditty but not quite as catchy as the other tracks. ‘Summer (2023)’ goes all-in with a fake steel drum verse and a slow-plodding fakebit chorus hook. Short and sweet, it packs a punch during its two-loop stay.

PICE captured my 1996 imagination with ‘Seasons’. Its breezy and open approach to seasons is fun and I like how PICE made the traditionally uptempo seasons the slower, chilled tracks to subvert expectations. This is a niche release but fans of chiptune and fakebit music will have a pep in their step if they pick up this EP. It’s 14 minutes of nostalgic PS1 reverie.

Recommended track: Snow

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