| Now on the database!! Bubblegum Bass!!! 2014!!!!!! Leaving this list as a slight artifact. New image!!! There's still three things though. Thank you Originally started a couple of days after the release of 'Attachment' and finished a couple of days before the debut of Lipgloss Twins Ranked in order of how I would check them out rather than personal preference, though they might overlap also missing a few things feel free to give me a poke. ALSO I@M OVERTHINKING THE DESCRIPTIONS SORRY HANNAH |
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CommentsDESCRIPTION (that's where the name I made up comes from, but as far as I know there are no 'official' names given to this; the closest is something like "Post-Ringtone Music" which is just plain terrible). It differs in that the production of its creators - namely A. G. Cook and Sophie - trades the deep, atmsopheric grooves for bubblegummy pop hooks and optimistic lyrics with a euphoric atmosphere, incorporating pitch-shifted samples and synthesizers firmly dating the music either to the mid 2010s or somewhere indeterminably far into the future. The visual 'aesthetic' is also very nice and only record label doing this thing and can subsequently be used to describe work related to the sounds and images presented here. A main reason why I created this list is not only to make them slightly more visible and hopefully serve as a comprehensible introduction to them, but also so that people can recommend to me personally music inspired by this that could hopefully go on the list somewhere. single has them and most of the mixes do to and they are very nice to look at. DIS is either behind these or inspires them, I'm never quite sure. As a quick warning though, the song autoplays when you visit these pages and it can be difficult to immediately identify where the Soundcloud bar is to pause it. |
| SONGSESS | ||
 | SophieBipp / Elle (2013) [Single]A Numbers release, but Sophie still associates with the rest of these people! Plus though the sound existed before this release, this really feels like the catalyst for everything else to come to fruition in its current form Honestly, I've listened to this so much that I've forgotten what it's like to be an outsider to the World of MSMSMSM, but what I remember is that it feels like travelling to the 90s where everything is not only okay but actually really good, with so much happening in the production that it truly does sound like living in the cover art. The vocal track is ridiculously energetic and fun, but that's not to mention just how hard the synths go and how much it just generally bangs. this writing is boring but I've tried to pin down exactly just what makes this such a glorious life-changingly huge anthem in a genre called DANCE-POP Listen to both sides here (bipp is most relevent but elle adds to the mystery of SOPHIE and reflects bipp perfectly and I like it. its underrated. also grab the actual download if you can the intro and outro really makes the song i think) | |
 | Hannah DiamondPink and Blue (2013) [Single]The Pop Song, PC Music's own first recommendation, like with "Hey QT" (which you aren't meant to know about yet) this works by rejecting any semblance of drama or other sad things in songs and goes full-on with its Twee, where Hannah Diamond just sounds so likeable that the song comes off immensely personal and emotional but unpleasant. (not even bass music but that's not the point) As Ryan Bassil points out in an article for Noisey (check the bottom of the list), each of PC Music's artists, at the end of the day, are characters. This is kind of obvious, but in the case of Hannah Diamond, who sounds so happy and content with her situation, it is the greatest crime. pc-s5 | |
 | A. G. CookBeautiful (2014) [Single]Exists outside of the progression of PC Music into an incomprehensible glitch art gallery as suggested by "Wannabe" below, this is the most chilled out track that A. G. Cook could pull out. While his sugary vocal samples and such in other songs are used for energetic effect, everything here is as euphoric as possible. The sound of everything being alright. :( pc-s10 | |
 | A. G. CookKeri Baby (2014) [Single]Sums up PC Music itself the best it ever can be in less than 3 minutes, including both its jarringly uncanny ideals and overload of catchy pop hooks. "Pink and Blue" below is probably a better place to start for the funtimes, but as an introduction to this world this might be more essential. As for the song itself, Cook's production sounds like it is constantly shooting off sounds which send the song into a completely direction until it eventually returns back where it started. Like an old Windows screensaver with a hundred test-tube-born tiny little singing Hannah Diamonds superimposed on it. pc-s6 | |
 | Dux ContentLike You (2013) [Single]The abstract vocal simplicity taken to its logical extreme while still remaining a sweet and catchy pop song, of course, but what's most important is the deep bassline here, working together with its 2-Step pacing to groove so much. Sounds like a fun time, another carefree weekend. pc-s3 | |
 | SophieLemonade / Hard (2014) [Single]It's another Numbers release! Both sides take heavy cues from PC Music, making Bipp b/w Elle look embarrassingly dated to 2013. Lemonade: Incidental, summery, like drinking and possibly becoming lemonade. Slowly gets deranged, and as it does it's all about those transitions, and especially that chorus. Underwhelming in its length but not in its vision, excellent for replays, makes me want lemonade. Importantly divisive. Hard (probably featuring GFOTY): popular (relatively, and that this early stage) opinion states that this is so much better than the A-side, but I have to agree so much. Takes the more transitional parts of A. G. Cook's mixes (with the main parts of [Album5344725) to their logical conclusion, bursting into life in its second half with its soothing synths interplaying with the high energy and delivery. The sound of my life, I don't know about you. I can't get enough of this; 2014's Bipp for sure NMBRS34 on SOundcloud | |
 | QTHey QT (2014) [Single]The most inexplicably controversial song of the whole bunch. It's definitely the most conscious attempt at "cute" from any of its producers, and I guess that grinds some people's gears, but nonetheless that chorus and beat are incredible. Also it's on XL Recordings - it's really happenin' Hey QT! (Drink QT) (A Hey QT video is coming soon) | |
 | Hannah DiamondAttachment (2014) [Single]The natural progression of "Pink and Blue", dissolving into nice music box melodies which instead derive their strangeness and buildup from a slight but effective edge of awkwardness. Or, as Tom Krell of How to Dress Well put it in an episode of FACT Singles Club, "a Kate Bush song made by a teen in, like, 2045" (he gave it a 10). I'm thinking 'The Dreaming'. Surprisingly subtle though. pc-s8 | |
 | MaxoSnow Other (2014) [Single]Invokes the feeling of a childlike lazy Sunday afternoon with colourful fizzy drinks that are little more than just sugar and cartoons and synth funk(?), I think, further injected with more sugar and colour. Works as the busiest PC Music track, with as many thick grooves being packed into 3 minutes as possible and full ideas for songs coming and going. One of my favs Maxo has a lot of other music, by the way (in fact he seems to be the only one of these who actually exists outside of the label); almost none of it has the PC Music sound like this does (it's mostly chiptune) but check the links at the bottom of this list for more. pc-s7 | |
 | GFOTYBobby (2013) [Single]Their first release! Really though it has dashes of the weirdness of the later stuff it really works best as surprisingly clever Sad White Girl Rap. I can get down to Sad White Girl Rap especially with a personality like GFOTY. Also note the Club Mix, which is just as good and more closely resembles PC's later stuff. pc-s1 | |
 | DJ DJ BoothHeaven (A.G. Cook Remix) (2013) [Single]Stepping away from the conceptual nature of A. G. Cook and his gang's aesthetic, this owns While the original grooves very nicely (available on Todd Edwards Falling Down the Stairs, itself very good, along with the remix) Cook brings everything he uses to be as satisfying as possible, but it's the vocal samples that take it to the next level, and how the track shatters at one point into a world where the original title seems appropriate. The more prominent sort-of-rapped vocals (probably Hannah Diamond's) just sound at peace and really top this track so it can be as good as it can be. Heaven (A. G. Cook Remix) via xlr8r on Soundcloud | |
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| Thy SlaughterBronze (2014) [Single]Keri Baby meets Hey QT for something much more subtle than either. Very warm and sincere, a true love song for people alone in their bedrooms. I also want to comment on how the band name and cover art (at first glance) are wonderfully misleading, and also the last few seconds. pc-s13 | |
 | Lipgloss TwinsWannabe (2014) [Single]A simulation of Teen Pop by a computer raised on glitch and Industrial music, blasting what represents emotion and materialism but doesn't quite get it right, displaying no self-awareness. There's two of them, but they are different. Maybe? The most obviously deconstructive and strangely humorous of these songs. There's something I'm not telling you. Lipgloss Twins are twins, but they are probably Felicita - Felicita resoundclouded it on Felicita's soundcloud alongside other Felicita stuff and also it sounds a lot like felicita pc-s9 pc-s9 on Soundcloud (the site has a very amusing skit that might interfere with the music so if you don't want that head there) | |
 | FelicitaDoves (2014) [Single]Released on GUM Artefacts :> More PC-esque than "Climb Up Eh", and much more cohesive, too, and works in subtleties of inane conversation, the repetition of particular words with the twinkling firmly in the background. I don't know why this is so cathartic for me but its site and aesthetic are nice This has been re-released in promotion of their upcoming EP Frenemies! Its website is here. (contains creepy snails and better artwork than the actual single release has) | |
GFOTYDon't Wanna / Let's Do It (2014) [Single]Sp00ky, unfinished sounding mess that nonetheless completely works based on the strength of its ridiculous Grime-y chorus and weirdness of the lyrics (HooOOLd on baBY... I fooOOund a PLan). Feels like a reaction to the massiveness of "Attachment", "Beautiful", and "Palette", probably for good pc-s12 | ||
 | Princess BambiLess Love More Sex (2013) [Single]Feels like PC Music's take on a perfume commercial or something, or a 'seductive' Rihanna jam. The childish nature of Princess Bambi's is more subtle, and it doesn't really work with these lyrics (which are not explicit and are simple enough to still align with PC Music's ideology, it's just unexpected), but A. G. Cook's production is full of lovely melodies which carry the track to greatness. The grower of the bunch, for sure, but in a different way to "Attachment". A visual collaboratin with LOGO. pc-s2 | |
 | FelicitaClimb Up Eh / Bring It (2013) [Single]Another one that isn't actually a PC Music release so much as from the same scene, but the A-side Presents the image of a teen girl from the distant future with creepy undertones in the exact same way. Although in its production, which is the strongest part, the creepiness is less of an undertone so much as its full force, but that just serves to enhance Chlo's strong vocal performance. Thanks to RYM user exitsense for bringing Felicita to my attention. Website (2014) N My Teeth (Old Climb Up Eh video) | |
 | Paris Suit YourselfWon't K (Sophie Rmx) (2014) [Bootleg / Unauthorized]
Cool house track! Works well in a mix like Sophie's Boiler Room one. The vocals could be better (especially since they're the only thing from the original track, which is a dark post-punk track) but the "verse" pays off. Also cool opening sound
It was taken down from Soundcloud, but is still available on YouTube here, and Brendan (who wrote one of the articles in my further reading section) dropped by the list sharing a download in the magical 320! Thanks Brendan! It's here
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 | σníkαb♥f♥fs (2014) [Single]Bonus one, since, I suppose, unless everything above has a 100% success rate, it's easy to hate this since it does take the controversial qualities of every song above even further - thanks you for being so cool and sweet to me i wanna be your friend | |
| DJ MIXS | ||
 | A. G. CookRadio Tank Mix (2013) [DJ Mix]The sound of one long digital hug while in a dreamlike state. Absolutely essential listening, and the most carefully curated and cohesive of Cook's mixes. Every single sound here to the end just seems to work so much to its end, the underlying synths and "skits" (none of which outstay their welcome except maybe one and remind me of a carefree surreal state of mind) blending together with the songs (all of which are great) to paint a lovely world which I want to live in. This mix was for Tank Magazine. Radio Tank Mix (with the only known A. G. Cook interview to my knowledge, an interesting read) | |
 | Sophie / QTLive in the Boiler Room (2014) [Bootleg / Unauthorized]Sophie's set: Actually competent mixing in a club setting! :D The mix of old and new stuff on this is just magical, with comparatively little meandering that I've heard in snippets of his other sets (which are apparently even better regardless). Almost all of this is new content; the one about shaking it up and making it fizz is my favourite song. QT's set: A "performance" of "Hey QT" with an extended, rather throwaway 5-minute intro, setting up the concept of the QT Energy Elixir. Her dancing is interesting in how minimally K-Pop it is, but I can take or leave the whole video. Good song tho! Sophie QT | |
 | GFOTYSecret Mix (2014) [DJ Mix]GFOTY honestly might be my favourite person of the whole bunch; her music seems to have the clearest sense of style and strikes the perfect combination of hyberbolic pop and abrasion. The juxtaposition of the adult contemporary covers highlights that it is all still teen-y pop music, just sounding more like "if someone took death grips, opened them in ms paint, and inverted the colors," as a Soundcloud comment puts it. (i do not condone death grips) Shhh | |
 | Various ArtistsPC Music x DISown Radio (2014) [DJ Mix]Huge, really. An hour of PC Music trying to outdo itself and as such it's perfect to get lost in. The use of the 6 artists really covers all the bases in terms of their music while giving it enough time to breathe, and the new names are pretty exciting; I particularly like Kane West's 10 minutes. This was for DIS magazine's DISown Radio. PC x DISown | |
 | DJ WarlordMeat SS14 Embassy Mix (2013) [DJ Mix]Who is DJ Warlord? spoiler: click to read His music, like the mixes associated with JACK댄스, are a lot more energetic and also based in Hardcore than Bass, and this is as full of lovely moments as the 'main' ones. This mix is for Meat Clothing, who designs clothes for Hannah Diamond and I discuss them further further down. MEAT SS14 EMBASSY MIX | |
 | Radio Tank Mix: JACK댄스 JACK댄스 presents a surge of energy that, like Maxo, presents its energy by being so quick and packed with content. Though their mixes (found at their Soundcloud at the bottom of this list) are fairly interchangable, this feels the most essential and thoroughly enjoyable throughout. 4 stars! This mix is to promote JACK댄스 and is for Tank Magazine, as with the Cook one. Click the title of this item to go to this mix and read about it. | |
 | A. G. CookPersonal Computer Music (2013) [DJ Mix]More flowing, sparklingly pleasant sounds compiled nicely by Cook; not as essential as his Radio Tank and DISown Radio contributions and not as tight, but some of the songs and general aimless ideas dished out here are lovely. Also, "Aquarius (Luna Remix)" :DDD (Also, "Moose" D:) Personal Computer Music is personal computer music for your personal computer. This collection is for DISmagazine. Personal Computer Music | |
 | A. G. CookCC Mix (2013) [DJ Mix]I think my favourite thing about Cook is, at the end of the day, his taste in ridiculous pop music is so important, and this is perfectly represented by a Ke$ha album track (an awesome one, btw) which is basically Nightcore'd kicking this off. From there it's all about the candy beats, as implied by the new Hannah Diamond song "Beats" (which is a grower btw). The first one of these I heard after Bipp <3 This mix was for Creamcake. Creamcake Mix on Soundcloud | |
 | A. G. CookIllamasqua 彩る Mix (2012) [DJ Mix]Technically the first one of these! :D Thank you A. G. Cook, thank you LOGO Magazine Hence technically it could be mixed better but on the whole there's much ambition here, and the music stands nicely on its own. Took me a while to 'get' this but I'm glad I did, it stands up to the rest of his stuff ILLAMASQUA 彩る MIX | |
 | A. G. Cook, Felicita, Palmistry & Finn DieselRinse FM Podcast: Dis Magazine (2014) [DJ Mix]Felicita's (and possibly Palmistry's, I lost track of when that was, but anyway Felicita probably comes in about halfway through) section really is next level, eventually taking bass music to its logical limit by emulating speech patterns. This section also has very much the same sense of humour as Lipgloss Twins and their site. Though Finn Diesel's mix is good, obviously the other one of note is A. G. Cook, who ends on a really quite nice alternate version of "Pink and Blue" and then a truly quite sad unidentified song. [https://soundcloud.com/rinsefm/dismagazine290514.Dis Magazine on Rinse FM] | |
 | Finn Diesel, Sophie, Danny L Harle & Soda PlainsRinse FM Podcast - DisMagazine (2014) [DJ Mix]Less moments of delirious weirdness than Dis's previous Rinse FM podcast, more of probably two of the best pop composers in the scene debuting some new songs. Those two (it's Danny L Harle and Sophie, of course) work together and Finn Diesel steps up his game to match them (the "Lover" mix on his mix goes pretty damn hard). Dis Magazine's Rinse FM Podcast 2! | |
 | TielsieHuewave (2013) [DJ Mix]Self-released (though Tielsie would later produce Palette on PC, by far their most generic song but still relatively worthwhile), Tielsie presents a very colourful take on the PC Music sound and aesthetic. It's title is apt, it's waviness makes it far greater than I gave it credit for before. I'm out of ideas. This was on Dis Magazine. Huewave | |
 | Joseph MarinettiShoop x Cloud Castle Radio Mix #2 (2014) [DJ Mix]having the exact same sound. At this point, you probably get the idea, but totally worth listening to [https://soundcloud.com/sho...e-radio-2.Shoop x Cloud Castle Radio Mix #2] | |
 | JΛSMINEWhy Don't You Wash Your Blond Child's Hair in Dead Champagne, As They Do in France?(2014) [DJ Mix]It's Manicure Records (pending) :O The artist name and title and cover art are all really lame and hold no clue to how colourful and soothing the mix itself actually is. The Lil Mama remix is especially glorious, and placing "Beats" at the end convinced me of its high quality more than CC Mix did. Manicure Records are very good; I mention them again below MANI002 | |
 | Spinee64 Thousand Dollar Bombs (2014) [DJ Mix]It's LOGO Magazine :0 Very pink, promoted by PC Music, great bass and momentum with more subtle and pleasing pop tendencies. (also I like Save Me; it has a novelty effect but it's very fun) $$$$$$ | |
| EPS | ||
 | easyFuneasyFun EP (2013) [EP]Second PC release, experimenting with the EP format, and oddly it actually works really well because there are no overwhelming hooks, just carefree sunny synths almost recalling vaporwave aesthetics. It's good. pc-r1 Also "Sondico" has a video and its rad | |
 | Guy AkimotoBaeBae (2014) [EP]Nice songs, from someone outside the PC Music circle! I can certainly see him making a legitimate release on that label, because the ideas presented here are good. The remixes aren't bad either. BaeBae | |
 | A. G. CookNu Jack Swung (2013) [EP]Somewhere in between the high-concept net art of the PC Music aesthetic and the sincerity of the R&B influences. Of the three, "Did U Ever Love Me" is the best 'cause of Patricia Edwards and legitimately sounds like something Beyonce could put out. The other two are great too with Hannah Diamond on "Close Your Eyes" being appreciated pc-r2 | |
| FURTHER INTO THE WORLD | stuff with the same musical #aesthetic or scene that you might like from this stuff but none of the full-on production | |
 | AnamanaguchiPop It (2014) [Single]Captures the aesthetic perfectly with the AG Cook-styled vocals and the cover art and the website <3 DHX 002 | |
LOGO Magazine The first chronological mix on this list was for LOGO, as I already mentioned, and they highlight and often host similar releases on their playlists. Also the website proper is good for the aesthetic https://soundcloud.com/logomagazine http://logomagazine.com/ | ||
 | Maltine RecordsOften specializes in cute J-garage stuff, so therefore there are a lot of (loose - I haven't listenedback to 2005) similarities to PC Music in their styles. They produce a lot of stuff and are generally considered hit-and-miss, with no generally agreed upon releases, but I like はじめまして (especially its B-side), and Cat Walk if ur superficial trash who likes their cover art. Otherwise I can't help you, take a look http://maltinerecords.cs8.biz/ https://soundcloud.com/maltine-record | |
| OTHER GOOD PC MUSIC RELEASES THAT DON'T QUITE FIT | ||
 | Danny L HarleBroken Flowers (2013) [Single]Danny is the best vocalist :) Like 'Bobby' it feels like this is too based in reality, to the point where I don't know where to put it, but those melodies are completely essential and those synths, especially at the end, are lovely pc-s4 | |
 | DreamtrakOdyssey, Pt. 2 (A. G. Cook Remix) (2013) [Single]We drove to Miami 'cause Miami is a place Video | |
 | Life SimThis Life (2014) [DJ Mix]I think I unfairly overlook Life Sim, who does more Trance-based stuff, and I'm not sure why, but this mix is cohesive enough for me to get behind. This Life | |
 | Serious ThugsUr Not a Baller (2014) [Single](Not actually on PC but) Warlord-produced, and quite nicely (though it's the hook that makes it), mostly notable though for its Harmony Korine-esque video (in which Hannah Diamond cameos in a group shot), which has had some exposure on VFiles. Feel free to read the comments for some lovely classism (disclaimer: that means dont. Don't.) Incidentally, its members and directors are Alis Pelleschi and William E Wright. Alis forms half of Meat Clothing who are essentially PC Fashion (and they have designed Hannah Diamond's clothes at least) and Will is an editor at Logo Magazine and works with Hannah Diamond. See the list image! | |
| A. G. Cook's Had 1 (Club Mix) is a classic too, probably should go somewhere Christmas 2.0 also has a lot going for it but is simply too hit-and-miss for my tastes; check on the list around Christmas to see if it does its job well enough. Bipp (Tielsie Remix) is also very cool, if the original wasn't at the top it might be on the list tbh In terms of other SOPHIE stuff, he has Nothing More to Say, btw, which is great. However,Who Am I (SOPHIE MSMSMSM Remix), which is always overlooked, shows many of the same tendencies as this just slightly before. Tiny Dancer is cool, but Sophie take it to another level. That chorus <3 | ||
| FURTHER READING | Hey QT! An Interview With 2014's Most Love-Her-or-Hate-Her Pop Star (Tom Lea, 9/9/2014) Cute Computer Chaos (Adam Harper, 17/8/2014) (interesting links to hudmo + oneohtrix, our friends come in at the last couple of paragraphs) PC Music: The 10 Best Tracks So Far From 2014's Most Divisive Record Label (Joe Moynihan, 13/8/2014) (past fact's irritating design, interesting order + some cute insight onto "Aquarius" - wasn't Luna also the cat in Sailor Moon?) You’re Too Cute: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, SOPHIE, PC Music and the Aesthetic of Excess (Steph Kretowicz, 26/6/2014) PC Music and the Future of Pop (Brendan Klinkenberg, 30/5/2014) The 405 Guide to PC Music (Emma Garland, 28/5/2014) Trying to Make Sense of Hannah Diamond and Post-Ringtone Music (Ryan Bassil, 23/5/2014, + an interesting GFOTY interview) Check Out These Unbelievable Photos of Sophie Live (Kyle Kramer, 19/5/2014) Kyary Pamyu Pamyu gets kawaii with SOPHIE (Alex Denney, 12/5/2014) PC Music's A. G. Cook "Sounds Like Pouring Pop Rocks In Your Ears" (Mitchell Stevens, 28/2/2014) Rising: Sophie (Larry Fitzmaurice, 10/10/2013, + interview) Expanded Benefits: Matthew Lutz-Kinoy and SOPHIE (Legacy Russell, 11/1/2012) (has some old artwork / information - if anyone wants me to remove reference to this I can) | |
| SOCIAL LINKS | PC Music: Website / Soundcloud Twitter / Facebook / Tumblr / Tumblr (Releases Only) A. G. Cook: Soundcloud / Soundcloud (DJ Warlord) / Twitter (DJ Warlord) / Facebook (DJ Warlord) / Tumblr SOPHIE: Website / Soundcloud / Twitter / Facebook Hannah Diamond: Soundcloud / Twitter / Tumblr GFOTY: Soundcloud / Twitter / Facebook / Blogspot Danny L Harle: Website / Soundcloud / Twitter JACK댄스: Soundcloud / Twitter / Facebook Maxo: Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Bandcamp ("Level Music" Project) / Twitter / Tumblr / YouTube Dux Content: Website / Soundcloud / Soundcloud [Dux Kidz] / Facebook / YouTube Life Sim: Soundcloud Princess Bambi: Twitter / Tumblr / Instagram Felicita: Website / Soundcloud Diamond / Wright: Website DIS Magazine: Website / DISown Radio / Soundcloud / Twitter / Facebook / Tumblr / Vimeo / Instagram Tank Magazine: Website / Soundcloud / Twitter / Facebook / Meat Clothing: Website / Soundcloud / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram Creamcake: Website / Soundcloud I've compiled these all in an hour and am a bit tired; let me know if there's anyone key I'm missing. | |
| WHAT NOW? | idk Thanks to flyingwill and his list on How to Create Visually Appealing Lists on RYM for a few ideas that I used here! Also everyone contributing to items on the list, including the ones I've overlooked, and all the RYM favoruiters and commenters |
