This year New Rave is all the rage amongst show going teens. But a few years back there was a similar musical movement called ‘Nintendo Core’. There are obvious differences between New Rave & Nintendo Core, but there are similarities as well. Most notably the indie/rock based roots. Both are dance-able by certain standards. Both usually have songs about fantastical subject matter & inspire neon clad youngsters to gyrate wildly. But why didn’t the earlier genre catch on as much as it’s younger sibling?
Possibly because Nintendo Core wasn’t an NME backed genre but more likely because Nintendo Core songs weren’t exactly club friendly like it’s New Rave counterparts are.
HORSE The Band were the ones credited with creating the ‘Nintendo Core’ genre. Their first CD entitled R. Borlax was released in 2003. ‘Scissors on his fucking head’ is the chorus to the song ‘Cutsman’ which is undoubtedly about one of the bosses on Megaman 2.
An Albatross is another notable band that was labeled ‘Nintendo core’ around that time. A tad more dancey than Horse The Band but still a lot harder for some to digest than say, Klaxons
MP3: An Albatross - The Revolutionary Politics Of Dance
HORSE The Band put out an album in 2005 entitled ‘The Mechanical Hand’ which is available here.
An Albatross has released a 7″ split with XBXRX & three full length albums which are availble here. An Albatross is currently touring in Europe. Check their myspace page for details.
