“Monster” is the opener to this album, and a low-passed square-wave melody plays along with a low chip bass, which is soon accompanied by a low-passed arpeggio. It becomes apparent that low-pass is being removed as another melody comes in. Soon, there is a chromatic progression of notes that goes through every note through several octaves as the bass pitch-slides a bit. A four-to-the-floor drum beat comes in, and a tremoloed melody plays. There is another pitch slide, this time faster. A melody with a lot of pitch slides plays to slightly dropped beats, and is modified as the beats drop even more. Another melody plays, and then the beats drop out completely, leaving a tremoloed melodic progression to play along with a sustained sine bass, and then another melody comes in. After this, there is a pitch-slide, which leads to a section with a lot of chip pitch slides and quick notes. A progression based on a single tremoloed note that fades out plays to some slightly complex beats, and then the song comes to an end.
“Subway Surfer” is the next track. A few notes play, and then four-to-the-floor beats come in to staccato chirping arpeggios playing a progression, which leads to a section where a melody plays along to the progression, which is then followed by a section where the melody plays in a halting fashion. Then, a new progression plays and an elaborate solo plays along, leading into the previous progression, where a melody plays over it. This leads to a staccato section of interrupted chords and melody, which turns into a new progression with a melodic solo. This in turn becomes the main progression of the song, playing the thematic melody of the track. A section of staccato chords and melody plays, the drums drop, and then the song ends.
The third track is “Poppy”. Staccato, high chirping chords play with a melody, and then a section plays where the chirping drops a bit as a melody plays, followed by a solo over only the bass line. There is a section of chirping chords interrupted by arpeggios, and then a section of melody over a chirping chord progression. The next section has a counterpoint melody playing with the chords dropped. Then, the drums drop. A section of arpeggiated chords play. The drums come back in with rapid arpeggios playing. The next section has a melody over arpeggios, and then a section of arpeggios doing a call and response with a melody. The chords drop, and then there are melodies with a lot of rests that play off of each other. This is followed by a fade-out which ends the track.
“Castle Escape” is the fourth track. An off-kilter beat plays along with a prominent bass line, and then a melody comes in over it that is soon accompanied with a melody with a slide. Then, there is a counter-point melody with a slide that comes in. Next, a section with chirping chords and short square waves in a melody play. A section that is different, but could be similarly described plays after this. A part with a focus on the chirping chords plays next, which is followed by a part that has a melody over the chords. Next a solo plays. Then, there is a section with two melodies in counter-point, followed by a part that could be similarly described. Then, this part plays with no drums for a bit, and the song ends on a couple drum beats.
“System Pen Testing” begins with an arpeggio-heavy melody, which is soon accompanied by a droning bass line. The next section adds to this progression with chirping chords. Then, in the next, the melodies fall away, only to come back in a different fashion in the next part, which soon turns into a solo. Repeating counterpoint follows the solo. Then, the melodies and chords drop away, leaving the bass line and drums. Melody returns for the next section, which almost becomes a solo. Counterpoint characterizes the next part, and then the drums and bass drop, leaving the melodies. The bass comes back, and soon the leads come back as well. Chirping chords are heard with a lead, and then the song ends on a drum hit.
“Blue Pill Bubble” begins with a square-wave melody and bass, and the next section adds a chirping chord progression. The next part has some arpeggio work, and the next has a melody over the occasional chord chirp. The drums become frantic as melodic fragments play. The next section has a solo over arpeggios. The action is then in the drums as a melody plays, and the melodic fragments play in a three chord progression. A lead plays, and leads into a section with a lead playing over chirping chord-work. The instruments drop out except for the thematic melody and a bass, and swelling chords are added. Soon, a strange arpeggio comes in, which leads to a section with very fast drumming and a fast solo, which ends the song.
“Bulldozer” begins with a chirping melody with a pitch-slide. Soon, a loud bass line is added. Then, drums come in to a four-to-the-floor section with chirping arpeggios and a simple melody. A more complex melody is added to the next section. One of the melodies drops out as the other melody morphs. Then, its back to another section with the chirping arpeggios and a simple melody. Next, everything drops except for the leads, which play a melody. The drums come in with another four-to-the-floor section. The melody drops out, leaving chirping chords. Then, the melody is added again, but its character has changed. Next, it plays in a more complex manner. This is followed by a section with chirping arpeggios and a melody, and then the song and album are over.
https://bitvortex.bandcamp.com/album/system-pen-testing
