This year’s Fami-mode featured Sexy Synthesizer, Kplecraft, Consumers, 6955 and 8bit darlings YMCK – in, I think, that order. Filling the gaps between the bands were some very fine DJs that I’m sorry I don’t care much about. Now, YMCK were the main reason I went to Fami-mode. But let me tell you something.

Sexy Synthesizer.

SEXY SYNTHESIZER.

Seriously. Seriously. They should have been the headline act. They will be a headline act before long. Get into them now for maximum cool points!

It is... impossible, how upbeat and sexy and dance-able Sexy Synthesizer’s music is. It’s just chiptunes with a disco beat and a robot voice, but fuck. I have been listening to their album all week, over and over. It’s just so easy to enjoy. It makes you dance. It has magical powers!

This might be the right time to point out that Fami-mode absolutely needs to find a bigger venue for next year. What we had this year was a dance party, but with no room to dance – or get to the bar, or move in any way, or even just stand still. I would have bought drinks all night, but I didn’t ‘cause it wasn’t worth pushing through the crowd. Fami-mode was a night of wonderful, amazing music, slightly spoiled by mild but inescapable physical discomfort. It is totally awesome that the event is so popular, but, yes: a little elbow room would have made my night perfect.

AAANYWAY, here is my Sexy Synthesizer album:

And here is the CD, resting on the slip:

Clever, eh? (It says ‘FUCK’!)

Kplecraft’s set was energetic and impressive. I’ve always felt conflicted about Kplecraft: I think it’s pretty cool to play real, live instruments on top of chiptunes, but if it were me, conga drums and the saxophone would be among the last instruments I would choose. On the other hand, they can really play the shit out of those congas and that saxophone! Plus, it’s hard to ruin a good tune, and Kplecraft’s tunes are very good.

Consumers’ set was good but I don’t really remember it. Sorry, Consumers! Don’t worry; I’m pretty sure it’s just me.

6955’s set opened with some of the music he has composed for Fez, accompanied by a very long and impressive video demo of said game, which, he told me afterwards, he had to plead with the developers for permission to use. So, yeah – I don’t expect this video will appear on the internet anytime soon (if ever). It was a privilege to see it! The game is looking extraordinary, and the crowd at Fami-mode seemed captivated by the video, so that’s good news for Fez.

Another personal highlight of 6955’s set was an odd little video sequence taking a shot at Japanese cops who stop foreigners in the street and demand their ID for no reason at all. Possibly the mostly-Japanese crowd wasn’t sure what to make of it, but I appreciated it. (That said – and sorry to get sidetracked, but – most Japanese cops, in my experience, are lovely, friendly and helpful people. But yeah.)

Anyway – YMCK! They were delightful and gorgeous, as always. The new videos are great, but the highlight for me happened the instant the set began, when, accompanied by the opening harmonies of ‘Starlight’, the lights came on. “Oh my god,” I squealed, more excitedly than was probably justified, “Midori has a new outfit!”

Isn’t it cute? Kind of an air hostess thing going on. (No-one else seemed to care.)

Every time I took a photo of the band, Midori, and only Midori, came out with horrible demon eyes:

Naka seemed a little bit shy, as usual, and Yoke – god, he’s adorable. The dainty way he taps his itty bitty keyboard, and the particular expression he wears as he sings – like a school teacher explaining how clouds work to a class of year ones.

(While I’m talking about YMCK: Check out this article, by a self-important dickhead who walked out on a YMCK concert because they offended his indie rock journalist sensibilities. Good job spoiling your own fun there, champ!)

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