Let’s enjoy some Square Enix game soundtracks in acoustic covers

The Square Enix Music Channel remains a gift to the Internet. So in this dire summer for the gaming industry (layoffs, the end of physical media, console price hikes), let’s keep the faith and listen to NieR played on hammered dulcimer. This, too, shall pass.

QuadTrack is a new groovebox for the Amiga (really), plus PC and Mac

It’s the biggest Commodore Amiga news of the week: Pink Parrot Studio is launching a new “Dynamic Performance Sequencer” with powerful modulation and Trig Tools option, built for jamming right on the computer keyboard. And there’s a music album to match. But don’t worry: if you have one of those inferior PC or Macintosh machines, you can still get in on the fun with an emulator, no installation or setup required.

Peter Kirn - May 6, 2026

Lebanon’s musicians are a model for action — they deserve support now

Again and again, music communities in Lebanon have embraced mutual aid and spoken out through activism and in their art. That’s been true from experimental music labels to the Beirut Synthesizer Center initiative. They’re getting results. It’s time for the international music scene and press to do more.

Peter Kirn - April 9, 2026