Composer: Dan Hess

The precursor to YouTube videos entitled “LoFi/Chill Beats to Study and Relax To,” Dan Hess’s Pilotwings 64 score is a masterclass in memorable tunes that simply don’t vibe with what our idea of a game soundtrack is. A synth-heavy track with light percussion and bass guitar, “Birdman” is like something you’d hear in the background of a tape you’d get from a video dating service. Not quite as stanky as your sterotypical porno music, but similar instrumentation and all about the jam. The melodic solos ooze soul as you feel truly rewarded for your efforts, being allowed to take flight in the Birdman suit and just… soar.

This performance by The 8-Bit Big Band is almost like a full realization of Dan Hess’ vision, bringing every individual part of the track into a live performance on analog instruments — strings, horns, piano, electric bass… except, that is, for wind melody. Played by Zac Zinger on a truly unique hybrid instrument called the “EWI” or (electric wind instrument), the gap between the live performance and the N64 composition is bridged with a borderline perfect instrumentation, and watching Zac launch into his runs at the end of his solo really delivers a sound like you’re about to take off into the stratosphere.

Want another great performance? Ian Cowell’s rendition featuring electric guitar really drives home the shred levels that the track builds up to in the middle sections before dropping back into the chill synth mixed with ambient bird sounds. A more close to home rendition but one that you can take with you, as it’s available on Spotify and a key track on my own N64 mix there.

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