ive been a big c418 fan even before the release of his 2018 album "Excursions". Many people don't pay attention to his other works, & only know him as 'the minecraft music guy'. & honesty? I find "Minecraft: Volume Alpha" to be a bit uninteresting. He has many classic albums from before the 2011 minecraft release, like the ambient/idm "life changing moment seem minor in pictures", but its the release of 2015's "148" where he really comes into his own. 148 is a rich, heady mix of house & dnb. he sings quite a fair amount on the album too, something completely unseen aside from maybe the track "Alive" from 2011's "72 Minutes of Fame." his voice is hollow, & he pitch shifts it all over, like another instrument -- you can see this best on the track "Friend". the sounds of the whole album flow into each other so well, its like a wall of sound that draws you in. "148" is energetic & ever-evolving.
Jumping back a few years to 2011, "72 Minutes of Fame" is another classic c418 album. He said it was to describe the feeling of being a one trick pony, after the release of minecraft. Its varied & dancable electronica, sparse & fast moving. Many songs on this album are classics - like "Timelapse Kingdom" & "From the Window"
I remember when "Excursions" came out in 2018 . this was the first major c418 release I was around for - & it didnt disappoint. it took the rawness of "72 Minutes of Fame" & coated it, developed it. "Excursions" is one of his most polished releases. The 13 minute long track "Thunderbird" is the highlight of the album - throbbing along rhythmically.
Despite the intensity, "Excursions" is an oddly calming album to listen to, & samples of city life & birdsong can be heard scattered within. synths blend & warp in ways reminiscent of "Minecraft: Volume Beta": but this time in the idm framework he's polished for years. It pushes the album forward, twisting it into new & beautiful shapes.