Reviews

The Power of Open

Creative Commons began providing licenses for the open sharing of content only a decade ago. Now more than 400 million CC-licensed works are available on the Internet, from music and photos, to research findings and entire college courses. Creative Commons created the legal and technical infrastructure that allows effective sharing of knowledge, art and data by individuals, organizations and governments. More importantly, millions of creators took advantage of that infrastructure to share work that enriches the global commons for all humanity.

Aw-1: Demo Days (Jours de Démo)

Demo Days is an indie pop alternative album that you might want to check out. There's hardly anything about these guys online but if you let the music speak for itself; they're definitely worth your time. Creating an indie pop sound, Aw-1 collects 12 tracks in their record that range from upbeat, danceable tempos to indie love songs that you can sing to your partner as you enjoy a quiet moment together. This diversity makes the album nice and perfect for all types of mood you might find yourself in. Grab the download by hitting the link to the left.

Myrktorch

Myrktorch is an interesting game that has a title that's as tough to pronounce as its gameplay. The game was created for the Ludlum Dare 2o challenge. It's an event where participants are encouraged to create a game within 48 hours. The event was created by Geoff Howland and has been holding a competition since April 2002. This cool 2D platformer was created by Gustav Kilman, same developer for Steambolt. In the game, you play a priest-like hero who can has to kill the undead with the help of a light halo that emanates from a torch. If you're up for a good challenge ('cause you'll definitely get one here) then grab this game now.

Tracing Arcs: Eye See You Too (Remixes & Forbidden Fruit)

Tracing Arcs is the brainchild of British duo Fran Kapelle (vocal/lyrics) and Paul H. Addie (synths/programming). Their previous record, Fin, met with plenty of positive responses and was also featured right here on our blog. Eye See You Too (Remixes & Forbidden Fruit) is a followup to their 2010 release, Eye See You Too, from German netlabel, iD.OLOGY. This second album features "remixes of songs from some of the finest artists in the netlabel scene, as well as Tracing Arcs themselves." Their music is a mix of electronica, trip-hop, jazz and a deep drum and bass sound that exudes plenty of cool and moody beats.

Dusty

If you ever wondered how smoke behaves during any particular scenario, then you could definitely benefit from having Dusty in your computer. Now, I know you're probably scratching your head and asking yourself, "what do I need a smoke simulator for?" Well, for one, it's helpful if you're an animator, game developer or artist and you want to realistically portray how smoke would flow when a fire is lit up. The program is available for download on Windows but there's also a Mac version. The algorithm is based on the Stable Fluids Algorithm created by Jos Stam. If you're interested, you can hit the download link above the image to get this cool software.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith: A Collector’s Guidebook

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is not a spy duo making music on the side, it's actually the pet project of model and songwriter, Hollis Smith. The album is a very low key folk record that's perfect for bundling up beside the fireplace on a cold, winter day. This 10 track album is only one of several compilations already released by the artist. Although the songs are quite simple, there's a certain mysterious aura that circles most of the tracks. It's this beauty that makes the album worth listening to over and over again. Play it as background music as you read or as you work, it's certainly a wonderful piece to complement your day.

BlockShooter

BlockShooter is the latest game from Milk Corporation and the company claims that their game is so good that it'll make you want to "touch yourself" (their words not mine.) Not quite sure whether it's THAT good but it's pretty addictive and entertaining nevertheless. The game is offered with two dimensional graphics and even though you might prefer smooth or lifelike rendering, the graphics doesn't hinder you from having a great time. Ultimately, the game is still worth checking out. Grab the game at the Milk Corporation website or you can click on the Download Game link towards the left.

Gunther Brown: Gunther Brown

Gunther Brown and his songs belong to some indie coming-of-age movie or television series soundtrack. It's not just the expressive voice but the acoustic electro sound as well as the melodic vibe definitely makes this one an A++ indie folk pop record. More often than not, you'll see Gunther Brown as a duo comprised of Pete Dubuc and Evan Chase. Occasionally, they do transform into a 5 piece crew, with Eric Heintz, Ethan Gamage, Derek Mills and Chris Devlin as additional members. This self-titled compilation is a collection of EPs and singles the band has released in their previous records.

K-3D

Modelling in 3D has never been simpler thanks to K-3D. This amazing software is a free program that'll help you render and create 3D masterpieces. The program incorporates various helpful plugins as well as "visualization pipeline architecture" to help users create stunning 3D images. It was developed by Timothy Shead and released just last April 2010. So far, it's been winning a lot of critics thanks to its useful interface and easy to use tools. It's designed for use by professional artists but even those that are still getting a feel for 3D rendering can easily use it. K-3D is available as available for free download and licensed under a GNU General Public License.