PHTEVEN UNIVERSE “おさかなといっしょ” (Choam Charity)

Here’s a list of why Phteven Universe, aka Pilleater, and I are probably best friends.

1. He lives in Philadelphia. I love the Phillies. Plus I’m a former Pennsylvanian.

2. He cut his teeth learning Joy Division tunes in Temple University’s music lab. I’ve met Ronnie Martin and Cloud. Ronnie gave me some gum. Cloud has sent me emails.

3. “おさかなといっしょ” is named after the secret aquarium level on “Super Mario 64.” I’m not well versed in that one, but I did get the Mario 64 suit in “Super Mario Odyssey.” Plus, anything Mario-related rules.

4. He’s made videos using clips from “The Hobbit” animated film. If it is Tolkien-based, I’m all over it.

5. His own record label, Choam Charity, is a “Dune” reference. Nice one.

6. He makes electronic music with synthesizers and drum machines, and he figured out vaporwave before he kind of knew what he was doing. I’m … into that stuff.

7. “おさかなといっしょ” is like a huge hodgepodge of all the styles Pilleater’s experimented with in the past few years. There’s a lot to sift through, and it’s all pretty fun. Have at it.

BFFs for life!


Choam Charity


--Ryan

PHTEVEN UNIVERSE “s/t” C44 (Choam Charity)

There’s much to unpack here. Too much? Too much.

When you click on the link below, you will be able to read the backstory. 

In short: Phteven Universe is Pilleater, and “Phteven Universe” is a vaporwave tape whose twisty philosophy encompasses a lot of the questions I once had about vaporwave. In the end, I’ve learned to relax, take it slow, take it easy, and appreciate the vaporwave releases that I enjoy. Not all of them are enjoyable. In fact, there are so many that a lot of them blend together in a slurry of pristine chemicals, too toxic for human aural consumption.

“Phteven Universe,” I’m happy to report, is one of the ones I enjoy, one of the fun ones.

First, Pilleater himself doesn’t take himself too seriously. Maybe it’s a Philly thing, because, c’mon, you gotta have a bit of that blue-collar gallows humor if you’re coming from Philly (and I grew up in eastern PA, so I should know). Second, he gets the absurdity of infinite repurposing, as his garbled sources sound like fourth- or fifth-generation mulch composites. Third, he namechecks “Floral Shoppe” and “Eccojams,” possibly both with and without irony, suggesting that these, too, are ripe for the recycle treatment. Fourth, he’s a Skinny Puppy fan, so – cool!

So listen, I know it’s hard to take vaporwave seriously anymore, but this is a great reminder that you can still have a good time with it, that it’s more than just mall music slowed down to a crawl. We all know how boring THAT is, so thank goodness Phteven Universe is here to do something about it.

Choam Charity Records

--Ryan Masteller