Hearing about an adventure/music/rpg is enough to pique my interest, and that’s exactly what Arman Bohn‘s Arranger is setting out to be. However, reading over a few of the more descriptive elements has gotten me more than interested. It’s gotten me downright excited, actually.

“The game is an Adventure/RPG that combines elements from classics like The Legend of Zelda, WarioWare and the original Sierra adventure games,” according to the developer. Now if that doesn’t get people’s attention then I suppose there’s no hope for the world. The mini-game laden adventure is looking pretty fantastic in a simple, retro-esque sort of way. Players will be controlling the tiny musician as they attempt to save the world in a less-then-typical fashion. Rather than direct combat or level-grinding, they’ll be gathering a number of musical instruments in order to craft a tune that will avoid whatever this particular catastrophe entails.

Arranger is still a little ways out, being slated for a Summer 2012 release, but it definitely looks like something to keep an eye on. If the trailer below is any indication, it just might be worth the wait. It’s also apparently going to have some great music.

Ridiculous and physically impossible musical instruments, with equally ridiculous and physically impossible names, can only mean one thing: Dr. Seuss. Or in this case, a Dr. Seuss Band.

Players can choose from a set of five different horns, then decide whether they’d like to mess around making their own music or try to go for the high score while recreating tunes from one of ten original songs from Hop on Pop to The Cat in the Hat. The sounds each horn makes can be tweaked by adding bizarre attechments such as fishbowls and train whistles, which fits right in, honestly. It’s even possible to exchange various horn parts to create some truly weird… things that make noise.

This suitable-for-all-ages piece of musically interactive childhood has just recently seen a price drop, so now anyone can compose their own Seussian melodies on their iOS device for free. Sounds awfully tempting…

$0.99

Dr. Seuss Band

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-08 :: Category: Games

Perfect Pitch Piano teaches something that I’ve been trying to learn for years: to play the piano by ear. There’s a corny joke in there. Musicians still need their hands to play the instrument, not their ears, but Perfect Pitch Piano does go some way to teaching those interested to play a tune.

Basically, Perfect Pitch Piano plays a melody and then leaves the user to play it back. It’s a subtle teaching tool but one that should work well with practice. In its endeavours, Perfect Pitch Piano teaches users to learn all the fundamental building blocks of music playing such as intervals and timings.

Classic songs can be learnt through the app such as Amazing Grace, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Mary Had a Little Lamb, ideal starting places for beginners.

Those a little more experienced aren’t left out, however, as they can adjust the key and tempo to make things more challenging.

On sale at $1.99, Perfect Pitch Piano is bound to be an ideal tool for those learning to play the piano.

$4.99

$14.99

Perfect Pitch Piano - Ear Trainer

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-09-16 :: Category: Music

Show of hands, who here sometimes likes to blow across the top of a bottle to make that vaguely musical sound? Okay, good. Another show of hands, who here either has or has considered amassing several of these bottles filled with various amounts of liquid and recreating a real song? Interesting. Well then, have a gander at Bottle Tunes.

Bottle Tunes is pretty much what I just described, only with digital representations of bottles and music rather than physical ones. Although there’s a little more to it than that. Sure it’s possible to fill up some bottles and go to town, and even save tunes for replaying or editing later, but there’s also a bit of a game here. Namely, users can adjust fluid levels and attempt to recreate a specific “bottle-themed” song.

I imagine the market for something like this is a little limited, but then again the appeal of magic bottle music is fairly universal. Plus it’s totally free, so why not download and play around with it?

FREE!

Bottle Tunes

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-09-22 :: Category: Games

Southern Californians and music fans alike should instantly recognise the name KCRW. It’s a public radio station that’s become increasingly popular thanks to its use of modern methods like podcasts and streaming Internet radio broadcasts in its efforts to educate music fans in the latest and greatest new acts. In the past, KCRW hosts have helped showcase the likes of Beck, Adele, Florence & the Machine, Coldplay, Dido and Massive Attack.

Now there’s an app from KCRW that aims to take ‘listeners on an audio adventure of artists especially selected by DJs’ from the station. Pretty exciting, huh?

KCRW Music Mine – an iPad only app – is dedicated entirely to music exploration using The Echo Nest’s music intelligence platform to track down the best new artists. The app offers up to 100 artists at a time with lists updated daily in tandem with the on air playlists for KCRW. Listeners who want to learn more can then find videos, photos, blog posts and more behind each artist as well as discover the musical talent.

The format of KCRW Music Mine lends itself to users who don’t have a lot of time on their hands for messing around with configurations. Intead it’s an app that’s simple to browse and quickly find something of interest.

For fans who just want to kick back and relax, they can jut tap the KCRW’s 24 hour, all music stream Eclectic24 and enjoy the music, or they can listen in to full shows by many KCRW DJs.

KCRW Music Mine sounds like the ideal companion for KCRW fans and a fantastic app for music enthusiasts keen to find something new to love. I can certainly see some lazy Sunday afternoons being lost to checking out new music.

It’s free to download so why not give it a try today?

FREE!

KCRW Music Mine

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-09-13 :: Category: Music

Loopy Tunes is a very interesting universal musical application, allowing players to layer different instrumental sounds and the like together to create unique musical pieces.

It is nice how both individual sounds that play once when tapped are included, as well as many looping sounds and bits of music that play continuously until silenced with a touch.

This app opens to the lovely view of what is reminiscent of a vintage radio or television face, which includes a top and bottom row of sections that one can tap. The top row involves eight areas that play individual sounds with the touch of a finger. Note the left bottom of the screen where five small yellow knob-like button selections are offered. As one explores here, the top row of individual sounds will change from a series of milk jugs, piano notes, and different instrument options as well as a group of abstract sounds, all of which make a single sound when tapped.

Read the full review at GiggleApps.

$1.99

Loopy Tunes

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-07-06 :: Category: Entertainment