Arcade Apocalypse releases ‘Free Plays Vol. 1’ Credit: Photo by Carlos Pagan
Two songs that still hold hallowed canonical status with bass and electro aficionados are The Beat Club’s “Security” and Eon’s “Spice.” That shit’s not even up for debate, especially here in Orlando where our penchant for funky beats is enshrined in dance-music history. These two bangers have climaxed dance floors around here ever since they came out in 1988 and 1990, respectively.

That’s why many may find the new release by Orlando artist Arcade Apocalypse of particular interest. Free Plays Vol. 1 is a two-track drop of Arcade Apocalypse’s cover versions of both “Security” and “Spice.” But what makes this even more Orlando is that Arcade Apocalypse has translated these dance classics into another genre that also has storied club history here.

As a heart-on-sleeve retro synth act that employs actual hardware synthesizers and drum machines, Arcade Apocalypse takes “Security” and “Spice” back to roughly the same original time but to a very different place. In a take both alternate and alternative, these versions are now EBM stompers. Pounding, mechanical and imposing, the songs on Free Plays Vol. 1 play like lost anthems of the classic industrial dance era. It’s an imaginative stroke that takes jams that rocked The Edge and makes them sound straight out of Visage.

Free Plays Vol. 1 is on YouTube and Bandcamp as a name-your-price download.


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This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2025.

Music columnist.