New Subscriber Playlist: “Hack the Planet!”

My family’s very first computer was a Commodore SX-64, which — at a mere 23 lbs — was considered a portable computer. I spent many an hour on it playing video games like F-15 Strike Eagle, Summer Games, Knight Games, and Temple of Apshai. And of course, imagining that I was an intrepid hacker breaking into top secret government systems à la Matthew Broderick in WarGames or Ricky Schroder in that one episode of Silver Spoons.

Just to be clear, in case any government agencies read this, any hacking that I might’ve done was purely a figment of my imagination. But if I was going to do some hacking, then I’d definitely need an appropriate soundtrack. This month’s playlist, titled “Hack the Planet!” — with respect to Crash Override, Acid Burn, and their friends — is designed to be the perfect soundtrack for your next dive into the Net.

Accompanying the playlist is the latest episode of my “Playlist Breakdown” podcast, in which I spotlight one of the playlist’s songs and why it’s so special, interesting, and/or meaningful. This month’s episode focuses on Banco de Gaia’s “887 (Structure),” an epic bit of trance that evokes exotic locales and vistas — and highlights the Tibetan struggle for independence.

Both of these are little bonuses for subscribers who support Opus financially. If you’d like to get access to them (and more), subscribe to Opus for just $5.00/month or $50/year. (You can also subscribe for free and get my weekend newsletter.)