Indie Music

Experimental, Indie Music

Switched on SNES Returns with more Zelda Tapes, Secret of Mana Teaser

December 15, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on Switched on SNES Returns with more Zelda Tapes, Secret of Mana Teaser Share this

If you missed grabbing a cassette copy of Switched on SNES’s analog synth rendition of A Link to the Past, they’ve got a little Christmas miracle for you. There are only 100 cassettes up for sale after filling the second round of pre-orders so if Zelda, synths, or cassettes fit the bill for you or someone on your shopping list, hop to it!

Alongside the new cassettes, Switched on SNES has released a preview track from their next album that focuses on another beloved SNES RPG, Secret of Mana. I wasn’t sure how Hiroki Kikuta’s score would sound with the analog synth treatment but “Into the Thick of It” definitely benefits from the extra boost of melancholy that the Switched On SNES style brings. Check it out, grab a tape of Zelda, and look for the Secret of Mana album to hit Bandcamp in January.
Chip Music, Experimental, Indie Music

Brave Wave Announces First Solo Album by Mega Man Composer Manami Matsumae

December 12, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Brave Wave Announces First Solo Album by Mega Man Composer Manami Matsumae Share this

Sometimes our favorite game composers release little original treats for us to chew on inbetween games or after a long hiatus, such as Hip Tanaka’s recent release of his original chiptune album. Now it’s Mega Man composer Manami Matsumae’s turn to release her own original tunes.

Matsumae, in collaboration with music label Brave Wave Productions, unveils her first-ever original solo album THREE MOVEMENTS, which celebrates her thirty years of working as a composer in the video game industry. Matsumae’s career began in 1987 when she graduated from the Osaka University of Arts and joined Capcom’s Sound Production Department that same year. With THREE MOVEMENTS, she ventures into a new batch of chiptunes, trance and orchestral compositions, all stretched across three distinctive parts.

“By this point, I’ve created music for a number of video games. These songs come in a variety of genres, and I want everyone to listen to the different styles I’ve experienced throughout the years, which is why I ended up creating my album in this fashion.” – Manami Matsumae

<a href="http://store.bravewave.net/album/three-movements">Three Movements by Manami Matsumae</a>

The album is also inspired by a trip Matsumae and Brave Wave producer Mohammed Taher took to the Swiss Alps, using imagery captures by photographer Bao Hgo during the trip to influence the segments of the album itself.

“Unlike the typical solo album, this isn’t a genre album. Manami crosses chiptunes with everything from classical piano and SNES-inspired beats to melodically vague soundscapes and orchestral numbers. The music influenced our photography, and we toured around the Swiss Alps looking for the perfect shots.” – Mohammed Taher, Album Director

The solo album will be released on December 17th, thirty years after the release of the original Mega Man, and is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp. The CD and vinyl will also be available to purchase on December 17th from the Brave Wave stores at Fangamer and Big Wax. The 2xLP vinyl gatefold is limited and individually signed by Manami Matsumae, and will include three exclusive tracks.
Indie Music, Miscellaneous

Legend of Zelda Inspired Band Master Sword Release Album “Shadow and Steel”

December 9, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | 1 Comment Share this

If you’ve never heard of the video game-inspired band Master Sword, then let me take a brief moment to educate you. Hailing from Washington, DC and taking their name from The Legend of Zelda and their music subsequently inspired by the series itself, this five-piece American progressive power metal band celebrates both the series and gaming in general with a hard rock edge. Coming into their own in the VGM community music scene and who recently performed at MAGFest Labs and BitGen, Master Sword released two singles earlier this year and and EP Epoch in 2015 and now are revving up to release their first full-length album.

Shadow and Steel was originally conceived as a Kickstarter campaign which made it’s goal, and the band got to work making good on their visions.

Shadow and Steel is Master Sword’s long awaited full-length album, featuring 10 songs inspired by Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series. Hear your favorite game melodies played in a completely new way, with screaming guitars, pounding bass, expressive keyboards, innovative drumming and the siren vocals of Lily Hoy serenading you with the lost stories of Hyrule.

<a href="http://masterswordband.bandcamp.com/album/shadow-and-steel">Shadow and Steel by Master Sword</a>

You can preview the album above for a taste of the band’s style, as well as check out their MAGFest sets for live performances of tracks from the album. Shadow and Steel is currently available for pre-order on the band’s Bandcamp page in both digital and CD formats. You can also stream their other music on Soundcloud.
Game Music, Indie Music

Pre-Order Jon Everist’s Shadowrun DRAGONFALL and HONG KONG on Vinyl Now

December 1, 2017 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on Pre-Order Jon Everist’s Shadowrun DRAGONFALL and HONG KONG on Vinyl Now Share this

On November 30, 2017, Black Screen Records announced that they are bringing Jon Everist’s soundtracks to the HarebrainedSchemes (HBS) games Shadowrun: Dragonfall, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong to vinyl later this winter. Pre-orders have already begun, and the albums have already become top sellers for vinyl soundtracks on bandcamp. Shadowrun: Dragonfall will be available on limited edition clear 180g single vinyl, Shadowrun: Hong Kong on limited edition gold/silver 180g double vinyl.

Remastered by Christian Bethge at RAMA Tonstudio (Dear Esther, Another World, Syberia 3), Jon Everist’s cinematic soundtracks to the beloved Shadowrun series will get a high quality vinyl treatment through Black Screen Records with all-new original artworks by concept artists and illustrators Jenn Ravenna (Dragonfall) and Joel DuQue (Hong Kong) who both have originally worked on the games at Harebrained Schemes in Seattle. The vinyl soundtracks will be housed in poly-lined inner sleeves and will come with free mp3 download codes. Mock ups and additional layout by Dane Baudoin (Another World, Earthworm Jim).

“The Shadowrun series was a joy to work on, and will always occupy a special place in my memory. I felt humbled and privileged that I got to write themes for characters like Glory, and to fill the streets of dystopian Hong Kong with my unique take on this compelling and rich universe. The talented team at HBS and their fantastic writing made my job easy.” – Jon Everist

OSV interviewed Jon Everist back in June of this year, and he shared some details about his time working on the soundtracks for both games. Jon Everist also was my choice of of Artist of the year in 2015 for his work on Shadowrun: Hong Kong, and if you missed my “Must Listen” review of the soundtrack you can read it here.

The composer is also offering signed copies of each soundtrack directly on his bandcamp page, which are limited to 50 copies each. You can also purchase prints of the stunning album artwork.

Are you excited to hear these soundtracks on vinyl?
Chip Music, Indie Music

Chip Tanaka’s Original Album Django out Now

November 22, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on Chip Tanaka’s Original Album Django out Now Share this

Hirokazu “Hip” Tanaka has been producing and pioneering the sounds of chiptune music since he first started on with Nintendo in the 80’s. But even after creating the memorable sounds of Metroid, Dr. Mario, Earthbound, and Pokemon this new album marks a first for the composer. Django is Tanaka’s first full-length album released under his stage name Chip Tanaka and on his own personal music label.

“If my music can be divided into ʻfor adultsʼ and ʻfor kids,ʼ then this is the culmination of my harder side,” Tanaka explains before adding, “[it’s] the kind of game music you hear in EarthBoundʼs battle tracks.”

The 13-track album is available to download on iTunes and Bandcamp. Physical copies on a digipak CD are also available for around $30 US from Bandcamp while supplies last. A music video for the track “Beaver” was also released alongside the album featuring art and animation by renowned illustrator Jun Oson. Check it out above and give the album a listen on Bandcamp or Apple Music.
Game Music, Indie Music, Reviews

The Underlord of the Strings: UNDERTALE Strings of Determination (Review)

November 13, 2017 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on The Underlord of the Strings: UNDERTALE Strings of Determination (Review) Share this

I have a confession to make. I have never played Undertale, or heard any of its music until a couple of weeks ago when I was asked to review String Player Gamer’s Undertale: Strings of Determination. String Player Gamer is also known as Diwa de Leon , a composer, arranger and musician based in Manila, Philippines. The album itself is labelled as the complete edition that collects four volumes of music that has ben published by Materia Collective. The album features 46 tracks of exquisite arrangements of composer Toby Fox’s music for Undertale. Having listened to the album a few times now, you can read on for my full review which includes a series of must listen tracks from the album. If like me, you’ve never experienced anything Undertale here’s the perfect place to start.

(more…)
Game Music, Indie Music

Varèse Sarabande Records releases Austin Wintory’s OST to Tooth and Tail

November 4, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Varèse Sarabande Records releases Austin Wintory’s OST to Tooth and Tail Share this

Legendary music producer label Varèse Sarabande has released the official soundtrack to the strategy game Tooth and Tail, composed by Austin Wintory of Journey and Banner Saga fame.

From the creators of the IGF-winning, best-selling game Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine, Tooth and Tail is set in a world of animal revolution. The Commonfolk, the Civilized, the Longcoats and the KSR are factions at war over who will eat and who will be eaten. Featuring music by Grammy nominated composer Austin Wintory. The music features themes for each faction which ranges from fast upbeat tarantellas, organ/violin tangos, Germanic waltz music and Eastern European folk dances.

Incredibly honored to have TOOTH AND TAIL on the legendary @VareseSarabande records https://t.co/GGxfvDXDoG

— Austin Wintory (@awintory) November 3, 2017

The Tooth and Tail soundtrack features 23 tracks and is now available as an audio CD on the Varèse Sarabande website as well as on Amazon with Varèse Sarabande stating a vinyl release of the soundtrack will be forthcoming soon.