Ambient

Demoscene, Game Music, Reviews

Embrace the Darkness: Darkhalo – Phase Shift (Review)

August 31, 2009 | Jameson Rhodes | 3 Comments Share this

After a long absence from the music scene with only a string of releases over the course of the past few years, Darkhalo (a.k.a. Josh Barnett) has triumphantly returned with a new full-length album called Phase Shift, his first release for the Mephtik netlabel. Mephtik is known for releasing music with a strong emphasis on demoscene flavor, and this album is no exception. Darkhalo has been well-known in demoscene circles since the late ’90s for his proficient takes on two opposing genres, ambient and drum ‘n’ bass.

Phase Shift continues this tradition by balancing the album between chilled-out atmospheres and skittering in-your-face beats. With over an hour of music, it’s stacked with elements of ambient, DnB, house, breakbeat, and funk styles, all in a cohesive electronic package. Let’s get to the album!

Read our advance review of Darkhalo’s Phase Shift after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

BlizzCon 2009: Diablo III’s Monk Class Comes With Two New Songs

August 24, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

I’m sure if you’re following Diablo III’s development, you already know that they announced the monk class at BlizzCon. Well, with this announcement came a new build of the game with some new areas, and of course, some new music. I got some play time with the monk, and enjoyed his combo-driven attacks and awesome special moves. It almost felt as though I was playing a fighting game despite only clicking on creatures once to unleash a series of devastating attacks.

The main area this year was a blistering desert, which was accompanied by a cool, glassy ambient sound. Glass-like pads and plucked ethnic stringed instruments were in the foreground with some very distant tribal percussion, which lent the piece a very desolate sound. When I ventured into an underground cave, however, I was warned that it was ready to collapse, and that I needed to collect as much treasure as I could and get out before time ran out. The music reflected this sense of urgency with its tense string stabs and occasional Tristram guitar chords (all live!). This was a pretty sweet track.

Overall, I’m impressed with what the Blizzard sound team is doing with Diablo III. I will miss Matt Uelmen’s contributions, but I’m confident that the team is being careful retain the series’ signature sound.

Are you excited about the announcement of the monk class for Diablo III? Any thoughts regarding the music that we’ve been hearing from the game so far?
Game Music

Subway Meditations Giveaway Contest!

August 18, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this Subway Meditations Giveaway Contest!

Are you ready to lock yourselves in the bathroom, light some incense, and jump in the shower while listening to Subway Meditations? I certainly hope not, although that’s exactly what Patrick Gann did (or suggested?) in our review of Michael Bross’s Subway Meditations last month. I simply suggest sitting down and relaxing to the amazing musical ambiance that the CD provides.

Well, Mr. Bross was kind enough to give us an extra copy to give away to you guys. Hopefully you already bought the album, as I highly recommend doing so, but in case you hadn’t just yet, here’s your chance to win a free copy. All you have to do is send us a photo of yourself meditating somewhere special. What’s special, you ask? Whatever you want it to be. The entry that we find the most entertaining (again, we like humor) wins.

Send entries to [email protected] by 11:59pm PST on September 1, 2009 to be considered. Thanks, and good luck!
Game Music, Reviews

Yes, the game had more than that one vocal track! Mirror’s Edge Original Videogame Score (Review)

July 18, 2009 | Patrick Gann | 1 Comment Share this

Lots of people have made a big fuss about the vocal theme to Mirror’s Edge, Still Alive. Though I am personally a bigger fan of the vocal theme to Valve’s Portal (also called “Still Alive”), there’s no question that Lisa Miskovsky’s vocal performance for Mirror’s Edge was fantastic. So memorable was it, that five DJs and other remixers jumped in to do their own versions of “Still Alive,” which can be found on the EP “Still Alive – The Remixes.”

But what about the in-game score to Mirror’s Edge? Turns out it’s pretty hip as well, as long as you can get into the whole ambient/psybient/Goa scene. Swedish composer Magnus Birgersson, who goes by the moniker “Solar Fields,” composed the score for Mirror’s Edge. And, fortunately for us, said score has been available for digital download (Amazon MP3 and iTunes) since May of this year.

After the jump, you’ll find a full review of the Mirror’s Edge Original Videogame Score.

(more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Michael Bross: “Subway Meditations” (Review)

July 13, 2009 | Patrick Gann | 3 Comments Share this

Michael Bross is a composer and music producer who broke into the world of VGM when he got the job for two different Oddworld projects: Munch’s Oddysee and Stranger’s Wrath (the latter being a personal favorite of mine). On July 14th, his new solo album Subway Meditations will be released for both physical and digital distribution via Bross’ own “Deep Lever” record label.

If you’re ready for some experimental, minimalist, ambient electronica, you’ll want to read further: after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

A Nice Relaxing Ride On The… Subway? Michael Bross’s Subway Meditations Coming In July!

April 27, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on A Nice Relaxing Ride On The… Subway? Michael Bross’s Subway Meditations Coming In July! Share this

While Michael Bross’s name doesn’t come up nearly enough given that he’s busily working on his next game project over at Red 5, his fans have been fortunate that he’s been able to release his personal work on his Deep Lever record label. We’ve reviewed his Nomad EP and his soundtrack for Oddworld Stranger’s Wrath on OSV, and we’ve been looking forward to his next project.

Well here it is, and as the title’s post suggests, it’s a relaxing ambient project with a focus on the subways of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Bross has announced on his official website that Subway Meditations will be available on July 14, 2009 in a physical format from Deep Lever as well as digitally via Amazon.com, iTunes and eMusic. I highly recommend checking out his “Notes on Subway Meditations” post on the site, as it gives some background about the release and offers some thought provoking commentary on subways as a form of public transportation and a means for human migration.

Will you be looking forward to Bross’s Subway Meditations this coming July? Are you with Michael Bross in his belief that subways are not the filthy, clunky, metallic monstrosities that they are portrayed to be on television?
Game Music

Three Days of Resident Evil 5 ~ Day 1: Interview With Lead Composer Kota Suzuki

March 11, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this

Looking forward to Resident Evil 5 this weekend? Well, we hope you are because we’ve got three days of coverage for you, including interviews with members of the sound team along with a review of the game’s soundtrack. Having already listened to it, I can tell you right now that it has some serious atmosphere.

Capcom composer Kota Suzuki is not a household name; the major credits to his name are Devil May Cry 4 and Onimusha 3. He is, however, the main composer of Resident Evil 5. We talk about how he came to work on the title, as well as the details about his collaboration with Wataru Hokoyama and the use of the orchestra in the game. He has a lot of interesting things to say, and it’s definitely cool to learn that he made extensive use of Spectrasonics’ Atmosphere software (which Dale and I both use as well). Why can’t we write stuff this good?

Read our review with Capcom’s Kota Suzuki after the jump. (more…)