You might recognize Cuphead as the dazzling looking “playable cartoon” that we’ve been catching glimpses of since late 2013. Yes, it’s been that long, but most of the coverage over those last four years has come from flashy sizzle reels or the raucous halls of E3 and PAX. In those settings it’s easy to see what makes Cuphead so special but now that it’s out we can finally appreciate the breadth of its soundtrack from Kristofer Maddigan.
And oh what a soundtrack it is! Just check out this description: the Cuphead OST features nearly 3 hours of original jazz, early big band, and ragtime music. Each song is played by live musicians, including a 13-piece big band, 10-piece ragtime ensemble, a solo pianist, a vocalist, a tap dancer, and a few surprises.
As a fan of ol’ timey styles it’s been a joy to soak in this variety with just a few highlights being the vocal theme for King Dice and the surprising performance by barbershop quartet, ‘Shoptimus Prime on “A Quick Break”. I get a serious Skullmonkeys or‘Splosion Man vibe from that one. Speaking of influences, it warms my game-music-loving heart to see Maddigan include some of our beloved favorites alongside genre-defining legends. Uematsu and Mitsuda sit among Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, John Williams, and dozens of others that led to Maddigan’s huge score.
Take a listen for yourself and pick up the album on Bandcamp for $10 or on Steam alongside the game.
