Indie

Game Music, Reviews

Pseudonym, Reveal Thyself! morusque’s “Blocks That Matter” (Review)

May 3, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 3 Comments Share this

I picked up the indie game Blocks That Matter via the latest Humble Bundle, which also featured an alpha build of Voxatron and the excellent roguelike The Binding of Isaac. As is their way, the bundle also included free digital soundtracks. Said bundle is over now, and yes, I feel bad for those of you who missed it.

But the game is still available through many outlets (including Steam) and the soundtrack is available separately via Bandcamp. I’m telling you all this because I personally find both the game and the soundtrack to be remarkably charming.

And I’m also frustrated that the composer, “morusque,” doesn’t have a very big public presence. I want more from this guy (girl?), and I want it now. After the jump, a brief review of the soundtrack for Blocks That Matter. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

I Like NightSky, And Long Walks On The Beach (Review)

May 1, 2012 | Patrick Gann | Comments Off on I Like NightSky, And Long Walks On The Beach (Review) Share this

Some of the most impressive music I’ve ever heard is soft. You think it’s easy to record music at a consistently low volume? Well, do it, and make it sound good. Then we’ll talk, kiddo.

One guy in the last year who recorded some amazing soft, acoustic music for a game of similarly soft temperament is Chris Schlarb. And that game is NightSky. I first played through the game (fun and somehow relaxing, even when frustrating), and later I indulged in multiple listens to the soundtrack.

While I got the soundtrack in one of many various software+music “bundles” in the last few months, the soundtrack has been available since January 2011 at Bandcamp for $5. Streaming listens are free, so feel free to listen along while reading my review after the jump. (more…)
Featured, Game Music, Indie Music

Eternal Child: David Saulesco Interview

April 30, 2012 | Audun Sorlie | Comments Off on Eternal Child: David Saulesco Interview Share this Eternal Child: David Saulesco Interview

Since the summer of 2002, David Saulesco has climbed the ladder of success slowly but surely in his lifelong dream to work with video games and music. It was in that year that the then 16 year old composer was launched to indy fame and recognition with Derek Yu’s freeware masterpiece Eternal Daughter. Since then the young man has thrown himself into nearly all ends of both the music and video game industry, producing, arranging, contracting, he even rode on a horse once.

Now, Saulesco is returning to his proving grounds, and will be releasing the Eternal Daughter 10th Anniversary Original Soundtrack on May 1st. With so many projects behind him and in store in the near future, it seemed only natural to have a chat with the man and speak about his views on composing, video games, symphonic shows and everything in between. Saulesco is never short of his trademark charm, and is of no loss of words on any subject.

Click the jump to read our interview with David Saulesco (more…)
Game Music, Indie Music, Reviews

Just Subtract 84! 100 Rogues Soundtrack (Review)

April 18, 2012 | Patrick Gann | Comments Off on Just Subtract 84! 100 Rogues Soundtrack (Review) Share this

It was the next step in the evolution of game music. After the hardware-created “chiptunes” of the NES era, the sound banks of FM synth reigned supreme on the SNES. And while we don’t find as much chic or nostalgia for the super lo-fi synth restrictions of the 16-bit days as we do the hardware emulation of chiptunes, it’s great to see today’s composers make use of that strange and wonderful musical palette.

I am talking about the music of Keith Burgun and Blake Reynolds, both of Dinofarm Games, in their first major title, 100 Rogues (available on PC and various mobile platforms). After the jump, our review of the game’s soundtrack. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

All Up In My Head: Lone Survivor OST (Review)

April 11, 2012 | Patrick Gann | Comments Off on All Up In My Head: Lone Survivor OST (Review) Share this

I cannot get over the level of genius and creativity that comes from these one-man indie production teams. Among them, I’ve really come to love the work of Superflat Games (essentially, Jasper Byrne). Last year we reviewed the soundtrack for his stellar, free Flash game Soul Brother. That was a funky drum-n-bass kind of album, like a mix of Daft Punk and other forms of avant garde Euro-pop. In sharp contrast, we have the soundtrack for Byrne’s latest project.

Lone Survivor is a psychological horror / survival sim, and the game itself is excellent, I assure you. As for the music? Well, that’s why we’re here.

Find out about the soundtrack for Lone Survivor, including how to get it, after the jump! (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

All Hail The Conquistador! Jamestown OST (Review)

February 29, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 2 Comments Share this

After awarding a strong 2nd-place finish to the Jamestown soundtrack under our OSVOSTOTY indie games category, I noticed we didn’t have a proper review of the soundtrack on the site. Shame on us!

I’d like to quickly rectify the situation by telling you why I think this particular collection is so wonderful, and how it shows the ability of the “indie” market to compete toe-to-toe with some of the established franchises in peer genres (in this case, we’re talking CAVE shmups).

All that and more, after the jump! (more…)
Demoscene, Game Music

This Just In: SpaceChem Soundtrack Enhances Brain Activity

December 21, 2011 | Patrick Gann | Comments Off on This Just In: SpaceChem Soundtrack Enhances Brain Activity Share this

Isn’t it fun to make up scientific claims? Fake science is something I love, and that’s why I loved the game SpaceChem It’s all about taking the basics of chemistry, bastardizing it, and turning it into a logistics-puzzle-game-from-hell.

The soundtrack for this indie game (available on PC and iPad) comes from humble roots. The composer, Evan LE NY, was discovered by game creator Zach Barth when Zach was trying to find some fitting music for his unique puzzle games. He stumbled upon Evan’s work through Jamendo, a haven for demoscene artists who are in it solely to experiment and, perhaps, get their name out there. No money changes hands, and all music can be used freely. Creative Commons and all that.

After using some of Evan’s tracks on previous games, Zach asks Evan to do an original score for a new game. The result is the epic, thematic score for SpaceChem. And now one more person (me) has learned of a virtually unknown French music prodigy.

Like much of the music I’ve been listening to lately, this soundtrack is free, so download it and listen along while we take the music into further consideration. (more…)