[hr]
Volume Alpha can best be described as simplistic, in fact you're lucky if a song has upwards of 5 instruments (for electronic music, that's hardly anything). Most of what you'll be hearing will be compromised of pianos and synths, but sometimes various wind and string instruments will enter the mix.
In some places however, the soundtrack introduces us to some songs that do not seem to fit in. The last two songs on the album (one of which can be listened to with the second music player), appear to be later additions from the writer of the music as an advert for the music he makes outside of Minecraft as they're much more like standard electronica than stylised ambiance. That being said, they are definitely welcome additions, but if you're trying to get yoruself into the mood of the album they're best skipped out.
With a total of 24 songs, 11 of which never made it to the game, and with a run time of just under 1 hour, it's hard to see how you could easily pass this little gem of deceptive brilliance. I have to say that I was really taken aback by it after it was first introduced to me as "music to listen to while hungover". With this album there are no real favourites for me, it's all good stuff, and hopefully the links I posted gave you an example of the extremities of the album.
Go and get it. Now.
[hr]
If you're interested in any of my other reviews, you can find 46 of them here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.183857-A-Strangers-music-46-Lemetre-Antlers-and-more-Radiohead-video-reviews?page=1]. Initially I stopped posting in that thread because I lost it, but since I don't churn these out anymore I thought I'd give each individual one some exposure.
All comments are more than welcome.
One of my theories about "Minecraft" is that one of the main reasons why it became so popular, and the main reason it's still popular, is that its soundtrack is amazing. The soundtrack sets the peaceful, laid-back mood that was such a perfect fit for the game. But I'm not here to review the soundtrack in terms of the game, I'm here to review Volume Alpha as a stand alone album. Probably because I never played the game much, I have other outlets for any creativity bouncing around inside my head. But also because the album contains a lot of songs that never actually made it onto the game and they're the best ones too.
Volume Alpha can best be described as simplistic, in fact you're lucky if a song has upwards of 5 instruments (for electronic music, that's hardly anything). Most of what you'll be hearing will be compromised of pianos and synths, but sometimes various wind and string instruments will enter the mix.
I don't think I've ever quite come across an album so peaceful. Everything seems slowed down and the instruments chosen fit the mood perfectly. It's at the point where it's easy to just find yourself losing all track of time as you let the music wash over you. C418 doesn't keep things at the same level all the time, this album is perfectly capable of sounding pretty epic (see Moog City [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnHy42Zh14Y]) and immediately calmed down (see Minecraft [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JYrt3eGMuM]) afterwards. Normally I'd berate an album for sticking to the same pallet of instruments and effects, but I realise that in order to create a coherent atmosphere you need to maintain some cornerstone elements.
In some places however, the soundtrack introduces us to some songs that do not seem to fit in. The last two songs on the album (one of which can be listened to with the second music player), appear to be later additions from the writer of the music as an advert for the music he makes outside of Minecraft as they're much more like standard electronica than stylised ambiance. That being said, they are definitely welcome additions, but if you're trying to get yoruself into the mood of the album they're best skipped out.
It says a lot for a custom-video game soundtrack that I can happily listen to it now having no real history with the game itself. In fact apart from Death, which involves sound effects taken from the game, it's easy to forget that this music was made for the express purpose of being background music. Like the game itself it gives the impression of being simple, while in reality it's subtly complex.
With a total of 24 songs, 11 of which never made it to the game, and with a run time of just under 1 hour, it's hard to see how you could easily pass this little gem of deceptive brilliance. I have to say that I was really taken aback by it after it was first introduced to me as "music to listen to while hungover". With this album there are no real favourites for me, it's all good stuff, and hopefully the links I posted gave you an example of the extremities of the album.
Go and get it. Now.
[hr]
If you're interested in any of my other reviews, you can find 46 of them here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.183857-A-Strangers-music-46-Lemetre-Antlers-and-more-Radiohead-video-reviews?page=1]. Initially I stopped posting in that thread because I lost it, but since I don't churn these out anymore I thought I'd give each individual one some exposure.
All comments are more than welcome.
