The Magic of the Ecco the Dolphin Soundtrack

Ecco the Dolphin was everywhere in the late 90s. The game was a huge seller on the Megadrive and was ubiquitous with the system as it’s not often that you got to play as a flipping dolphin! The fact that the graphics looked amazing didn’t hurt it much either but it was only when you played it that you realised how batpoop crazy it was. Rather than a walking/ swimming simulator, the game involved the disappearance of your pod linked to the Giger-esque aliens who had their own creepy machinations planned for you kith and kin.

The game was rock hard and nearly impossible to beat without the invincibility code, which is how I finally completed the game. However, what really resonated with me was the sublime vapourwave soundtrack. It was my (and I guess many others’) introduction to vapourwave before vapourwave was a thing that gained prominence with the onset of the internet and nostalgia for the 80s.

I had heard and loved the Megadrive soundtrack as it was all ethereal, alien and warbly 80s style synths, but when I heard the Sega CD soundtrack many years later it blew my mind. Spencer Nilsen produced an amazing album that is reminiscent of the works of Vangelis, Popol Vuh and Waiting for Cousteau-era Jean Michel Jarre.

The album is my vinyl white whale as there are only a few bootleg copies out there and they seem to go for a high price. There seems to have been a pressing from Germany in 2016 and I hope to add it to my collection one day. In the meantime, I’ve linked an interview with the composer talking about his score below. Have a listen and be transported back to the mid 90s!

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Fire Tripper: Cult Manga Review

LINK- Akira Soundtrack Vinyl Review

LINK- Manga Exhibition at the British Museum

LINK- The Transportive Nature of Objects (And the Power of Mini Consoles)

LINK- My One True Gaming Constant in Life- Nintendo

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Mysterious Cities of Gold Season 3 (English Dub) - Complete Series Review

BBC Gaming Proms 2022- From 8-Bit to Infinity

The BBC Proms are a big part of the British identity, a celebration of classical music held at the legendary Royal Albert Hall over eight weeks in the summer season. The seasonal event has been an annual fixture since 1895 and is still going strong. Over the years, the music has remained focussed on classical music but this year marks a major first- videogame music.

According to the BBC Proms website:

Fantastic worlds, epic adventures, complex characters and huge moral choices – the universe of computer gaming is a natural match for orchestral music, and in the 21st century games have created a huge and passionate global audience for some of the most vivid, ambitious and inventive music currently being written for symphony orchestra. In this first ever Gaming Prom, Robert Ames – best-known at the Proms for his explorations of sci-fi and electroacoustic music – takes an electronically expanded Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on an odyssey from the classic console titles of the 1980s, through Jessica Curry’s haunted soundscapes to the European concert premiere of music from Hildur Guðnadóttir’s and Sam Slater’s score for Battlefield 2042.

The link to the BBC Sounds is here and the televised presentation will run on Friday 5th August 2022.

As a huge videogame music enthusiast (check out reviews of videogame vinyl soundtracks below) I appreciate that this form of music is being more recognised and appreciated by a larger audience.

LINK: Vinyl- The Return of the Format

LINK: Streets of Rage Soundtrack on Vinyl

LINK: Digging the Carts (Video Game Music Documentary)

LINK- The Moomins 80's Soundtrack Vinyl Review

LINK- Inspector Gadget Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Sonic Mania Video Game Vinyl Soundtrack

LINK- Thomas Was Alone Video Game Vinyl Soundtrack Review

LINK- Akira Soundtrack Vinyl Review

Square Enix Music Released on YouTube

I love listening to video game music and often it soundtracks my life, whether I’m working, running or just chilling. However, there's so many amazing soundtracks that are forgotten simply because many people don't have easy access to them. So when Square Enix announced that they were releasing their own YouTube channel with tonnes of music, live music performances and composer interviews I was ecstatic. I went on there and there are thousands of tracks available to listen to… looks like my music mix is sorted for the foreseeable.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMx60HYcw1ieiPlZZagfqXQ/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=5

Square Enix Music
Square Enix Music

There are thousands of tracks on the Square Enix Music channel on YouTube.

Ikaruga Soundtrack Released by Data Discs

Data Discs have a great ‘track record’ (yup, I’ll get me coat) of releasing amazing soundtracks. I have already written reviews on the Streets of Rage, Sonic Mania and the stunning Okami vinyls. Now, they are releasing the Ikaruga soundtrack. I’m a fan of the Treasure game and like the music just fine but for me it’s not a purchase I’ll be making as I’m not that big a fan. However I know for many of you it may be something you like so why not order it here.

Ikaruga OST Data Discs

Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy Concert Returns to the Royal Albert Hall

The music of Final Fantasy, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, has always been a video game fan favourite and even reached quite high in the Classic FM Music of the Year charts. Well, the Royal Albert Hall is hosting 2 evenings of the music from the games but with a very special guest indeed, RIKKI, the original vocalist from Final Fantasy X!

I probably won’t be going as I have a few school commitments but maybe you folks might enjoy it. Click the link below the image to go to the official Royal Albert Hall website to snap up tickets!