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

Streets of Rage Soundtracks Available To Download On BandCamp.

The early to mid 90's were a great time for gaming but it was still seen as a childish past time by many. When the Playstation released it tapped into to the burgeoning dance market where House and Trance tracks were popular and consistently hitting the charts. It seemed like a perfect mix; edgy games and oh-so-zeitgeisty music. However before Sony's miracle machine we 16-bit gamers did have a saviour of coolness and that was the inimitable Yuzo Koshiro. The composer behind the first two Streets of Rage games was a pioneer when bringing the sounds of the clubs into games. The Streets of Rage soundtracks are amongst the most highly regarded of the 16-bit era and rightly so. Whilst The Orb, The Prodigy and Orbital were getting into the charts, Koshiro was applying the music styling of the genre into his soundtracks.

I have all three albums and they are great, especially the first two that hold a special place in my heart.

I have all three albums and they are great, especially the first two that hold a special place in my heart.

His three albums have been released on vinyl by DataDiscs and I have all 3 (I have linked my reviews of all three albums below) but recently the albums have been put up for purchase on BandCamp. At just 6 GBP a piece I’d say that it’s a bargain and with the imminent release of Streets of Rage 4, it’s a great time to revisit these astonishing albums.

Streets of Rage Soundtracks on BandCamp

Shadow of the Colossus Soundtrack on Vinyl

Shadow of the Colossus is one of my favourite games of all time. This is in no small part due to the phenomenal soundtrack which was created by Kou Ootani, who also soundtracked the wonderful Haibane Renmei (one of my favourite animes). The Ico OST is scarce but perfectly pitched for key events, like the original Prince of Persia game. However the Shadow of the Colossus has an emotive score full of longing but also adventure, it suits the mood perfectly and the soundtrack is a master class in scoring for a game and shows how much the perfect soundtrack can add to the impact of a game.

When iam8bit announced that they were doing a vinyl release of the soundtrack mid-last year I pre-ordered it and lo, a mere 10 months or so later the vinyl has finally arrived and definitely looks the part. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet due to having a busy weekend with the family but I know the album well, as long as it wasn't pressed too hot it should be great. Check out my pics below and my links to other SOTC related articles I've written.

Metal Slug Vinyl OST Pre-Order

Data-Discs has been releasing video game soundtracks of classic games for quite some time now. They have been primarily releasing a lot of Sega OST's including classics such as Streets of Rage, Outrun, Revenge of Shinobi and Super Hang On but their newest release is Metal Slug, a series that was developed by SNK and gained fame on the NEOGEO. I like the game series just fine but the soundtrack never really resonated with me but but I know that this series has an ardent fanbase so I sure there will be many interested in procuring a record.

Great Find in the Loft

Anyone who has ever watched the Goonies has undoubtedly dreamt of finding a secret map that leads to treasure. Since watching the classic film in the 80's I've dreamt of going into the loft and finding awesome cool pieces of bric a brac. Well, over the past couple of weekends I've been cleaning the loft, organising it and preparing the large amount of material goods contained within, to prepare for the arrival of our daughter. Whilst organising it I did find something intriguing... no, it wasn't the map to One Eyed Willy's treasure (How did I miss that great name!) but it was something pretty impressive.

A double box set of vinyls by Linguaphone to learn French. The sets were in beautiful sturdy cases and have stood the test of time well considering they are from the 1950's.

I have a record player but haven't played these yet.  We teach French at school and this might be quite a cool way to introduce the children to older way of learning a new language. Now I'm no hipster as I think it is probably a lot easier and convenient to learn a new language through the more modern means at our disposal but this does offer the children a great opportunity to learn about the evolution of media.

Sonic Mania Soundtrack Pre-order

SEGA and Data Discs have just announced the official Sonic Mania vinyl album. For those who don't know Sonic Mania is the soon-to-be released Sonic game. Wait come back... don't run away. THIS Sonic game is a proper old skool Sonic game with faux 16-bit 2D style graphics.

The Sonic Mania vinyl will feature 16 new tracks by composer Tee Lopes, who has released several of the tracks on YouTube to build up interest in the project. As well as re-imaginings of classic tracks the vinyl promises to offer brand new tracks. I've listened to a few and as a whole they feel full of energy and very jazzy, mostly like the tracks in the Sonic Rush collection of games.

Pre-orders for the Sonic Mania Vinyl go live on the Data-Disc site at 8am (BST) and I for one will be trying to order the limited edition version of the vinyl for my collection. The vinyl will come with a digital download code so you can listen to it on your digital device. I can't comment upon the quality of the vinyl as it will ship in September but based on the many vinyls I have bought already from them it should be exceptional.

Twin Peaks Soundtrack Vinyl Re-release

I have a huge thing for anything Twin Peaks. The image of Laura Palmer's cold dead face left an impact I'll never be able to forget and Bob hiding at the foot of her bed left an impact I'll never be able to escape. And scoring all this was Angelo Badalamenti's score which changed everything.

Death Waltz Recordings is re-releasing the seminal soundtrack in vinyl on 180gm "damn fine coffee" colour vinyl with bespoke die cut outer jacket and director approved artwork. The set looks stunning and I'll be looking to purchase it when it becomes available on 9th September 2016.

I have fond memories of the music as I remember discovering the series in the late 90's whilst at university. I got the soundtrack CD from my local library and played the music in Peacocks, where I had a weekend job as a sales assistant which was paying for my university costs. As the music played I remember the whole mood changing- people started giving the staff weird looks but one guy said, "Kudos for putting on something different from the usual shop muzak".

Whilst I am eagerly awaiting the new series, which will start airing in early 2017, I will reminisce on the old series with this vinyl... alongside a cup of damn fine coffee and cherry pie!

LINK- Buy Twin Peaks Vinyl OST Online

Everybody's Gone To the Rapture Soundtrack on Vinyl

Last year I played Everybody's Gone To the Rapture and whilst I loved the first person exploration game I found the brooding atmosphere, layered storyline and central mystery came second to the amazing soundtrack. The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, which is no surprise as it comes from Jessica Curry, composer of Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs. There are many video game soundtracks I've enjoyed over the years, but my enjoyment of them has been influenced often by my playing of the game, and even though I loved this game the music stands apart and is exceptional; it stands alone as a piece of work. Some of the scores are so deeply emotional that it breaks your heart to listen to it. The pieces are full of a whole spectrum of emotions; joy, love and profound sadness... sometimes in the space of just a few moments.

The standout tracks for me are All The Earth, The Sleep of Death, The Mourning Tree, A Choice, An Early Harvest, Aurora, The Pattern Calls Out, The End of All Things and I Am Not Afraid. These tracks are often slight variations on what has been played before but are part of a wonderful cohesive whole. I am not the most spiritual person but this album spoke to me on a profound and deep level and that surely is a sign of a beautiful album.

If you like classical music and renaissance English music then this is the album for you. Actually, if you just like good classical music then this album is for you!

Streets of Rage Soundtrack on Vinyl

Over Christmas I was lucky enough to receive the Streets of Rage soundtrack on vinyl from my wife. None more hipster maybe but the idea of playing a remastered album from a 1991 Sega video game on an outdated piece of analogue music technology in a time of pervading digital media appeals to me. 
The classic soundtrack is by Yuzo Koshiro and at the time was totally different to anything heard in video games, it was a time of trance and dance, when The Orb, The Prodigy and Orbital were getting into the charts. This soundtrack stood out among its contemporaries as it was not the usual bleeps and bloops of video games at the time... It spoke to many youths at the time, it was zeitgiesty and hearing the vinyl now it still feels special.
I've heard the music hundreds of times before, playing the game for months on end but I've never heard it like this. Now I'm no vinyl snob and I don't know which format of audio sounds better but I will say that on vinyl it does sounds different, but in a good way.

I would definitely recommend getting this album and hope DataDiscs continue to release more video game music soundtracks, Sonic 3 and Thunderforce 3 and 4 would be nice but beggars can't be choosers!

LINK: Vinyl- The Return of the Format

LINK: Digging the Carts (Video Game Music Documentary)