The two gaming posts for today were moved further back as we couldn't find any suitable footage of the games. So, instead today we're celebrating the outstanding score to Amanita Design's surreal adventure game Samorost 3 (2016).
All of this was composed by the brilliant Floex, the master of ambiance music.
And for our money one of the very best video game composers in the world. Have a listen to this music and see if you agree!
Samorost 3's Glorious Soundtrack for a Cosmic Landscape
Amanita Design's games are modern point-and-click adventures, often drawing players into abstract, bizarre, and cosmic landscapes.
If you're going to do that, you need some great music to go with it.
Enter video game composing legend Floex! We're yet to hear any bad music at all from his canon, but we do think Samorost 3 is his best work to date.
It's a sprawling and bizarre work of ambiance, throwing in all sorts of electronic hoo-hah with a curiously classical sensibility. The result s pretty spectacular.
Floex has said in interviews he doesn't actually play many video games. Nor is he overly interested in them. In November 2016 he told Bandcamp in Floex Wants to Play Football:
Q: Are you interested in video games in general, or is it more of a musical interest?
"I wouldn't say it's my main focus, however, it is a really exciting media field. Especially in recent years, with the emergence of the indie scene, it's become a spectacular playground for wonderful ideas. I've been doing some form of creative stuff all my life. Despite making mostly music, I actually studied New Media at the Prague Academy Of Visual Arts. So generally media, especially interactive media, are my point of interest ...
I play games only very occasionally. Of course, the main reason is my lack of time. I often sit in front of my computer all day, locked in the studio, so I try to avoid similar activities when I'm free."
That's where the football bit comes in, as he uses downtime to get outside, be active, and stay fit. Very important when you're a creative person behind a computer screen a lot of the time (or for any sitting down type job you may have).
Of the approach for working on the score he said this:
"I really don't have any particular way that I always follow when composing. It could start with an inspiring sound, harmony, or motive. I usually make sketches, short ideas, which take a small amount of time to make, but give me the opportunity to decide if they are worth developing into a song. Sometimes I make ten (or even more) sketches before deciding on the final song. If the music is rhythmical, I often like to start with a loop or some other background track. Something that gives some amount of emotional context, but also a big freedom to develop other elements."
Then his brain gets to work and the results equal stuff like Prenatal Hunters, one of our absolute favourite pieces of video game music.
The next example is Taste of Tea (Cosmic Version). We like tea. We like cosmic stuff. Perfect combination right?
And this one reminds us of the Moon landing sequence score in First Man (2018). The film came after the game, FYI, not that we're suggesting it was nicked or anything!
So, yes, lots of big space. Soaring ambiance and a general feeling of uncertainty, but wonder.
But the score also has it's more fun moments, leaning away from the ambiance into a funky groove. All of which reminds us of Can's Ege Bamyasi album (1972) a fair deal. Lots of greens and similar themes.
Floex and Amanita Design are still working together. The studio's upcoming game Phonopolis is set for release later this year (hopefully).
The composer has revealed on his social channels he's hard at work on the score. Huzzah! More of this stuff, please.
Listen to the Whole of the Samorost 3 Score!
Amanita Design has most thoughtfully provided the entire score, in full, on its YouTube channel. Complete with lovely perpetual motion animation.
If you want to own this thing, replete with surreal and glorious artwork, then you can buy the Samorost 3 double vinyl score. We'll be buying it at some point!
But, yes, it's also all free there online for your listening enjoyment.
The Making of Samorost 3's Music and Sound Design
No one ever talks properly in Amanita Design games, it's also through a cute (if mildly perturbing) mixtures of warbling, gurgling etc.
Works very well in the worlds they create! But it also must be a lot of fun creating these otherworldly sounds.
After all the sound effect stuff, that's where the music comes iin.
If you're particularly intrigued by all of this, you can watch this hour-long presentation by TomΓ‘Ε‘ DvoΕΓ‘k (Floex himself) back in 2016.
There's a timeline along the video, so you can skip to the likes of concepts, instruments, hybrids of acoustic instruments, and the like.
Pretty handy if you're thinking about becoming a video game composer (or upping your game as one right now).
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