Originally released for the Dreamcast in 2000 and eventually ported to the PS2 (and beyond), Game Arts’ Grandia II was a more mature affair than the 1997 prequel, and featured a lot of the returning original staff – including Noriyuki Iwadare, the composer of all three main Grandia games. The game told the story of Ryudo, a mercenary of wobbly morals who gets tasked with a seemingly simple escort mission that evolves into a grand(ia) adventure.
Hailing from Raleigh, South Carolina, USA, Return to the Wild is the second in his series of rearranged Legend of Zelda music, with this album running the gamut from the blues rock of Tarrey Town to the wailing prog of Awaken.
I have something of an odd history with dance music. Like many who grew up in the mid-90s, my distinct opinion was that proper music had to have proper instruments, i.e. guitar, bass, and drums. Even the keyboard was a bit racy for my liking.
That said, I never turned off thumping video game soundtracks as, to me, they didn’t count, so I would happily listen to the mental Rotterdam Nation across the Ridge Racer games and think nothing of it.
Of course, like every grunge-slash-indie fan, once I heard Born Slippy, all bets were off and I remain a dedicated raver to this day.
A record label founded by multiple Grammy award-winning musician and composer Nile Rodgers in 1998, Sumthing Records – and the distribution arm, Sumthing Distribution – was at one point the largest African-American-owned distribution company in America, created to produce and distribute video game music.
The label – mainly through the trading style of Sumthing Else Music Works – released music from some of the largest games and franchises of the era, before closing suddenly in January of 2019, with Nile Rodgers’ below statement on his official website:
Firaga Records and artist RoBTKA release high energy album ‘Needlemouse Mania’
Music label Firaga Records has just released its newest album inspired by everyone’s favourite blue hedgehog, Sonic.
With ten funky tracks to jam to, Needlemouse Mania from artist RoBKTA is the perfect soundtrack for Sonic the Hedgehog Fans.
Songs featured on the album include “Chemical Apex” from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, “Planet Wisp” from Sonic Colors and “Studiopolis” from Sonic Mania.
Quite different from other vinyl orchestral releases that I’ve heard/covered, Hang on to Your Hat is recorded in a big band style by the Video Game Jazz Orchestra and is all the better for it with the original tunes completely fitting this particular swinging throwback style.
I wanted to write an article on two shows that really stood out to me over the last year…so I did.
