It’s been almost a year since the last Vinyl Fantasies post, it’s been extremely busy here at GF HQ, and in that time we’ve covered some incredible records, which I’d like to shine a light on here.
As usual, the list is in no particular order, if the record was previously covered in a full article, a link will be included should you wish to know more.
Hope you enjoy reading as much as we enjoyed listening!
I came across Cassette Beasts on Game Pass and spent quite some time with this very audio-driven monster-collect-athon. A huge part of the experience is Joel Baylis’ soundtrack, which features incredible melodies and hooks that slot into the world of the game impeccably. Throw in some dreamy vocals by Shelby Harvey to add texture, and what you end up with is a rich, double-vinyl length soundtrack that is also extremely well-presented, with the colours and images feeling very much a continuation of the world of the game.
Kingdom Eighties: Summer of Greed
This one is smoooooth, the production is so incredibly crisp and the glossy finish to the cover called to mind the Narita Boy soundtrack. A double-disc delicacy that contains some of the most wonderful ‘80s-infused synth, coupled with strikingly memorable, bold melodies, this album gets a lot of spins simply for the incredibly cool mood that it creates. The fact that this is purely instrumental is a real strength, as it allows those laser-guided synth lines to wash over you, gloriously.
A much more cohesive, and less experimental album than Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 4 maintains that very specific Metal Slug style, whilst also nodding to other genres such as JRPGs in the rousing tracks that pepper the album, with each passing instrumental feeling very much like the steps of a bullet-ridden journey.
Video Game Lo-Fi: Jazz Hop Standards
An entry in the Curaga Records catalogue that almost felt like a deluxe edition with the included booklet, heavier focus on live instrumentation, and collaborative vibe. Jazz Hop Standards was a record that stayed firmly on my turntable for quite some time, with the musicians really opening up in terms of jamming and experimenting, creating an album that feels like these songs were always waiting to have these very renditions of them discovered and revealed to the outside world. A wonderfully unique record, and I very much hope for a part two soon!
Video Game Lo-Fi - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
Another entry from Curaga’s ‘lo-fi’ series that sees Michael Staple tackle David Wise’s much-loved soundtrack. What really makes this a great relaxing listen, is how Staple leans into the hypnoticism (definitely a word, don’t look it up) of the dreamy melodies, and then gives them room room to sink into the listener. A record I’d recommend if you are really looking to chill out or wind down at the end of a day, it highlights the strength of those original melodies, whilst wrapping them in an effortlessly cool vibe.
Grandia II Memorial Soundtrack
Feeling like a sister record to Wayo’s previous YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana Vinyl Collection, Grandia II is given the same due care and attention here, in a very tasty package. The art book and overall presentation is absolutely stunning, and the records themselves are flawless and crisp. Complete with a 16-page book full of details and information, this one is a must for fans of the Grandia series, and again shows off Wayo’s skills in respecting and acknowledging these historic gaming titles.
Wipeout – CoLD SToRAGE: The Zero Gravity Soundtrack
This was a record that I feel needed to be released since getting into VGM several years ago. Tim Wright (CoLD SToRAGE) created a seminal soundtrack with his work on Wipeout, and ripples of its impact still shine through today. It helps that, whilst incredibly talented, Tim is a lovely guy and its worth watching / listening to the longform interviews available with him on YouTube, as they give great background details as to the situation in which this soundtrack was recorded, and how Tim had to work against his own tastes in creating a soundtrack in a genre with which he was initially unfamiliar, and even hostile to! We are all glad that he did, though – as the sum of those parts is one of the most intense and memorable soundtracks in all of gaming, and Lapsus Records have very much done it justice here, presenting it in an incredibly stylish package, which it absolutely deserves.
Coffee Talk EP.2 – Official Soundtrack
I received this for coverage during a very hard time for my family, and I found myself really not wanting to play games, watch movies, or even listen to music. As soon as I listened to this – almost begrudgingly – though, the lilting, casual mood really helped in pulling me out of my funk and led to me getting back on the path to enjoying the things I’d been avoiding for weeks. A calming, mellow album that – as with Diddy’s Kong Quest above – is essential listening for stress-heavy days or times, when you don’t want to be challenged, but instead need the breezier things in life to envelop you.
And there you have it, a handful of the records that have been memorable highlights of the last few months.
Thanks for reading and I’ll definitely be back with anther Vinyl Fantasy update soon, cheers!
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