Video Game Lo-Fi: Metroid Vinyl Review By Britt 📀 @floopymusic #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

Floopy (from the Curaga Records website:

Metroid Zero Mission was one of the first games I ever played as a kid (on the Gameboy Advance!) and it sparked my love for video games and by extension, video game music—Kraid's theme was the first song I ever learned on piano nearly 15 years ago. My personal favourite song on the album would have to be the Metroid Prime Theme. Although it initially wasn't my favourite composition out of the bunch compared to the more iconic songs like Samus's Theme, the direction I ended up taking it paired with trying different production techniques turned it into something vastly different in sound and feel from the original which I personally enjoyed.

In my previous remixing endeavours, my focus was achieving a lofi sound and tonality while preserving what was great about the original composition. For this project I still maintained that, but my focus shifted towards establishing a groove that could be improvised upon. As a result, this album ventures into several other genres, from chillwave to bossa nova what I can best describe as… lofi disco house? Writing essentially new compositions that incorporated different elements of the Metroid games' important themes was the goal here, a sort of process I picked up from my collaborator (and boss, and homie) Save Point. During the production of this album I developed new standards for what I personally wanted from lofi, and I certainly broadened my definition of what that term can mean. It was an incredibly fun process and it's always an honor to release music alongside the homies and peers at Curaga. Lofi fans and video game nerds alike, thanks for supporting my music.

Coffee Talk EP.2 – Official Soundtrack Vinyl Review By Britt ☕️📀@blackscreenrec #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Having played – and enjoyed – the Coffee Talk games on Switch, I was excited to get the chance to really delve into the soundtrack, as I’m a big fan of hypnotic, trip-hop music – and the music was such a big part of Coffee Talk, enriching the atmosphere off the game without being intrusive or too abstract.

The nascent (well, to me at least!) ‘cosy’ genre revels in acting as a digital hug to its fans, and the music of Coffee Talk excels at this. It also arrived at a great time for me personally, as it was quite a stressful time related to family illness, and I’d had trouble settling on something to listen to as I worked, in my then-current state of mind my usual podcasts seemed irritating, familiar music grated on me, and I lacked the energy to seek out fresh sounds.

And so, when Coffee Talk Ep.2 arrived, it was a balm to my ears and mind, turning out to be exactly what I needed.

MEGA REMIX MAN (2).exe Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee 💿📀 @RoboRobMusic #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Firaga Records and Materia Music combine once more to bring us the second instalment of producer RoboRob’s take on music from Mega Man. As with all Firaga releases, the presentation is the first thing you notice. 

The single clear vinyl record comes in a very nice gatefold jacket and illustrated inner sleeve, both by Leon Tukker. Ten tracks are presented here from across Capcom’s series, mainly the numbered instalments but with one from outlier Mega Man & Bass. 

VGM Essentials: Halloween Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee 💿📀 @FiragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

We’re back with another instalment in Firaga Records’ VGM Essentials series, this one taking on the spooky side of remixing with ten tracks split across a single disc. Artwork and presentation are of the usual high Firaga standard, with a printed jacket with artwork by Gingko housing a record pressed on pumpkin orange vinyl in a plain black sleeve.

Video Game LOFI – Celeste | Vinyl Review By Britt "recommended listening for lazy Sunday afternoons or boozy, woozy evenings" 🍓@nokbient #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Games can mean a lot to people, anyone who has read my Tux and Fanny review will know this. Celeste is a game that several of my close friends hold dear, and often refer to when discussions of ‘the best games ever’ crops up. As such, I was acutely aware of the regard in which Celeste is held, the soundtrack especially – and so I was curious how the music would be treated here by Nokbient.

From Nokbient’s Bandcamp:

Just breathe.

You can do this.

Slow down with ephemeral beats and drifting melodies, and wave-dash lofi melodies from Celeste Mountain directly into your subconscious. Join producer Nokbient as they explore a chill reimagining of Lena Raine's soundtrack to the 2018 indie game phenomenon Celeste by Maddie Makes Games.

"Special thanks to Rob Anderson and Bas van den Eersten for their help on this album. Without your friendship and incredible musical ability, this album wouldn't have happened. You have truly elevated this project to a whole new level, and I can't thank you enough for that. Additional thanks to Lena Raine and the entire Maddy Makes Games team for their incredible work on Celeste, an experience which touched my heart and helped me get through a difficult moment in my life, and one I strived to honor with this album. From the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone. Made with love for those who listen." - Noel Keith (Nokbient)

Wipeout – CoLD SToRAGE: The Zero Gravity Soundtrack Review By Britt 💿🎶 @LapsusBarcelona #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

A truly seminal and timeless soundtrack, sought after for years, Wipeout has finally been brought into the hands of fans by Lapsus records, and it is absolutely worth the wait.

Composed by Tim Wright (A.K.A CoLD SToRAGE, a fellow Welshman) for the 1995 video game Wipeout, a futuristic racer with a heavy focus on music and atmosphere, the Wipeout soundtrack has some key tunes that will be instantly familiar to anyone who has played the game. It’s a creation of many iconic images, from the font through to the colouring, shape of the crafts that the player races, the names of each fictional company, the flow and weave of the in-game courses, and of course, the music. 

VGM Essentials - SARE Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee "Music across all eras and systems, ranging from 1997’s Final Fantasy 7, all the way up to Genshin Impact" 📀 @FiragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

The mighty Firaga Records return, this time with an album from British producer SARE and a cast of co-producers and featured artists. The VGM Essentials series consists of covers and remixes of game music across all eras and systems, in this case ranging from 1997’s smash Final Fantasy 7, all the way up to current mobile gachathon Genshin Impact. The ten-track record, pressed on black vinyl, comes in a card sleeve with anime-themed artwork from Ginkgosan.

Grandia II Memorial Soundtrack Vinyl Review By Britt 🎶💿 @WayoRecords #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM

An incredible triple vinyl collector edition that celebrates the music of Grandia II, Wayo records’ release is another incredibly-presented box-set that Grandia fans will clamour for.

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. 

Radical Dreamers (Digital) Album Review By Britt 💿🎶 @AmerigoGazaway #VGM #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Radical Dreamers is billed as an album that blends “melodic hip-hop beats, razor-sharp lyricism and the allure of old-school RPGs Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger”. I mean, all of that sounds good, so let’s give it a go.

Video Game Lo-Fi - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest Vinyl Review By Britt 💿 @CuragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VGM

First off, I feel a fool! A fool I tell you! Up until receiving this record for coverage, I’d been under the impression that the second in the Donkey Kong Country series of games was called ‘Diddy Kong’s Quest’…but it’s actually ‘Diddy’s Kong Quest’ – I don’t feel too bad upon discovering this, as my fiancée was also under the same misapprehension, I’d barely taken the cellophane off this Curaga Records release, and I was already learning.

Kingdom Heartbeats Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee "Firaga Records Bring Us Another RoboRob-Helmed Remix Album" 📀 @FiragaRecords #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM

Firaga Records bring us another RoboRob-helmed remix album here, this time centred around venerable JRPG series Kingdom Hearts. The record comes beautifully presented, with a glossy gatefold sleeve inside a printed polybag housing a ten-track LP on clear vinyl.

Save Point and Patrick McBride interview - Jazz Hop Standards 📀 @CuragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #LoFi

We recently had the pleasure of covering Curaga Records’ Jazz Hop Standards, a release from the label that took a different approach to previous records, using the stylistic approach of classic jazz standards to interpret covers of some well-loved video game tracks.

Britt caught up with Save Point and Patrick McBride, who were kind enough to answer some burning questions on how the album came to be, shine some light on their creative process – and tell us what the future holds.

Video Game Lo-Fi: Jazz Hop Standards Vinyl Review 📀 @CuragaRecords #VGM #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

The latest entry that we’ve received here at GF HQ in the Video Game Lo-Fi series from Curaga Records, Jazz Hop Standards is a different beast to other entries in that it features more of a collaborative effort, heavier involvement of acoustic instrumentation, and in a more tangible sense – a full size, four-page booklet that gives background and context to the music, a welcome involvement that enriches the listening experience.

Video Game LoFi: Pokemon Vinyl Review by Lo Fi Lee 💿 #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VGM @MateriaStore @CuragaRecords

The next instalment in Curaga Records’ Video Game LoFi series takes on the behemoth that is Pokemon. Producers Besso0 and Save Point bring us ten tracks running the gamut of older entries in the franchise, pressed on classic black vinyl. The cover is the series standard holographic card with a nice shiny finish.

Metal Slug 4 Original Soundtrack Vinyl Review "I was first introduced to Metal Slug in the back of a dingy record store" 💿 #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VGM

Since the first release in 1996, the Metal Slug series was a long-time staple in arcades over the world. I was first introduced to Metal Slug in the back of a dingy record store (Rainbow Records) in my hometown of Pontypridd, it was one of three cabinets at the back of the shop (the other two were Aliens and Power Drift, if memory serves), and I was instantly hooked on the high-octane action that the game delivered with it’s intense militaristic soundtrack, colourful visuals and zany animations (I’ve always loved the Metal Slug reload animation) – even the in-game slowdown added an oddly cinematic quality to the experience, and made it feel like you were causing so much on-screen carnage and havoc that the game was struggling to keep up with you, good! It’s a series to which I often return, usually when visiting arcades scattered around the UK, as a blast on a Metal Slug title – especially with friends - always brings back great memories.

Ridge Racer Infinity Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee 💿🎶 #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM

Long-time readers might remember I reviewed and loved the digital version of the Ridge Racer Infinity album a while back (https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2022/10/ridge-racer-infinity-video-game-music.html). 

And I’ve now got my hands on the vinyl version, which for a record nerd like me is beyond excellent. The album comes in a matte card sleeve made up to look like a PS1 cover, which really scratches that retro itch. The record itself comes on classic black vinyl in a black paper inner.

The track list pretty much follows the digital release, with two tracks swapped over, probably for reasons of runtime, while the last but one track is a slight rework of the original Night Stream, now called Ultra Stream. 

The rest of the album is the same as before, but now in all its physical glory. And yes, the thunderous Drivin’ U 2 Dancin’ is still the best song (and not just on this album). 

Buy, listen, dance.

🔗ROBKTA - Ridge Racer Infinity (Soundtrack) Vinyl at Juno Records

Video Game Lo-Fi: Super Mario 64 Vinyl Review 💽 @CuragaRecords @MateriaMusic #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #LoFi #VGM

There’s something about these lo-fi records that makes them feel oddly perfect all year round. The last time I covered one back in November, it was a very wintry  entry in the Curaga lo-fi series, matching perfectly with the change in weather.

As I listened through this Super Mario 64 record in quite bracing weather, it felt calming and warming, but I can just as easily imagine it seeming as mellow and engaging on warm summer days, adding a layer of groovy coolness to the proceedings.

Horizon Forbidden West Vinyl OST Review By Britt "An album that has a world-building vibe to it" 💿 #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM

I’ve just covered another Sony Entertainment release – the God of War: Ragnarök OST – and the difference in presentation (visuals, not quality) is quite staggering. Whereas God of War: Ragnarök was filled with freezing blues and expansive whites, here Horizon Forbidden West is instead rich with almost alien tropical landscapes, and hot shades of orange. 

This is also a more ‘meat and potatoes’ release, on heavyweight black vinyl - but with no inserts such as art cards or the like – although there is a collector’s edition deluxe version of this release that is available on vinyl, but it’s the standard version that I’ll be covering today.

God of War: Ragnarök – Vinyl OST Composed by Bear McCreary " pairs well with a horn of mead" 🐻 @bearmccreary #Vinyl #VGM #VideoGameVinyl

The much-loved God of War franchise has been rolling on, powered by a war-like bloodlust since 2005 on the PS2, and has been known for its award-winning, rousing scores, which – since 2018 -have been handled by American composer Bear McCreary – who also plays the role of Raeb in-game. This triple-vinyl release features 28 tracks, including a final song that features Irish songwriter HOZIER. Faroese songwriter Eivør also features on a handful of songs throughout the record, mainly appearing on the first disc.

Video Game Lo-Fi: A Winter’s Tale (Vinyl & Cassette) Review 📀💿 @CuragaRecords @BrittRecluseuk #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VGM

Here in Wales, as the weather takes a colder turn, A Winter’s Tale arrived at the perfect time! 14 tracks of low-end, heavy, lo-fi warmth, this is an album that takes a trip-hop look at some of those seminal, snow-laden gaming moments through the years, taking us from Donkey Kong Country, past Mario Kart 64, through Stardew Valley, and the coast of Fable – alongside many others.

The front cover continues the classic lo-fi series approach of an isometric, stylised look at a certain location. Here, we are treated to a be-snowed take on Princess Peach’s castle from Mario 64, the familiar turrets poking out from underneath a blanket of deep, white snow; as light bleeds out from the entrance way, highlighting some scattered instruments outside in the snow; a piano, drums, acoustic guitar, and trumpet.