Risk of Rain
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Album Title: Risk of Rain |
| Record Label: Bandcamp (Digital Edition); Chucklefish (CD Edition); Black Screen Records (Vinyl Edition) |
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| Catalog No.: N/A |
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| Release Date: September 4, 2013; February 1, 2015; October 1, 2016 |
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| Purchase: Download at Bandcamp |
Summary
Chris Christodoulou had delivered some strong work in the past, but none of his early scores prepared listeners for the explosion of creativity and colour that is the Risk of Rain soundtrack. This is prog rock in the best sense: music that’s happy to experiment, unfettered by genre expectations.
An impressive plethora of various electronics forms the basis of the album, ranging from nostalgic chiptune bleeps to vinyl grooves, 80s synth textures and up-to-date club beats and dubstep – all establishing the game’s sci-fi world. But then Christodoulou manages to also seamlessly mix in churning hard rock rhythms, blistering double bass attacks, drifting classic rock guitar soli, lots of wood and steel percussion, and the occasional clarinet and oboe solo.
This heady brew oscillates between mesmerising moments of quite awe; enticing, moody underscore that could hardly be more atmospheric; and rousing melodic outbursts. Risk of Rain feels like a journey into the unknown, constantly revealing wonders and amazing new sights – just like a great sci-fi story should.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
4.5
Posted on April 23, 2017 by Simon Elchlepp. Last modified on April 23, 2017.
About the Author
Simon Elchlepp A former German film student now living in Melbourne, Australia and working at the University of Melbourne's Architecture faculty - and a passionate music lover with an eclectic taste. Specialising in Western game music, I'm here to dig out the best scores Western video games have produced in the last thirty years.
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