 | Album Title: Fittest Original Soundtrack |
| Record Label: Zircon Studios | |
| Catalog No.: N/A | |
| Release Date: June 10, 2012 | |
| Purchase: Download at Bandcamp |
Overview
I’ll be honest here. I had never heard of Fittest. Apparently it’s a dual-stick shooter available on the Xbox Live Indie Channel. There has been very little coverage of this obscure indie game, so, like almost everyone else, it slipped under my radar. However, when I heard that the soundtrack was handled by Andrew Aversa, aka zircon, my expectations for the music immediately skyrocketed. I downloaded the release from Bandcamp. But were those high expectations satisfied in the end?
Body
zircon has described the music for Fittest as “a tribute to classic video game music,” citing games like Mega Man, Donkey Kong Country, and Contra as some examples. This is definitely noticeable throughout the album, as it has an excellent fusion of electronica, 8-bit retro sounds, ambient synths, high-powered dance music, and other styles.
The first two tracks, “Startup Screen” and “Main Menu,” though brief, contain dark and slightly brooding lines of ambient synth. This type of music doesn’t represent the album very well, and it feels slightly out of place with the upbeat nature of what’s to come. “Dreams of Cobalt” is what really gets things started with its funky techno rhythms, electronic synths, and wavy piano bars. “Photosynthesis” continues this trend, but adds a more orchestral flavor in addition to a hint of dubstep. “Cellular” is an excellent combination of modern-day electronica and old-school 8-bit synth. The two styles of music really complement each other well and the melodic focus is very reminiscent of tunes found in Mega Man.
“Baroque Virus” is exactly what the title implies: infectious Baroque-themed music spreading like a virus. As one of the standouts of the album, Aversa perfectly meshes orchestra, harpsichord, tripping techno, and dubstep into one masterful composition oozing energy and flair. It’s outstandingly well-produced from composition through to implementation. “Glacial Reflection” is a track that I assume is used in an ice level. Either way, zircon creates an atmospheric and fitting piece that uses a wide mixture of musical styles previously mentioned. Being the longest track on the album, it’s flowing with composition, and I honestly enjoyed every second of it.
There is plenty of other stylings on the release. “Fusion Master” changes theme a bit. Rather than atmospheric music, this track has a certain degree of funk and groove. The melody is delectably enjoyable and the piece is a great change of pace from what was previously established. Distant and mysterious, “Looking Glass” is a successful bout of pure electronica, while “Heavy Industry” shifts into a more hard-rock focus with its jamming guitars and synth. “Psychesphere” is an interesting combination of Middle Eastern-inspired instruments and techno synth backing.
Out of all the tracks, “Factor 5” is the most “video game music-like,” with upbeat synth, jazzy piano chords, and fast-paced percussion. Perhaps the most accessible and melodic track on the album is “Morsecode.” The phenomenal piano work and funky synths make it my favorite track out of the whole album. To end things, we have a Contra-inspired rock piece called “Star Command.” If you know anything about that game’s soundtrack, you know exactly what to expect here: raging torrents of hard rock as you storm into the enemy fortress. Though the track definitely owes its roots to Konami’s classic shoot ’em up, the piece stands out on its own. As the piece draws to its intense finale, I’d say mission accomplished.
Summary
While Fittest was released four years ago, it stands up as fresh and inspired even now. Combining a wide variety of musical styles and taking inspiration from old and new, Andrew Aversa has crafted a varied and stylized album that never gets repetitive or stale. Every track brims with creativity, and no two tracks sound alike. Even if you’ve never heard of the game, I can still recommend its killer soundtrack. At only $4.99 on Bandcamp in crystal-clear quality, you can’t go wrong. Aversa’s musical style has been mostly experimental, but I believe that it has been a rousing success.
