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Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

OSV in 2013

OSV in 2013 05.10.13 | Patrick Gann | 5 Comments

Hello, dear readers!

You’ve probably popped in on our site a few times in the last few months, expecting new content but getting virtually nothing.

“What gives?” You might say to yourself, exasperated by the disparity in content regularity from prior years to this year. “Is OSV dead?”

Well … not exactly. Some quick history:

In late 2011, Jayson Napolitano accepted a position as a music-focused editor at Destructoid. At that time, I (Patrick Gann) accepted an “Interim Managing Editor” position. Throughout 2012 I wrote 70% of the posts of OSV myself and worked with some great new writers such as Brenna Wilkes and established OSV bloggers such as Audun Sorlie and Gideon Dabi.

But I told Jayson that the “Interim” in my job title meant something. There was a ticking clock, and a line in the sand where I would need to stop generating regular content. The reason why will be revealed in my next post here.

So, the site has gone leaderless. There was talk of merging OSV content with other sites, or vice versa, but that all fell through.

Here’s the deal: OSV will continue to exist with its legacy of great content (seriously, I’m so proud of all we’ve done here in the last 5 years!). All of our writers are free to post here as needed, but there will be no scheduled content or expectation for regular posts. We are open to guest posts, and if there are responsible writers out there interested in taking up the mantle, just contact myself or Jayson; we’re willing to hear your case!

Before I finish out this little announcement post, I would like to say that among the great music released in the past 6 months that we haven’t had the chance to review, I’ve very much enjoyed the following on a personal level, in no particular order:

Me and My Dinosaur 2 OST
Fire Emblem: Kakusei OST (5 discs, easily the best Fire Emblem soundtrack yet)
FZ Sides F and Z (the new FEZ arrange albums coinciding with the PC/Steam release of the hit game)
The Binding of Isaac Piano Collection
Ys ZANMAI
Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin OST
Final Heaven: A Melancholy Tribute to FFVII (among many other Joypad releases, this has been my favorite from the Spring season)
Ginga Force Complete Soundtrack
MONACO soundtrack / “Gentlemen’s Private Collection” (hurray Austin Wintory!)
Featured, Miscellaneous

Jeremy Soule Takes to Kickstarter to Fund His First Classical Symphony: Support It!

04.10.13 | Jayson Napolitano | Comment?

[Disclaimer: I, Jayson Napolitano, was hired by the Max Steiner Agency to prepare and distribute a press release regarding "The Northerner," but I'm also sincerely passionate about it being funded on a personal level]

In case you weren’t aware, Jeremy Soule launched a Kickstarter campaign last month to fund his first classical symphony, “The Northerner.” You should care not only because Jeremy Soule is one of the most talented game composers working in the industry, but also because “The Northerner” channels a lot of the energies Soule visited while working on Skyrim just by the nature of its far North theme.

I ran a feature over on Destructoid with exclusive commentary from Jeremy Soule himself on the project as well as a preview on YouTube (above) and SoundCloud. Check them out, and support this project towards reaching its stretch goal of $100,000 to record at a prestigious recording studio before the campaign ends in just three short days!

Do you see this as a potential way to fund classical music in the future? Let us know if you’re on board for “The Northerner!”
Miscellaneous

A Warrior’s Odyssey, A Composer’s Journey (Review)

11.08.12 | Patrick Gann | Comment?

Purchase CD – Howlin’ Wolf Records
Purchase Digital – Amazon MP3 | iTunes

Bulgarian-born composer Penka Kouneva is a recent member of the game music community, but she’s been doing film and television score for much longer. Her game credits include co-composing Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands with Steve Jablonsky, doing arrangements for the Gears of War games and most recently arrangement for World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. She also had an original composition featured on the charity album Play for Japan.

Recently, Ms. Kouneva released an original album that acts as a sort of homage to modern war-based FPS’s, RTS’s, etc. The album is entitled A Warrior’s Odyssey, and it serves as both an excellent demo album for Kouneva as a composer to send to game developers, and an excellent album for media score nuts to dig into.

After the jump, I’ll have more details on this lengthy, epic treat from one of Europe’s lesser-known musical prodigies, as well as some photos from the album’s recording sessions.

(more…)
Miscellaneous

Gregory Bros songify and gamify 2012 election

09.28.12 | Patrick Gann | Comment?

The Gregory Bros have been doing more pop-culture than politics with their “autotune” / “songify” work. It’s been 3 years since we interviewed them, and in that interview they mentioned their love for game music.

Now they present a retro, 8-bit overlay of the two candidates (Obama and Romney) making speeches at their respective conventions (DNC and RNC). The music is super catchy too.

Just thought I’d share. Enjoy!
Miscellaneous

David Saulesco Improves Upon Gaga & Beyonce

09.20.12 | Patrick Gann | Comment?

Back in January, this crazy-huge a capella group from Slovenia called “Perpetuum Jazzile” performed a concert that only recently made it to YouTube. One of their selections was a cover of the song “Telephone” by Lady Gaga & Beyonce.

This particular arrangement was put together by David Saulesco (follow him on twitter! @withaknife), the composer for Derek Yu’s Eternal Daughter and other indie games (see our interview here).

On a personal note, I’ve loved David and his work for years, but I frankly had no idea he had this kind of choral arrangement prowess locked away inside him. He needs to do more of these arrangements! Maybe one for a VGM vocal theme! Imagine what Saulesco would do with One Winged Angel or Liberi Fatali…
Miscellaneous

Plug-In to your dreams: Hijack (Review)

Plug-In to your dreams: Hijack (Review) 07.05.12 | Patrick Gann | Comment?

Imagine if you were a game music composer. Well, some of you reading actually are, but for those who aren’t, imagine it. You’re not writing for AAA games, but you’re satisfied with your job, and you eke out enough cash to get by.

Alright, so you write game music. But sometimes, you just wanna rock. Harder than you’ve ever rocked before. Now, imagine that slowly but surely, over the span of the last decade, you networked with a bunch of amazing rock/metal smiths across the world so that you could record your dream album.

Are you imagining it? I’m transcending time and space here to make sure you are. And I’m pretty sure you’re not. Try harder!! … nope, you’re still not there.

Well then, in lieu of your failed imagination, just join me after the jump we’re we’ll talk about Fred “Mobo” Motte and his band Plug-In. Their first full-length album, released 12 years after the band’s formation, will be found in the Bandcamp embed after the jump. (more…)
Miscellaneous

The Most Exotic Journey Of The Year: Benyamin Nuss’s Exotica Out Now!

06.16.12 | Audun Sorlie | 4 Comments

Benyamin Nuss has since an early age amazed and left a worldwide audience in awe with his masterful piano performances. Nuss is not only a virtuoso of precision, but one of the most melodically honest performers in classical music, his music is heartfelt, gripping and daring, allowing listeners of any age to truly feel the music due to his incredible powerful and passionate renditions of both classic and contemporary scores. In 2010, Nuss released his debut album Benyamin Nuss Plays Uematsu on the prestigious label Deutsche Grammophon under the auspices of Universal Music, breaking new grounds and making history with his incredible tribute to the most famous video game composer of all time. Now the young man from Germany is ready to go even more exotic for his next album.

Exotica is a collection of inspired works blended together to create a journey unlike any other, a theme of classical music merged and molded to feel new, exciting and exotic as only Benyamin Nuss can provide. On this journey we meet Claude Debussy, as his “Estampes” served as a great influence on the album, along with Darius Milhaud, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, Alan Hovhaness, Martin Torp and even Masashi Hamauzu. Nuss also features his very own Elegy for Fukushima, making this not only an experiment of exoticism, but also a gift with a heart, and with a soul Jonne Valtonen also contributed to Exotica with his “Fantasy” for the Fukushima elegy. Benyamin Nuss proves with this album that he is a unique world class talent, and one with a true passion that is easily heard, and felt within your very own mind and body.

Available at: Amazon DE, Itunes and JPC
Japanese, Miscellaneous

Let’s Go! Dekoboko Gym With Takenobu Mitsuyoshi!

04.27.12 | Audun Sorlie | Comment?

Ever wondered how Takenobu Mitsuyoshi has managed to look as young and fit as a 20 year old for his entire career? Well Dekoboko Gymnastics of course! The SEGA music veteran is these days doing promotion for the Dekoboko Motors activity, a LEGO inspired go-kart track for children that is presented at various arcades and game centers in Japan. As usual, the charismatic clown prince of VGM produces an unforgettable video to go with his catchy beat. This is his second video for the Dekoboko Motors product.

Mitsuyoshi is keeping busy these days, having also provided music to the new Operation G.H.O.S.T., the sequel to SEGA’s classic light gun game Ghost Squad, and his own live event Takenobu Mitsuyoshi LIVE & TALK.
Miscellaneous

Has (s)He Passed You By? Stereo Alchemy’s “God Of Love”

03.09.12 | Patrick Gann | 2 Comments

After Christopher Tin’s success as a Grammy winner for a new version of “Baba Yetu” (part of his fantastic album Calling All Dawns), one might expect Mr. Tin to continue his path of fit-for-mass-consumption videogame-friendly “world” music. But, of course, a true ethnomusicologist isn’t just interested in the remote, tribal reaches of the world. In his next project, Tin teams up with a who’s-who list of New York trendsetters to bring an underground urban jungle to life.

Tin’s new project, alongside percussionist Kametron, is called Stereo Alchemy. They consider themselves an “electronic duo,” and describe their sound as “decadent electronica.” Considering the subject of their debut album, decadent — alongside descriptors such as “bold” and even “pretentious” — fits the bill. The album, God of Love, was released on Valentine’s Day 2012, and it features some amazing singers and production/post-production personnel.

The names of those people, plus the names of the songs, what I think of the music, and how Lindsay Lohan fits into this whole ordeal, after the jump. (more…)
Miscellaneous

Oh Yeah, OSV is Three

Oh Yeah, OSV is Three 08.23.11 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments

Don’t know if anyone noticed, but OSV officially turned three sometime in June of this year. We were a little busy wrapping up E3 coverage and getting ready for Comic Con at the time, and I still don’t really have the time to put together a massive post like I did last year. I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank readers of the site for giving all of us the inspiration to continue doing what we do here. Without your feedback and encouraging words, we likely would have given up long ago!

I won’t say that possible changes aren’t in store for the future, but if you enjoy what we do, let us know, and feel free to make suggestions regarding what you’d like to see us cover. And if you’re passionate about nerdy music and are looking for a creative outlet, come on board. We’ll need all the help we can get to make it another three years!

Thanks again!
Featured, Game Music, Miscellaneous

Toukon Spirit: Mike “Lightning” Quackenbush Interview.

04.07.11 | Audun Sorlie | 1 Comment

When talking to legendary Stan Bush, we touched lightly on his new partnership with a wrestling group called Chikara Pro. I had long been a fan of the lighthearted yet dedicated group of wrestlers in this particular company and with their focus on comic book and video game influenced persona’s and design, and with their upcoming King Of Trios event on April 15th in Philadelphia, it seemed like a great time to have a talk. Today we have the pleasure of talking to Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush about the influences and importance video games holds in the world of wrestling today, and about the upcoming King of Trios, the largest wrestling tournament in the world.

Hit the jump to read our chat with Mike Quackenbush! (more…)
Game Music, Miscellaneous

David Arkenstone Live: A Winter Solstice Concert Report

12.23.10 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment

Yes, a big surprise. I was turned on to Arkenstone’s unusual foray into the world of chillout music with Christmas Lounge after his performance in San Diego on Saturday, December 18, and we’re now getting around to telling you about the concert itself. While there was a piece from Christmas Lounge performed at the concert, the set list was much more varied in terms of style and genre.

For those who missed out, David Arkenstone and his friends traveled to two different Southern California cities this past weekend: San Diego on Saturday, and Thousand Oaks on Sunday. This “Winter Solstice Concert” featured classic Christmas songs and carols alongside Arkenstone’s original compositions, which actually complemented one another quite nicely.

Hit the jump to find out what David Arkenstone had up his sleeve at the San Diego stop of his mini-tour… did he play music from World of Warcraft? (more…)