Eimear Noone

Events, Game Music, Reviews

Worth Inserting Your Coin To Continue: Video Games Live Level 5 (Review)

August 19, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on Worth Inserting Your Coin To Continue: Video Games Live Level 5 (Review) Share this

On August 4, 2016, Video Games Live released their fifth album Video Games Live: Level 5 to its Kickstarter backers. The album is the result of another successful Kickstarter campaign where stretch goals resulted in a 10 track album becoming 12, adding backer voted tracks from Okami, and Xenoblade Chronicles.

Tommy Tallarico was kind enough to provide me with a digital copy to review which came in two formats MP3, and a 24bit 96KHz .wav version and I took the time for repeated listens in both versions. I attended Video Games Live during their 2015 Canadian Tour, and reviewed their previous album release Video Games Live: Level 4. Read on to hear my thoughts on the new album.

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Events, Game Music

VIDEO GAMES LIVE LEVEL 5 is now live on Kickstarter!

February 24, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on VIDEO GAMES LIVE LEVEL 5 is now live on Kickstarter! Share this

We all knew it was only a matter of time. Video Games Live is looking to create a LEVEL 5 album with a third kickstarter campaign. Video Games Live has successfully funded two previous campaigns in the form of their LEVEL 3 and LEVEL 4 albums. You can read OSV’s review of their Level 4 album here.

Planned Track Listing for Level 5:

SUPER MARIO WORLD
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
CHRONO CROSS
GRIM FANDANGO
PHOENIX WRIGHT
METROID
ICO
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WARLORDS OF DRAENOR
COMMAND & CONQUER: RED ALERT
TOP GEAR

with stretch goals:

Mother/Earthbound, Okami, Xenogears/saga/blade, Katamari Damacy and more…

Video Games Live

The initial goal for the Level 5 album is $150,000. The stretch goals begin at $275,000 and increase in increments of $25,000. For each stretch goal reached another track will be added to the album which will be decided by kickstarter backer voting polls.

Video Games Live has an excellent kickstarter record and has always delivered their rewards to backers on time. You can find all the details about the campaign on their kickstarter page. Backers are already grabbing up rewards fast.

Will you be backing Video Games Live Level 5? Is there a song that you think should be on their next album?
Music Production

BT’s Electronic Opus (CD Review)

November 7, 2015 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on BT’s Electronic Opus (CD Review) Share this BT’s Electronic Opus (CD Review)

BT’s Electronic Opus was released digitally to all Kickstarter backers on October 9, 2015 and released digitally worldwide three days later. Since it’s release I have been following fan’s of BT’s reception of the album which has been enthusiastic and full of praise. Feel free to take a look back at OSV’s earlier coverage of the album regarding its release and first preview.

I have spent a considerable amount of time listening to the album since it was released digitally, and now have a copy of the physical CD. I hope you’re take some time to read my thoughts on why Electronic Opus is worth your precious listening time.

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Music Production

Listen to a Preview of BT’s Electronic Opus: Dreaming

October 6, 2015 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on Listen to a Preview of BT’s Electronic Opus: Dreaming Share this

You can now listen to the first sample of the track “Dreaming” from the upcoming BT album Electronic Opus. The album features the award winning, world renowned City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra at Smecky Studios with musicians hand picked by Tadlow Music, conducted by Eimear Noone and produced by Tommy Tallarico.

The album drops on October 12, 2015 and will be available for purchase digitally October 12, 2015. If like me you were hoping for a physical release of the album, BT just reported on kickstarter’s page that the physical release will only be available to kickstarter backers. A future physical release may be possible but at this time is not planned, and it is a beautiful physical release which you can see here in a 3d rendering of the album on CDBaby.

The album can also be pre-ordered digitally through kickstarter if you want immediate delivery on release day. I think the added orchestra sounds incredible, what do you think? Will you be picking up this album?
Music Production

BT’s Electronic Opus Release Date Announced: October 12, 2015

September 3, 2015 | Ryan Paquet | 2 Comments Share this

BT (Brian Transeau) is a leading Electronic Dance Music (EDM) composer, film and video game composer, and technologist. He along with some help from Video Games Live creator Tommy Tallarico successfully kickstarted an album and concert of his music recreated with a live symphony orchestra. The orchestra segments for the album were recorded in the Czech Republic by the world renowned the award winning City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the exceptionally talented Eimear Noone. I was not fortunate enough to attend the concert held in Miami on March 29, 2015 but have watched this trailer created by TANZ GROUP at least a dozen times which is just a taste of the experience.

BT just announced the official release date of the album, October 12, 2015 and you can watch the announcement video on Kickstarter. In the video BT hints that further news will be announced on the same date, and my prediction is a world tour. Did you attend the Miami concert or back this Kickstarter? Let us know!
Featured, Game Music

Timely Heroes: The Story Behind Symphony of the Goddesses

July 31, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 4 Comments Share this

All photos courtesy of Derek Brad

The Legend of Zelda hit its 25th anniversary in 2011. To celebrate, the first three “Symphony of the Goddesses” concerts were performed: one in LA, one in London, and one in Tokyo.

In 2012, “Symphony of the Goddesses” has been expanded in terms of content and gone on a North American tour. Recently, OSV contributor Haroon Piracha gave his impression of the E3 2012 show in LA, and he also conducted an interview with SotG’s music arranger, Chad Seiter.

On Wednesday, July 25 2012, I finally got to witness for myself the concert about which Haroon and others had been cheering for. Better still, I got to take my wife with me to make it a (very rare) evening without the kids, and we also got the opportunity to speak with the concert’s creative lead / producer, Jeron Moore.

After the jump, I’m going to tell you the story behind the story. How it all got started, what it means to work with this creative team, possible plans for the future, as well as my own impressions of the show interspersed. Get ready, it’s going to be a wild ride. (more…)
Featured, Game Music

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses (E3/LA Review)

July 23, 2012 | Haroon Piracha | 1 Comment Share this

Editor’s Note: earlier this month, Haroon brought you an interview with Symphony of the Goddesses arranger Chad Seiter. Today we have Haroon’s review of the concert event where he met Seiter, which took place during E3 2012 in Los Angeles. Later this week, Patrick will be attending a Symphony of the Goddesses performance in Philadelphia, and will be providing his own perspective on that show, as well as an interview with show producer Jeron Moore.

Zelda fans were everywhere! As I entered The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, E3 season blossomed the theatre with fans of The Legend of Zelda: from hardcore gamers to casual gamers, from an older generation to a younger generation. Some in the crowd dressed like Link, some dressed up like Zelda, others were wearing ironic hipster T-shirts that had sayings on them like “Will cut grass for Rupies.” I felt at home.

Before the show was about to start, you could just smell the excitement. When I went to Video Games Live, I looked back before the show started and felt a slight discomfort as you could see an array of empty seats at the theatre. I take great pride at going to video game concerts, but the lack of audiences only frightens me into believing that no one cares about video game music. So as I looked back before this concert was about to start, I smiled to see a full house behind me. You have to understand – not even More Friends: Music from Final Fantasy had a full house when it first premiered in LA. I was there, I remember the empty seats. The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses may have a chance at impressing its audience way differently than any concert have in the past.

Was the audience impressed? Was I impressed? Find out after the jump! (more…)