Sweden

Game Music

Malmö Symphonic Orchestra To Produce Game Soundtracks

June 1, 2010 | Audun Sorlie | 2 Comments Share this

The Malmö Symphonic Orchestra annually holds the Joystick event in Sweden each May where they perform symphonic arrangements of classic video game music. Because of the rising cost of maintaining an orchestra these days and the ever rising interest by game companies to use symphonic scores for their games, MSO has decided to enter the world of gaming on the development side of things.

Dragan Buvac, Director of MSO explains:
“-I have a hard time believing that the official state given funds are sufficient enough with the future rise in costs. Therefore we need to look at other alternatives to gain funds.”

On the subject on what game they will be working with, the deal has apparently already been struck and the actual title will be revealed when all legal papers have been signed and dealt with. Keep checking back to find out more.

[Via SydSvenskan.se]
Game Music

Haunted Evening: Castlevania The Concert Impressions!

March 2, 2010 | Surasshu | 3 Comments Share this

Well, it’s going to be hard to write about this objectively. It’s friggin’ Castlevania, what do you want from me! Some of my earliest memories of playing games were the absolutely splendid (and horrifically hard) Castlevania III, and the fantastic Super Castlevania IV (still my all-time favorite platformer). Both Yamashita’s work on the NES games, the stuff by Masanori Adachi, Sotaro Tojima and various others on the SNES and PC Engine, as well as the modern tracks by Michiru Yamane (and others) have been completely etched into my mind and have become as much canon as anything else I can think of.

As a composer, there’s not a single track I make that has not been influenced by these works. So when a concert was announced, I couldn’t be more excited. And not only would Michiru Yamane be there (performing!), but Yamashita personally endorsed the concert with this adorable video message, supplied by none other than OSV’s Audun Sorlie for this concert!

Was it as good as I imagined in my head? Find out after the cut… (more…)
Demoscene, Featured

An Interview with Mosaik: “Releasing Music for Free is the Only Way”

January 26, 2010 | Robert Halvarsson | 5 Comments Share this

The enigmatic Swedish electronica artist Mosaik released the stunning Leandi EP last year. Yours truly reviewed it and eventually managed to track down Jakob Svanholm; the man behind the luscious soundscapes of Mosaik, who is also known under the moniker Radix in the golden age of the demoscene.

We manage to get some time with him out of his busy schedule to discuss the Leandi EP and his creative process, and even go into the netlabel scene and free distribution of music. He has some interesting ideas about music as an industry, and even goes as far to say “Releasing music for free is the only way.” I wish other people saw it that way.

Read our interview with Mosaik after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

Dracula Resurrects In Sweden for Castlevania The Concert!

October 29, 2009 | Audun Sorlie | 6 Comments Share this

Just in time for Halloween, news comes from Sweden that on February 19th, 2010 there will be a Castlevania-themed concert called, you guessed it, Castlevania: The Concert. The concert will be performed by the Stockholm Youth Symphony Orchestra, a yet to be named rock band and other talents from Sweden. It will be held at Stockholm Konserthus (Concert House) and tickets will go on sale on Monday. The concert is put on by David Westerlund, a music student from Stockholm who has previously worked with various game music concerts in Sweden over the years.

Now best of all, Michiru Yamane will be flying out for this event! She is well known for her works on the Castlevania series, and will be arranging an exclusive piece for the event, as well as performing some of her own works and participate in a meet and greet scheduled on the same day. Original Sound Version will of course be in attendance and deliver a full report and impressions.

Check out their website at Castlevania: The Concert.

Do you want these kinds of concerts to come overseas? And are you excited for Yamane’s arrangement? Let us know!
Game Music

Chris Huelsbeck and Yoko Shimomura Unite: Sinfonia Drammatica Review

September 10, 2009 | Surasshu | 30 Comments Share this

Sinfonia Drammatica was awesome.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let’s get into this review. Last year my favorite composers, Chris Huelsbeck, organized a concert called Symphonic Shades, rearranging some of his classics from the 80s, such as R-Type and the Great Gianna Sisters music. At more or less the same time, Shimomura was recording Drammatica, an album featuring many of her classic tracks, such as ones from Legend of Mana and Kingdom Hearts.

On the 4th of August, 2009, they were brought together for a 2-hour concert in an East-meets-West fashion. We had interviewed the two of them about this project before the show, and now here’s the review of the concert. Spoilers: It was awesome.

Check after the jump to find out why this was one of the best game concerts I’ve ever been to! (more…)
Chip Music, Demoscene

Sweden Runs Out of MP, True Form Revealed

July 4, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Sweden Runs Out of MP, True Form Revealed Share this

We really can’t get enough of Sweden these days. We must admit that we’ve recently enjoyed releases by Mikael Fyrek and Suecae Sounds, and today we have yet another EP out of this musical mecca. However, while Surasshu claims that Sweden is known for its beautiful electronic music, I think the Kravallsviten EP by Stay Ali on the signorafranca label provides a more accurate depiction of the state of things over in Europe. And oh, did I mention these guys are only sixteen years old?

Learn the truth after the jump. (more…)
Demoscene

Sweden’s Most Valuable Export: Free Electronic Music

July 1, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Sweden’s Most Valuable Export: Free Electronic Music Share this

If you try really hard, you may remember back to last week when we fell in love with Swedish artist Mikael Fyrek’s new release on the Kahvi label, A Thousand Years and One. Well, here’s another release out of Sweden featuring a distinctly different style: Looking Back while Stepping Up EP by newcomer Suecae Sounds.

This free release on the Mephtik Netlabel (which I admittedly own and operate) is Suecae Sound’s first official offering to the world, featuring three tracks of experimental electronic music.

Read more after the jump. (more…)