Lee Tyrrell looks in-depth into video game audio and music, along with the very people who crafted it.
Features exclusive insight from many of gaming’s very best composers and musicians!
Season Two currently running!
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Lee Tyrrell looks in-depth into video game audio and music, along with the very people who crafted it.
Features exclusive insight from many of gaming’s very best composers and musicians!
Season Two currently running!
Trailer video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk-vtjRHAOg&feature=youtu.be
Russell Shaw is set to appear three times throughout season two, covering his time at Bullfrog Productions, Lionhead's Black & White and the entire Fable series.
An incredible talent with nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, Russell provided one of my most insightful interviews yet. This trailer provides just one small peek into our long conversation, concentrating on his very first significant role in VGM - 1993's Syndicate.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenT128
Russell Shaw on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoesLikeThis
The Sound Test Season 1: https://audioboom.com/channels/4966905
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
Contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
All backdated episodes of The Sound Test LIVE are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
In this episode, Walter Day (Twin Galaxies founder) joins us for a nice lengthy conversation that spans from favourite sports teams to in-depth thoughts on the modern eSports scene. In addition, Walter gives us some of the touching background behind his own songwriting, and even performs a couple of live renditions with his acoustic guitar! Along with our regular 2-hours of classic VGM, this episode simply isn't to be missed.
Trailer Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmAKysSpqnM
Currently in production, the second season of The Sound Test continues on where the first left off. Though the whole project is in limbo, it's sure to feature a whole new set of insightful interview guests (along with some more familiar ones!).
My first interview for the series was with Daniel Rosenfeld, better known as C418. Daniel's incredible and distinctive work on Minecraft is a huge part of its success, and his influence can still be heard in games released today. This trailer features Daniel's thoughts on Minecraft's masterful ambience!
C418 Twitter - https://twitter.com/C418
C418 Bandcamp - https://c418.bandcamp.com/
Lee Tyrrell Twitter - https://twitter.com/GreenT128
The Sound Test Season 1 - https://audioboom.com/channels/4966905
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
Contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
Our call-in guest for this bonus episode is the incomparable Nick Lutsko - musical prodigy and a personal favourite artist of both Dale and myself. Nick joins us for a live video chat about some of his upcoming music, history with video games and (as is becoming traditional) board games. You can check out more of Nick's work here, or follow him on Twitter here!
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
Dale and I speak to Brent Weinbach - prolific comedian, Pound House star and probably the biggest VGM enthusiast we've had on the show besides myself. Despite being big fans of his comedy, our over 20 minute talk stays focused on VGM and Brent's long history with it. Brent hosts his own podcast on the subject, The Legacy Music Hour, which you can check out here: http://legacymusichour.blogspot.com/
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
Doug Lussenhop, aka DJ Douggpound, editor extraordinaire and Pound House star, chats with us for nearly 20 minutes about all sorts; from board games to new musical projects and beyond! It's a great chat, and I hope you enjoy hearing us hang out - hopefully not for the last time.
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
The relentlessly manic Ridiculon join Dale and I this week for a conversation that's practically impossible to summarise. I wouldn't have expected any less from Jon and Matthias, who were among the most fun guests of my original podcast season. They even got a live video feed into their studio running, which you can check out on the YouTube upload of this episode.
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
As a longtime fan of Goldie Lookin Chain, Welsh hip-hop legends, I invited principle member John "Eggsy" Rutledge onto the show for a casual call-in. Along with Dale, we talk about his new TV show, The Unexplainers, life backstage at a GLC gig, gaming mysteries and some of John's personal favourite VGM.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
John "Eggsy" Rutledge on Twitter
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
Legendary VGM composer Grant Kirkhope joins Lee and Dale for a brilliant LIVE chat, covering key spots from his entire career and even answering some questions from fans!
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Grant Kirkhope on Twitter
THE SOUND TEST #02 - Banjo-Kazooie (w/Grant Kirkhope)
THE SOUND TEST #06 - Donkey Kong Country (w/David Wise, Eveline Novakovic & Grant Kirkhope)
THE SOUND TEST #11 - GoldenEye 007 (w/Grant Kirkhope)
THE SOUND TEST #16 - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (w/Grant Kirkhope)
All future LIVE episodes stream every Friday, 7:30pm (GMT):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jf-ef67-A3H79fLoRDtoQ
Nathan McCree, composer for the original Tomb Raider trilogy and much more, calls in to the LIVE show with Dale and Lee! Together, they catch up on the Tomb Raider Suite after its official release, jump back in time for some Sega Megadrive/Genesis chat and discuss life as a freelance composer.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Nathan McCree on Twitter
THE SOUND TEST #09 - Tomb Raider Trilogy (w/Nathan McCree)
Slay the Spire, released just weeks before the recording of this interview, is the debut game from developers MegaCrit. Though available in early access since 2017, its full version presents a dynamic deck-building experience with a gorgeous soundtrack to boot. Composed by Clark Aboud, Slay the Spire’s OST is an orchestral adventure of its own, developing on the strengths of his previous work for Make Sail and Timeframe.
In anticipation of my upcoming second series of The Sound Test, I spoke to Clark about Slay the Spire and the processes behind its music. This bonus episode presents that conversation in full, and I hope you enjoy his insights!
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Clark Aboud on Twitter
MegaCrit on Twitter
Slay the Spire on Steam
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test's second season, and unlock backdated episodes of its LIVE version (and other content)!
In 2017, Davide Soliani brought two of gaming's most successful franchises together into a truly madcap marriage. Made up of Mario, perhaps the most famous face in the industry, and Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids, who have dominated the party genre for a decade, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a turn-based love letter to each. As an important release for the Nintendo Switch, it demanded strength in every department. Therefore, the legendary Grant Kirkhope was a natural choice to take on its original soundtrack. Armed with a full orchestra and the determination to live up to such composers as Koji Kondo, Grant wrote a gorgeous, classical score. Together, we take a look at its production process, and some of the philosophies behind it.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Grant Kirkhope on Twitter
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.
When Super Meat Boy hit its fifth anniversary, and saw new ports for fresh consoles, the decision was made to give it a musical respray. After Danny Baranowsky, who wrote the game's original OST, and Team Meat had parted ways, RIDICULON became the obvious choice for the job. Along with David "Scattle" Scatliffe and Laura Shigihara, the four composed music that stood on its own and reinterpreted the tone of gameplay. Here, Jon Evans and Matthias Bossi (who together form RIDICULON) join me to discuss Super Meat Boy's 5th Anniversary soundtrack.
This episode follows up last week's, which features Danny Baranowsky's perspective on his original SMB score.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
RIDICULON on Twitter
Team Meat on Twitter
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.
Super Meat Boy caused a platforming storm when it was first released in 2010. Its steep learning curve and devilish level design have made it something of a pilgrimage for fans of the genre. At release, it was Edmund McMillen's biggest game to date — based off a Flash original hosted on Newgrounds. Among its most enduring features was Danny Baranowsky's colourful soundtrack, which tumbles deeper into dark territory to match the gameplay. For the final time, Danny joins me on The Sound Test for a look at his multi-faceted OST and how it came to be.
This episode has a follow-up in next week's look at Super Meat Boy: 5th Anniversary Edition (which invites RIDICULON onto the show).
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Danny Baranowsky on Twitter
Team Meat on Twitter
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Before today's flood of triple-A console games, way back in the 80s, the Commodore 64 ruled the roost. The most popular home computer in the western world, the C64 became synonymous with homespun programming and the birth of video games as we know them. Then, original soundtracks for video games were forced to use a mere three channels, and were unable to record any real instrumentation. Despite these limitations, musicians like Rob Hubbard and Ben Daglish coded expansive themes that remain beloved today. This episode features both, for a lengthy conversation about the creation of VGM on the C64's lauded SID chip. I hope it does Ben's legacy justice — he sadly passed away during production, and this episode is dedicated to his memory.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
C64 Manual Extract
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.
Left 4 Dead, a zombie infested first-person shooter, went into new territory for Valve in 2008. Hinging on a dynamic AI Director, the game reacts to your skill and movements by procedurally generating enemies, events and several other elements. Importantly, music is a huge part of that unpredictability. Mike Morasky eschewed a traditional score in order to play to the game's strengths, constructing a complex system that organically constructs personalised soundtracks for each session. I spoke to Mike for this L4D 1 & 2 special, which also features the Witch herself (Ellen McLain) and Jonathan Coulton - a popular songwriter who contributed to L4D2.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Mike Morasky on Twitter
Jonathan Coulton on Twitter
Ellen McLain on Wikipedia
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As the N64's third bestselling title, GoldenEye 007 needs no introduction. It's probably the most influential first-person shooter of all time, and still shows up in lists covering the best of its genre. The game's music sails through famous Bond themes and motifs with a cool, electronic edge suited to every step of spy work. A collaborative effort between Grant Kirkhope, Graeme Norgate and Robin Beanland, GoldenEye 007's soundtrack was one of the first to show the new capabilities of the N64. Unfortunately, I was unable to schedule interviews with Graeme or Robin, but Grant's back on The Sound Test to offer more of his insight!
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Grant Kirkhope on Twitter
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.
This week, RIDICULON return to the show to take us all the way back to the 19th century. The End is Nigh, a spiritual sequel to Super Meat Boy, features an OST of iconic classical masterworks, re-arranged and re-imagined by Jon Evans and Matthias Bossi. The results are an aural delight, perfectly marrying the melodic power of revered composers with the patented RIDICULON sound.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
RIDICULON on Twitter
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Before Hollywood film adaptations, and more reboots than you can shake a Desert Eagle at, Tomb Raider began life as a trilogy of revolutionary 3D platformers. Its slow, contemplative atmosphere was enhanced at every step by beautiful music from Nathan McCree. In this episode, Nathan discusses the audio for Tomb Raider I, II & III, along with some of his earliest work on the Sega Megadrive/Genesis. Nathan is a true legend of VGM, and his recent Tomb Raider Suite is proof of his legacy.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Nathan McCree on Twitter
Tomb Raider Official Twitter
Tomb Raider Suite Official Twitter
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.
Both Danny Baranowsky and Jules Conroy return to the show, discussing their expansive work for Crypt of the NecroDancer! An innovative dungeon crawler with rhythm game mechanics, NecroDancer is unusual for its multiple remixed soundtracks by various artists. Along with conversation about his original tunes for the title, Danny explains how the different remixes came together with Jules Conroy — a longtime friend of Danny's who recorded the first alternate OST. We also go into Jules' history with VGM, reaching back to his earliest guitar adaptations.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Danny Baranowsky on Twitter
Jules Conroy on Twitter
Crypt of the NecroDancer Official Twitter
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With only two games, the Portal series has still managed a gigantic impact on players. Its inventive puzzles are addictive, just like the acerbic jibes of the title's main antagonist, GLaDOS. Behind it all, synth-laden drones and melodic narratives help immerse you into the haunting madhouse of Aperture Science. Its soundtrack was composed primarily by Mike Morasky, who joins me for an exhaustive journey through Portal's audio. I also spoke to Jonathan Coulton, who wrote famed end-credits tracks like "Still Alive" and Ellen McLain, the voice of GLaDOS herself. Together, we leave no stone unturned.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Mike Morasky on Twitter
Jonathan Coulton on Twitter
Ellen McLain on Twitter
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Donkey Kong Country is home to some of VGM's most iconic and enduring tracks. From its first game to its very latest, Tropical Freeze, music has been as important to the series as the tight platforming it scores. Over the years, a number of top composers have made their mark on DKC — including David Wise, Eveline Novakovic and Grant Kirkhope. All three can be heard in this episode, which covers over twelve separate games!
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
David Wise on Twitter
Eveline Novakovic on Wikipedia
Grant Kirkhope on Twitter
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This second part of The Binding of Isaac's musical story moves into its remake, Rebirth. This version of the game received a makeover in practically every area, including music. Its new soundtrack by RIDICULON took a different path to Danny Baranowsky's, but hit the nail on the head in brand new ways. Here, both Jon Evans and Matthias Bossi go into detail about their approach.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
RIDICULON on Twitter
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.
This episode goes behind the curtain of The Binding of Isaac with its original composer, Danny Baranowsky. Along with the game's guest guitarist, Jules Conroy, we plunge into its dark depths — from its smallest cues to it most epic boss themes.
This is the first edition of a spiritual two-parter, and next week's episode finishes The Binding of Isaac's aural story with insight from RIDICULON!
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Danny Baranowsky on Twitter
Jules Conroy on Twitter
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This episode has been touched by the Hand of Odd itself, as we invite Michael Bross to guide us through the music of Abe's Oddysee, Abe's Exoddus, Munch's Oddysee, Stranger's Wrath, New 'n' Tasty and even the as-yet-unreleased Soulstorm!
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Michael Bross on Twitter
Oddworld on Twitter
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This episode delves into the world of Banjo-Kazooie, and combs over its unique and innovative sounds with Grant Kirkhope himself!
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Grant Kirkhope on Twitter
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Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.
This episode explores the varied sounds of Stardew Valley, along with input from its creator and composer, Eric Barone (also known as ConcernedApe).
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter
Eric Barone on Twitter
Also available on:
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…and many more!
Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test, and next year's second series.