The Sound Test

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83: ST2 #10 - Detroit: Become Human (w/Nima Fakhrara & Philip Sheppard) [COMPOSER INTERVIEW/PODCAST] May 15, 2020

Show notes

Detroit: Become Human is a detailed sci-fi narrative with some of Quantic Dream's most ambitious music to date. In order to best score the story’s three playable characters, a trio of top tier composers joined the project – each focusing on one thread of an interweaving narrative. For Connor – an android police investigator – Nima Fahkrara mixed an array of hardware synths and custom instruments with electric strings to great effect. Philip Sheppard, known for lavish orchestral arrangements, made the very best of Abbey Road and his own inspiration for Kara’s emotional arc. Finally, John Paesano – who gamers may know best for Marvel’s Spider-Man – wrote soaring, almost biblical themes to accompany Markus.
Though unable to schedule a conversation with John Paesano, I’m fortunate enough to be joined by both Nima Fahkrara and Philip Sheppard throughout this episode. Together, we’ll explore their different soundtracks for Detroit: Become Human, the production processes that fuelled them and some thoughts about composing for games in general. Both Nima and Philip have worked extensively in other mediums, and have some interesting perspectives on how they adapt to the world of VGM.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
Nima Fakhrara on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ostadnima
Philip Sheppard on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PhilipSheppard
Also available through:
YouTube
iTunes
Spotify
Stitcher
and many more...
Early access, unedited interviews, LIVE shows and more:
http://patreon.com/_secretcave

82: LIVE - 08/05/20 [Weekly VGM Radio & Podcast] May 09, 2020

Show notes

An almost non-stop list of pumpers and bangers dominates this playlist, so get ready to move. During links, Lee presents his top five film-to-game adaptations - and Blade Runner's only at number four! Otherwise, we hear a boatload of strong requests and the VGM SongFight takes an esoteric turn...
Including:
SFX Showdown
VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY)
Top 5
This week's playlist:
Wild Wild Jungle – Norwegian Recycling (remixes “Theme” by David Wise – from Donkey Kong Country – with “Wild Wild West” by Will Smith) [Donkey Business]
Aerodynamik (Alex Gopher/Etienne De Crecy Dynamik Mix) – Kraftwerk [WipeOut HD]
Devoid Of – LMan [Modern Love Classics]
Lockjaw Saga (XG) – NamelessLegacy (originally composed by David Wise) [Donkey Kong Country 2]
TankerAntlionZooCombat – Mike Morasky [Half-Life: Alyx]
BGM 1 – Stephen Root & Neil Palmer [Die Hard Trilogy]
Rigor Mormist IN-GAME – Laura Shigihara [Plants vs. Zombies]
Modern Minigame A – Peter McConnell [Plants vs. Zombies 2]
Machiavellian Bach – Mike Morasky [Portal 2]
Half Steppin’ – Freaky Dna [Retro City Rampage]
Mission Briefing/Danger – virt [Retro City Rampage]
Ice Cream and Booze – Jay Tholen [Hypnospace Outlaw]
Bounce – Frank Klepacki [Blade Runner]
Lower Hospital – Christian Henson, Joe Henson and Alexis Smith (based on original music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Alien: Isolation]
Dark World (Peaceful) & Dark World (Combat) – Danny Baranowski (based on original music by Koji Kondo) [Cadence of Hyrule]
Control – Grant Kirkhope [GoldenEye 007]
Danger 01 – Nathan Grigg, Guy Whitmore and/or Brian Pamintuan [TRON 2.0]
Stage Warehouse – Akihiro Juichiya [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue]
Duke Kicks Ass – ElitedFish (originally composed by Robert Prince) [Duke Nukem II]
Theme of M. Bison – Masahiro Aoki, Hideyuki Fukasawa, Keiki Kobayashi, Takatsugu Wakabayashi and/or Zac Zinger (original composed by Yoko Shimomura and/or Isao Abe) [Street Fighter V]
Long Past Gone – Jami Sieber [Braid]
Ghosts ‘n Goblins – Arranged by Chris Abbott, originally composed by Mark Cooksey [BIT 5]
MAIN THEME:
Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo & Yasuake Iwata - World 8 [Super Mario 3D World]
Requests and contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
"The Sound Test" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesoundtest/
Original episodes of The Sound Test LIVE, with Dale Fowler, are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

81: LIVE - 01/05/20 [Weekly VGM Radio & Podcast] May 02, 2020

Show notes

This very profane LIVE show takes a look at swearing in video games, from the very first time cussing was heard in a title to some of the most famous examples. Along the way, you can hear all the usual features and a playlist stacked with the very best VGM. Finally, if you check out this podcast on YouTube (link below), you can see my brother - ShadyLane - perform a live speedrun of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past!
Including:
SFX Showdown
VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY)
Top 5
This week's playlist:
Fear Factory – David Wise [Donkey Kong Country]
Unknown from M.E. (ver.1) – Jun Senoue [Sonic Adventure]
Runaway Dixie – Norwegian Recycling (remixes “Forest Interlude” by David Wise with “Runaway Love” by Ludacris & Mary J. Blige) [Donkey Business]
Lapdance – N.E.R.D, Vita & Lee Harvey [BMX XXX]
City Streets 2 (Mango Tango - Neon Jungle) – Jake Kaufman & Jessie Seely [Double Dragon Neon]
Rock Solid – Robin Beanland [Conker’s Bad Fur Day]
Title – Rob Hubbard, Don Veca and/or Tony Berkeley [PGA Tour Golf II]
Darkskull Castle – Matt Furniss [Puggsy]
Title (Beeper) – Tim Follin [Agent X in the Brain Drain Caper]
Title Screen – Jonathan Dunn [RoboCop]
Whirling Cafeteria (Night) – British Sea Power [Disco Elysium]
Be Cool,Be Wild and Be Groovy …for Ice Cap – Jun Senoue [Sonic Adventure]
Project - X (Extended Summer Edit) – Instant Remedy (originally composed by Allister Brimble) [M1x3d Up]
Round 1 – Atsuhiro Motoyama [Sorcer Striker]
Burning! – Mieko Ishikawa and/or Masaaki Kawai [Dinosaur -Resurrection-]
Majestic Castle – Koji Kondo [The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]
Gerudo Town (Day) – Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata and/or Hajime Wakai [The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild]
Zlatko – Philip Sheppard [Detroit: Become Human]
Theme of M. Bison – Masahiro Aoki, Hideyuki Fukasawa, Keiki Kobayashi, Takatsugu Wakabayashi and/or Zac Zinger (original composed by Yoko Shimomura and/or Isao Abe) [Street Fighter V]
Surface Tension 1 – Joel Nielsen [Black Mesa]
NeoTokyo – Graeme Norgate [TimeSplitters 2]
International Karate Suite – Composed by Rob Hubbard, arranged by Chris Abbott [BIT 4]
MAIN THEME:
Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo & Yasuake Iwata - World 8 [Super Mario 3D World]
Requests and contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
"The Sound Test" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesoundtest/
Original episodes of The Sound Test LIVE, with Dale Fowler, are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

80: LIVE - 24/04/20 [Weekly VGM Radio & Podcast] Apr 26, 2020

Show notes

It's another solo show this week, as Dale's finally decided to play it safe and social distance! In his absence, we kick things off chippy before moving into an extended look at the history of David Cage and Quantic Dream. Then, we end up on some top shelf requests - not before a whole show's worth of the usual chatter, musings and VGM trivia!
Including:
SFX Showdown
VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY)
Image credit: Thor! Thank you so much for sending that over!
This week's playlist:
Stage 2 – James & Gang [Pepsiman]
W.A.R.H.E.A.D (C64) – Response of Darklite [The AY-dventures of Paula & SID]
OPENING – Toshiya Yamanaka [Knight Arms: The Hyblid Framer]
Battlefield – You Takada [Golden Axe]
Sub-Map Shuffle – Eveline Novakovic (restored by Jammin’ Sam Miller) [Donkey Kong Country 3]
Overworld – Koji Kondo [Super Mario All-Stars – Super Mario Bros. 2]
Marbule (Home World) – Yasunori Mitsuda [Chrono Cross]
Daisy Circuit – Asuka Ota and/or Ryo Nagamatsu [Mario Kart Wii]
New York – David Cage [Time Cop]
Seven (Demo) – David Bowie [The Nomad Soul]
Sandpaper Kisses – Martina Topley-Bird [Fahrenheit]
Heavy Rain – Normand Corbeil, La Pieta, Angele Dubeau [Game Music]
The Infraworld – Lorne Balfe [Beyond: Two Souls]
Zlatko – Philip Sheppard [Detroit: Become Human]
More Gun – Mike Morasky/Valve Studio Orchestra [Team Fortress 2]
Bully – Megan McDuffe & River City Girls [River City Girls]
Chanson d’Automne.. – Chris Christodoulou [Risk of Rain]
Internal Conflict – Joel Nielsen [Black Mesa: Xen]
Orchestral Suite (from “Ori and the Blind Forest”) – Laura Platt (originally composed by Gareth Coker) [Reflections of Another World]
Existence – Cold (featuring a sample from Tomas Dvorak’s “Machinarium” soundtrack)
MAIN THEME:
Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo & Yasuake Iwata - World 8 [Super Mario 3D World]
Requests and contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
"The Sound Test" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesoundtest/
Original episodes of The Sound Test LIVE, with Dale Fowler, are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

79: LIVE - 17/04/20 [Weekly VGM Radio & Podcast] Apr 18, 2020

Show notes

Lee runs the show solo this week as Dale recuperates at home. But personal picks and requests keep things flowing, we hear more about Lee's reaction to FFVII Remake, discuss his 30th birthday and a question is posed - what is your favourite individual chip or console when it comes to audio?
Including:
SFX Showdown
News
VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY)
This week's playlist:
Sewer City – Matt Furniss [Boogerman]World Map, First Steps, Deep Forest & Harmony – Remi Gazel, Didier Lord and/or Stephane Bellanger [Rayman]The Veldt (from “Final Fantasy VI”) – ConSoul (originally composed by Nobuo Uematsu)The Spy – Nobuo Uematsu [Final Fantasy VIII]International Karate: Main Theme – Matt Gray (originally composed by Rob Hubbard) [Jsr Play]Helvetia Snowy Mountains – Frederic Mentzen [Asterix]Rome – Nathan McCree [Asterix and the Great Rescue]Gourmet Race (8-Bit) – Loeder (originally composed by Jun Ishikawa) [Kirby Super Star]Airship Fortress – Shiho Fujii, Ryo Nagamatsu and/or Kenta Nagata [New Super Mario Bros. Wii]Checking In – Lena Raine [Celeste]By the Wall – Tomas Dvorak [Machinarium]The Mezzanine – Tomas Dvorak [Machinarium]Holmes - Anna P2 – Rob Hubbard (arranged by Chris Abbott) [Rob Renders]Convergence – Joel Nielsen [Black Mesa: Xen]Staff Credits – Kazumi Totaka and/or Shinobu Tanaka [Luigi’s Mansion]Waluigi Pinball/Wario Stadium – Shinobu Tanaka [Mario Kart DS]Kokoro no Kakera (Japanese Version) – Joe Hisaishi and/or Rei Kondoh [Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch]Tables Turn – Norihiko Hibino, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Rei Kondoh, Akira Takizawa, Hitomi Kurokawa and/or Masato Kouda [The Wonderful 101]Concierto de Aranjuez: II. Adagio (arr. for flugelhorn) – Joaquin Rodrigo, Kevin Bolton, Mark Walters, Peter Parkes & Grimethorpe Colliery Band [Brassed Off]
MAIN THEME:
Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo & Yasuake Iwata - World 8 [Super Mario 3D World]
Requests and contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
"The Sound Test" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesoundtest/
Original episodes of The Sound Test LIVE, with Dale Fowler, are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

78: LIVE - 10/04/20 [Weekly VGM Radio & Podcast] Apr 11, 2020

Show notes

We're back this week without the need of a crate of Pepsi to keep us going. The energy keeps flowing through this one, kicked off by one of the strongest starts to a playlist yet! Additionally, Lee's tentative link to the physical realm is tested yet again by social norms and an interaction with a scotsman.
Including:
SFX Showdown
VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY)
This week's playlist:
Miami at Night Chase – Allister Brimble [Driver 20th Anniversary]Sonic Chemical Plant Zone – ConSoul (originally composed by Masato Nakamura) [Sonic the Hedgehog 2]zappudo geron – Nobuyuki Shimzu and/or Kemmei Adachi [LocoRoco]Danger – Hiroki Kikuta [Secret of Mana]You Contract Has Expired – Pascal Michael Stiefel [A Hat in Time]Dancing with Domz – Christophe Heral [Beyond Good and Evil]Those who Fight (Metal Remix) – ToxicxEternity (originally composed by Nobuo Uematsu) [MATERIA: Final Fantasy VII Remixed]Don of the Slums – Nobuo Uematsu [Final Fantasy VII]Barret’s Theme – Nobuo Uematsu [Final Fantasy VII]Gameboy Tune – Tomas Dvorak [Machinarium]Clockwise Operetta – Tomas Dvorak [Machinarium]Luma Pools – Gareth Coker [Ori and the Will of the Wisps]Everybody Lies – Michael McCann [Deus Ex: Human Revolution]Staff Credits – Kazumi Totaka and/or Shinobu Tanaka [Luigi’s Mansion]Underground Theme (from Super Mario Land) – Originally composed by Hirokazu Tanaka [Super Smash Bros. Brawl]William Wobbler – Ben Daglish [8-Bit Symphony Pro]So Below – Lena Raine [Minecraft]
MAIN THEME:
Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo & Yasuake Iwata - World 8 [Super Mario 3D World]
Requests and contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
"The Sound Test" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesoundtest/
Original episodes of The Sound Test LIVE, with Dale Fowler, are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

77: BONUS - Gareth Coker Interview [Ori and the Will of the Wisps] Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

After our expansive chat about Ori and the Blind Forest last year, I welcome Gareth Coker back on The Sound Test to discuss its sequel; Ori and the Will of the Wisps. We take a look at its production process, how it differs from Blind Forest, the instrumentation used and how Covid-19 has impacted composers. It's wonderful to see Gareth return, and I'm particularly pleased to continue the musical story we began in our original podcast (linked below):
https://youtu.be/BuuXEke1dAQ
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
Gareth Coker on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/garethcoker
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher
Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test's second season, and unlock backdated episodes of its LIVE version (and other content)!

76: LIVE - 03/04/20 [Weekly VGM Radio & Podcast] Apr 04, 2020

Show notes

Fatigue reigns heavy on our shoulders this week! Dale and I stumble our way through a very sleepy show, mostly discussing last week's question - what are some of your favourite gaming sequels? An excellent playlist of listener choices definitely helps paper the gaps on this one as we attempt to make sense of our own brains, leading up to our focus for next week - best boss tracks of all time! Many Pepsis come to our aid this week; but can they get us through?
WARNING!: This is probably the most disastrous, sleep deprived ep of The Sound Test ever recorded! Apologies for professionalism going out of the window almost entirely.
Including:
SFX Showdown
VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY)
This week's playlist:
Federation of Free Traders – Ben Daglish [Federation of Free Traders]Yoshi Star Galaxy – Mahito Yokota, Ryo Nagamatsu and/or Koji Kondo [Super Mario Galaxy 2]Atlantis – Grant Kirkhope [Banjo-Tooie]Go Straight – Yuzo Koshiro and/or Motohiro Kawashima [Streets of Rage 2]Royal Days – Shoji Meguro [Persona 5 Royal]Mountain Banjo – Rhiannon Giddens [Red Dead Redemption 2]Out of the Ashes – Tim Wynn [XCOM 2]Sublevel – Jesper Kyd [Sub-Terrania]Guile’s Theme – Mitch Murder [Selection 3]Possessed by Disease – Keiichi Okabe [NieR:Automata]Main Theme – E. Fugu [Fatal Labyrinth]Lums of the Water – Chrisophe Heral and/or Billy Martin [Rayman Origins]Seafood Boil – Jonathan Geer [Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!]Map 7 (Special) – Koji Kondo [Super Mario World]Staff Credits – Kazumi Totaka and/or Shinobu Tanaka [Luigi’s Mansion]Title – Allister Brimble [Kwik Snax (128k Spectrum)]Stranglehold (Moki Remix) – Jeroen TelMy Innermost Apocalypse – Danny Baranowsky [The Binding of Isaac]Trap – Ben Daglish [8-Bit Symphony]
MAIN THEME:
Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo & Yasuake Iwata - World 8 [Super Mario 3D World]
Requests and contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
"The Sound Test" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesoundtest/
Original episodes of The Sound Test LIVE, with Dale Fowler, are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

75: BONUS - Mike Morasky Interview [Half-Life: Alyx] Apr 04, 2020

Show notes

Mike Morasky returns to The Sound Test for a lengthy and expansive conversation about Valve's latest masterpiece - Half-Life: Alyx. Being a VR game, we get plenty of chance to discuss how you can apply audio in that environment. Additionally, we hear all about the development of Half-Life: Alyx itself and how Mike approached its music.
Lee Tyrrell on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
Mike Morasky on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MikeMorasky
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher
Pledge to this Patreon to help support The Sound Test's second season, and unlock backdated episodes of its LIVE version (and other content)!

74: LIVE - 27/03/20 [Weekly VGM Radio & Podcast] Mar 29, 2020

Show notes

This week, I'm once again joined by Dale Fowler for a truly off the hook edition of The Sound Test LIVE - your weekly celebration of VGM goodness! Alongside our mad tangents, we play the usual features, some heavy hitting tunes from new games and pose the question: what are some of your favourite direct sequels in gaming ever?
Including:
SFX Showdown
VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY)
This week's playlist:
Edge of Light – Andrew Prahlow [Eclipse: Edge of Light]Want You Gone – Jonathan Coulton & Ellen McLain [Portal 2]BGM 24 Hour 10 Sunny – Yasuaki Iwata, Yumi Takahashi, Shinobu Nagata, Sayako Doi and/or Masato Ohashi [Animal Crossing: New Horizons]BGF 10000 – Mick Gordon [Doom Eternal]Tense Max Beam – Chibi-Tech [Mutual Promise]Neuromageddon – Chibi-Tech [Mutual Promise]You’re Not Supposed to Be Here – Kelly Bailey [Half-Life 2]Station Street Battle – Mike Morasky [Half-Life: Alyx]Windy and Ripply …for Emerald Coast – Jun Senoue [Sonic Adventure]Nuclear Mission Jam – Kelly Bailey [Half-Life]Besaid (Piano Version) – Moises Nieto (originally composed by Noriko Matsueda and/or Takahito Eguchi) [Final Fantasty X-2]Half Time – Michiharu Hasuya, Osamu Kasai and/or Takashi Tsurutani [Mecarobot Golf]Undercurrent – Jami Sieber [Braid]Map 7 (Special) – Koji Kondo [Super Mario World]Swift Horse – Kow Otani [Shadow of the Colossus]The Path (A New Beginning) – Gustavo Santaolalla [The Last of Us]Blade Runner Blues – New American Orchestra (originally composed by Vangelis) [Blade Runner (Orchestral Adaptation)]
MAIN THEME:
Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo & Yasuake Iwata - World 8 [Super Mario 3D World]
Requests and contact:
https://twitter.com/GreenT128
"The Sound Test" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesoundtest/
Original episodes of The Sound Test LIVE, with Dale Fowler, are available through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/_secretcave
Also available through:
YouTube
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

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