We seem to be plunging murkier depths here, occasional shafts of choral light passing but the atmosphere is chilly and uncomfortable down to the closing bar. It takes a long time for darkness to appear, but it does in “Chaos, the mother”, around half way through the album.
Thankfully the style is reprised as the score goes on – highlights including “Caranx ignobilis” and the fast-moving currents of “Ichthyosaurus communis”. I love it in “Delphinus delphis”, strings and winds dancing off each other so gracefully, extra colour added by the choir, the main theme eventually emerging, strings going on to soar. The secondary theme introduced in “Seriola Islandi” is slightly playful, bouncing up and down as it floats along, the strings in particular evoking Journey quite strongly. The main theme is introduced in the opening track “To Know, Water” – it is fluid and florid, an ensemble of harps used for the same glistening effect Bernard Herrmann did so brilliantly in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (the presence through the score gives it so much of its flavour) – the melody itself heard usually for oboe, stately and majestic as it is.
#ABZU OST FULL#
It’s a largely peaceful score – but certainly not entirely – which seems to dance about, teeming with colours and with life, clearly and cleverly evoking the underwater world full of beauty and mystery, occasional danger. I know a number of others shared that reaction (and others didn’t, as is to be expected) and it’s unlikely that many people will fall into a different camp with Abzu. It seemed so calm and contemplative, at the same time had such beauty – one of those great works of art that seems to speak personally to me. It was developed by Matt Nava, who previously served as art director on Journey, and looks sure to appeal to a similar audience.Įqually sure to appeal to a similar audience is Austin Wintory’s beautiful score, cut from the same cloth as Journey, which I think is the finest video game music I’ve ever heard and there are very few albums of any kind I’ve listened to more frequently since it was released. Most reviews of the game say the same thing – even though essentially all you’re doing is swimming through beautiful environments, it’s such an immersive experience you don’t really notice that you’re not doing much other than watching and listening – and thinking. A contemplative video game, Abzu sees the player swim underwater picking up threads of an ancient civilisation, witnessing the interactions between aquatic beings and avoiding the occasional hazard.
0 kommentar(er)
