Tom Clovin – Sudeki Soundtrack Review

Sudeki, a multi character platformer on the Xbox had the priviledge of having a soundtrack release as a double disc format. Disc 1 is the soundtrack itself while disc 2 is a DVD showing behind the scenes footage of the making of the game, the music and all things Sudeki!

However the soundtrack is why were here (although the DVD is a good treat!) with Tom Colvin, Rob Bridgett & Eamon Murtagh collaborating to produce a vast 13 song soundtrack (not 14 as is stated on the back cover!!!)

“New Brightwater” is a very dreamy American outback kind of song, loops of drums, etheral keyboards, punchy bass lines and swirling acoustic guitar riffs make this near 6 minute song a pleasure to listen to, especially on a breezey summers day. In stark contrast “The Temple of Mo” takes you on an epic seven and a half minute tribal breakbeat fest with some grizzly bass lines and some ear piercing screams. The song takes a while to get going but once it does you’ll be off and away. “Shadani-Mo” has some very exotic synthersizing going on with tablas and bongos for the opening which gradually get layered upon and layered upon for a completely different listening experience than the previous two tracks and once the vocal samples and guitars are added – it sounds like something from The Lion King or The Jungle Book!

“RumbleBelly Canyon” takes on from where the opening track left off, with a very Wild West feel to it, some excellent guitar workings and a beautiful soundscapes to continue on. “Theme From Cyantine” follows a similar style to “The Temple of Mo” but is slightly less successful and more ambient orientated but does have some lovely string effects and haunting lines, presumably from the game. “Nassaria’s Grotto” is another song that starts out ambient and builds up to another breakbeat song of noise, bass and echoy passages. However this one drags on too long for its seven minutes! “Cyantine Citadel” too starts off eerie and reminds me very much of the Medievil series of music, with a creepy overscore and a b-movie style underscore – the two playing off eachother very well. Once again this breaks out into a frenzy at towards the end but this time it really does suit the song as an excellent climax.

“The Tomb of Farex Lore” is very grand in its scale it tries to put across, slow but huge drum beats, brass blasting out and a bold score. It works well and it is nice to have something different on the soundtrack. “Devil’s Belch Canyon” has been the only track I just cannot get to grips with at all. It starts off on the hip-hop route and then descends into mass chaos but its disorganised and doesn’t sit well on the ears. Returning to RumbleBelly canyon’s signiture riff and ruining that doesnt help matters either. “Transentine Research Centre” starts off with a computerised voice before using some nice machinary noises to start off the percussive beat. However as nice and relatively original it is, this song struggles by trying to be a cross of ambient noise and breakbeat and although the overal effect works, the song goes on for at least 90 seconds too long for its own good.

However although I have been critical, the basic content is very good indeed. Nowhere prehaps is it more present than in “Crystal Reef” and beautiful uptempo but whimsical melody that does not outstay its welcome by a moment. Almost dare I say touching – this is my standout piece along with “Shadandi-Mo” and the closing track. “The Kulasaur Graveyard” returns to the ambient ala breakbeat manner in the same breath as many other tracks although it does contain a quite helerious low pitched moaning noise and some very apt tickings and wind howls. Some parts sound striaght off the original Silent Hill soundtrack so its far from bad! The closing track “The Halls Of Omnia” starts off sombre and regal before meandering through a beautiful orchestral and choral piece that would devour the heart of any warrior. Try to form it descends into a near techno fest but this time, by keeping some astounding string arrangements in it really does heighten the effect of the song. This put simply is cross genring at its peak. I could ahppily listen to this kind of music all day!

Sudeki is relatively underappreciated in the music world as a great OST – I do hope this review will bring it out into the open a bit more. There are several songs on here which are absolutely spot on and you could quite easily use on a best of VGM disc. Others arent far short of the mark and only one song fails to impress at all. Fans of more uptempo stuff (think Rez with more emphasis on the build up than the pure beats) will feel more at home here but I urge you to give it a try.