The Shaman
First Post
Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien 
Instrumentals Soundtracks for SciFi games?
- Thread starter Angel Tarragon
- Start date
Nuclear Platypus
First Post
Some gaming soundtracks might fit the bill. Halo for example with its um... well I can't think of just one since several of the tracks are awesome. I'm quite fond of "Rock Anthem for Saving the World". Listen to samples on Amazon.com.
Ronnie Montrose, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jennifer Batten, Nikky Skopelitis, Shawn Lane, Al Di Meola and Buckethead are all excellent guitarists whose work is primarily instrumental and modern. Satch and Vai are obvious, but Montrose was doing slick spacy instrumentals before either of them, so give him a listen. Batten is one of the great female shredders of all time- her version of "Flight of the Bumblebee" is jaw-droppingly fast. Nikky prefers an ambient/looped feel to his music, which invariably draws from all kinds of cultures. Shawn Lane started in country, but moved to jazz/metal shred, usually partnered with Jonas Hellborg. Buckethead tends more towards the speed/industrial vibe, and his work can be found under many titles, like Praxis, or Death Cube K, and soundtracks like the Mortal Kombat movies. Al Di Meola is a jazz legend who is as fast and impressive as any guitarist you can name.
Brian Eno, David Sylvan and Peter Gabriel have some excellent instrumental work. Eno's Nerve Net and Shutov Assembly are especially good for this, and Peter Gabriel's Last Temptation of Christ would work if you're looking for a Middle Eastern Vibe.
David Bowie's sideman, Reeves Gabrels has some nice instrumentals as well.
Jonas Hellborg, Bootsy Collins and Bill Laswell are legendary bass players whose music is all over the map. Jonas (a Dane) has an affinity for middle eastern themes, but frequently dips into pure jazz/metal shred. Bootsy (most famous for funk) has done metal/industrial work with Praxis and Zillotron. Laswell started off in punk/pop, but has albums people would classify as ambient, dub, funk, industrial, prog rock, world beat and so forth.
King Crimson/Robert Fripp instrumentals can be incredible- "Discipline" being one of his coolest. His students, like California Guitar Trio, also produce interesting instrumental work. Other collaborators of his formed Emerson, Lake, and Palmer/ELP- also a source of fine instrumentals.
Kodo, the tycho drum group, does stuff that is primarily rhythmic, so may or may not work for your campaign. It could sound too archaic, but the beats can be compelling.
Andy Summers bounces between shimmery ambient jazz to prog rock, especially when he partners up with Robert Fripp. Their instrumental "What Kind of Man Reads Playboy" is high energy.
Hawkwind did some awesome psychedelic rock, but only a little of it is truly instrumental. Still, those that ARE are quite spacey.
You could also find usable stuff from the musicians who make up Ministry and Pigface.
Praxis (mentioned above) consists of Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins, Brain, Buckethead, and Bernie Worrell. They did some fascinating industrial jazz metal albums that range from driving robotic instrumentals to space-bass explorations.
Brian Eno, David Sylvan and Peter Gabriel have some excellent instrumental work. Eno's Nerve Net and Shutov Assembly are especially good for this, and Peter Gabriel's Last Temptation of Christ would work if you're looking for a Middle Eastern Vibe.
David Bowie's sideman, Reeves Gabrels has some nice instrumentals as well.
Jonas Hellborg, Bootsy Collins and Bill Laswell are legendary bass players whose music is all over the map. Jonas (a Dane) has an affinity for middle eastern themes, but frequently dips into pure jazz/metal shred. Bootsy (most famous for funk) has done metal/industrial work with Praxis and Zillotron. Laswell started off in punk/pop, but has albums people would classify as ambient, dub, funk, industrial, prog rock, world beat and so forth.
King Crimson/Robert Fripp instrumentals can be incredible- "Discipline" being one of his coolest. His students, like California Guitar Trio, also produce interesting instrumental work. Other collaborators of his formed Emerson, Lake, and Palmer/ELP- also a source of fine instrumentals.
Kodo, the tycho drum group, does stuff that is primarily rhythmic, so may or may not work for your campaign. It could sound too archaic, but the beats can be compelling.
Andy Summers bounces between shimmery ambient jazz to prog rock, especially when he partners up with Robert Fripp. Their instrumental "What Kind of Man Reads Playboy" is high energy.
Hawkwind did some awesome psychedelic rock, but only a little of it is truly instrumental. Still, those that ARE are quite spacey.
You could also find usable stuff from the musicians who make up Ministry and Pigface.
Praxis (mentioned above) consists of Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins, Brain, Buckethead, and Bernie Worrell. They did some fascinating industrial jazz metal albums that range from driving robotic instrumentals to space-bass explorations.
Oh yes...it may be too identifiable for some, but Jan Hammer's Miami Vice Soundtrack discs DO have a nice tempo to them!
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
Lots of great suggestions. Thanks.
Bibliophile
First Post
Not really very fast-paced, but what I've used to great effect in a near-future/horror game:
Krzysztof Penderecki - Canticum Canticorum (reccomended to me from another thread waaayy back)
Krzysztof Penderecki - Canticum Canticorum (reccomended to me from another thread waaayy back)
Try Pansonic's cd "Kulma." It is sparse and angular sound and beatscapes that would serve well for you, especially if you're wanting to add a claustrophobic feeling to the game. Lots of high and low freq going on here. Not far afield from the test sounds you would use to balance your speakers, except much more musical.
If you want something a little more frenetic, try some of Richard Devine's work. Think nerve-damaged robots, trying to keep in step in a automated factory orbiting a plummeting moon.
Lots of stuff on the Ant Zen label would probably fit your purpose as well.
If you want something a little more frenetic, try some of Richard Devine's work. Think nerve-damaged robots, trying to keep in step in a automated factory orbiting a plummeting moon.
Lots of stuff on the Ant Zen label would probably fit your purpose as well.
DUH! I can't believe I forgot...
Brad Fiedel: The Terminator themes...'nuff said!
Vangelis: I know, the Chariots of Fire guy..blech!...Except that he also did Blade Runner, L'Apocalypse Des Animeaux, Antarctica, China and was a member of the prog-rock group, Aphrodite's Child (whose 666: Apocalypse of St. John is a stunner).
Tangerine Dream: the grandfathers of much of electronica have been around since the sixties, and their brand of techno has ranged from the bizzare to soporific to the cinematic. Check out Atem, Alpha Centauri, Green Desert, Hyperborea, Zeit, Mars Polaris and so, so many others. Also, music from the band and by band members include many sci-fi soundtracks, like Babylon 5.
Brad Fiedel: The Terminator themes...'nuff said!
Vangelis: I know, the Chariots of Fire guy..blech!...Except that he also did Blade Runner, L'Apocalypse Des Animeaux, Antarctica, China and was a member of the prog-rock group, Aphrodite's Child (whose 666: Apocalypse of St. John is a stunner).
Tangerine Dream: the grandfathers of much of electronica have been around since the sixties, and their brand of techno has ranged from the bizzare to soporific to the cinematic. Check out Atem, Alpha Centauri, Green Desert, Hyperborea, Zeit, Mars Polaris and so, so many others. Also, music from the band and by band members include many sci-fi soundtracks, like Babylon 5.
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