Primal (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Games, call them now mini movies with stories, visual realization close to perfection and perhaps real actors or true movie music to make it all seem just like a movie. Many examples are already presented, one to add to that is Primal, Sony's gothic game of wonder, creatures, worlds and one woman thrown in the mix to be the ultimate key to all what's been happening. The game played different from usual basic games but had a special magic surrounding it, of storytelling and presented something different from what we saw before. And the game felt real because of the music that was flowing through the levels, and that is the responsible task of Bob and Barn as they call themselves. Being basically Paul Arnold and Andrew Barnabas, these 2 composers worked before on Sony's previous games namely MediEvil 1 and 2 and the creators saw it fit to bring them on board again for Primal. Yet, where on MediEvil they tried to create game music with all their knowledge of synthesizers and electronic samples, call it what you will, Bob & Barn convinced the creators to use a real orchestra this time to enhance the gothic nature of this score. And they got what they wanted, with the City of Prague Philharmonic one of European's best and known orchestras (known from all the Silva Screen re recordings), and with that their awesome choir too. To tell you that they reached that gothic level is an understatement because Primal feels and breaths just like a movie score, with solo instruments, large fanfares and choral masterstrokes creating one and another the effect, and shows again game music has no boundaries anymore when creators think equally of music. 'Opening Credits' with the solo vocal, choir and strings set us in the mood for what's to come.

First part is for the wonder and growing majesty, with choir and more soothing music. 'Arella's Theme' with its Elfish music almost, the piano and flutes really set the mood well. The real beauty is 'Jen Meets Arella' with its growing wonder of choir, strings and solo violin performing lovely Jen's theme. From time to time action is needed too and that responds to the part in progress, meaning specific themes or moments we heard in that part are used more on edge here, 'Raum & Empusa' is a powerful rhythmic piece with choir and even a disturbing yet effective solo violin makes it all happen. The Part of Solum is somewhat darker yet equally beautiful, with choir bursting from time loudly through the speakers, the Jenny led theme by drums in 'The Demon Awakes', the explosion of choir gothically in 'Coliseum', it all sounds grand and moody at the same time. Then the world of Aquis is much more enjoyable, 'The Turbulent Depths' with its great Latin choral speech and what about the beautiful solo and choral theme of the queen Aino letting loose goosebumps in 'A Kingdom Restored'. As said the action music links itself to ideas in each part and in 'The Mad King' that Latin speech is heard more menacing and angrier, but not without its effect. The other part is somewhat different with more disturbing moments or more classical music, but brings at least wonderful diversion to the music, the comical violin in 'Mountain of Suffering', the waltz in 'Devil's Waltz' or Strauss' Blue Dance in 'Dark Science', it all makes it happen. The final action moment is 'Hall of Gods', with grand suspension music based on the ideas of the part, and naturally choir. Whether likeable or not, the diversity is attractive for an hour's listening, the strength of the orchestra and choir a must for fans of strong music, and the ideas are just perfect for the visual strength of the game. Silva released a soundtrack of it and I must confess, Primal never sounded better with all those parts promising their effect on the listener.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Opening Credits (1.06)

2. The Timekeeper (1.55)

3. Arella's Theme (1.41)

4. A Love Lost (5.20)

5. Jen Meets Arella (4.50) Excellent Track

6. Raum & Empusa (3.23) Excellent Track

7. The Demon Awakes (3.19)

8. Coliseum (6.04)

9. A Prince In Chains (3.44)

10. World Of Water (3.38)

11. The Turbulent Depths (5.21) Excellent Track

12. A Kingdom Restored (3.03) Excellent Track

13. The Mad King (2.25) Excellent Track

14. Mountain Of Suffering (2.25)

15. Devil's Waltz (2.00)

16. Dark Science (3.05)

17. The Helot (1.14)

18. Temple Of Flame (4.10)

19. Hall Of Gods (2.16) Excellent Track

20. Journey's End (0.23)

Total Length: 61.34

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