Released on: 4th May 2018
There is a lot going on with these releases from Seattles’ Materia Collective. Holistically titled LAUNCH: Starcraft Reimagined it is comprised of three EPs. Each of which remix, remake and reimagine tracks related to one of the three races from the original game Starcraft. It is like a kind of concept album when compiled or more aptly put: a context album.
An eclectic upgrade to the original score each independent EP is themed after a race from the Starcraft universe. This is not translated onto the style of each track however as each release sees a smörgåsbord of styles often arranged to closely resemble the source content. Sometimes with just a palette swapped timbre.
Reimagined the tracks lose some of their racial constraints while others find their cultural influence amplified. The Zerg, a race of genetically engineered monsters (aka The Organic™ Borg,) are given over to more human than human sonic terrain. With an emphasis on force the EP often defaults to metal to convey the choral power of the species. Which is in contrast to the synthetic and alien soundscapes on the original OST. There are exceptions and it is interesting to hear the motifs expanded into fully coherent songs.
Each EP is drastically different however and as a twist the composers have taken the essence of the respective races and changed the formality of their incidence. It has got to be said though that some of the Terran [the space-talk demonym for humans – Ed] remixes sound like Frank Zappa scores a porno. Which when considering the status of main characters Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan is kind of cute.
The Terran cut exponentially stresses the moods which were prevalent on the original tracks as well. Where some of the tracks come to inspire the feeling of completion. Moving from model reference when made in lo-rez samples to full on harbinger of doom when given more space and more bandwidth. There are others that sound more like kinky fanfare. But hey who does not love the smell of evolution in the morning.
LAUNCH: Starcraft Reimagined is an amazingly fun and insightful take on the original Starcraft (and Brood War) soundtrack. Losing none of the games’ flare. But perhaps subduing a bit of its charm. The instantly recognizable motifs (for fans of the original titles) are welcoming in their familiarity while offering fresh interpretations of iconic tracks. And which ever way you come from, as a fan of the original or just as an interested party to a good score, there is much to learn from these terrifyingly groovy arrangements.
9/10
