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The dazzling music of indie games

Jessica Curry celebrates the dazzling musical world of indie games and chats to composer Lena Raine about her music for the indie hit Celeste.

Jessica Curry celebrates the dazzling musical world of indie games.

Most people have heard of the titans of video games - like FIFA, Mario, Call of Duty or Fortnite - but there's also a thriving indie scene pushing the boundaries of what games and their soundtracks can be. For an indie, no adventure is too small, too silly, too bizarre or too bittersweet - and often they dive deeper than huge games into subjects such as grief, love, illness and what it means to be human. Indie soundtracks then can be some of the most experimental music in the whole genre - from tender chamber music to full on electronic freak outs - Jessica plays some of her favourites.

Plus Jessica talks to composer Lena Raine, whose BAFTA nominated music for the breakout indie hit Celeste has been one of the most talked about scores of recent years.

Get in touch - email soundofgaming@bbc.co.uk

Full playlist:

Kristofer Maddigan - Ruse of an Ooze (Cuphead)
Oli Wood - Buffet Balloons (Overcooked 2)
Laurence Chapman - Before the Fall (Heaven's Vault)
Gareth Coker - Ori and the Will of the Wisps (extract)
Lena Raine - First Steps (Celeste)
Lena Raine - Heart of the Mountain (Celeste)
Nate Sandberg & Matthew Joynt - The Brothers Swim (Burly Men at Sea)
Nate Sandberg & Matthew Joynt - Heroic Feats (Burly Men at Sea)
Austin Wintory - I Was Born For This (Journey)
Kristofer Maddigan - Die House (Cuphead)
Julien Neto - From Cover to Cover (Osmos)
Jessica Curry - The End of All Things (Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)
Jessica Curry - Liquid Light (Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)
Lena Raine - Awake (Celeste)
Lena Raine - Anxiety (Celeste)
Lena Raine - Beyond the Heart (Celeste: Farewell)
Peter Due - City Streets (Forgotton Anne)
Andrew Prahlow - Outer Wilds (Outer Wilds)

Available now

33 minutes

Last on

Sat 2 Nov 2019 15:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Kristofer Maddigan

    Ruse of an Ooze (Cuphead)

    • Cuphead - Original Soundtrack.

  • Oli Wood

    Buffet Balloons (Overcooked 2)

    • Ghost Town Games.

  • Laurence Chapman

    Before the Fall (Heaven's Vault)

    Performer: Rachel Shakespeare. Performer: Laurence Chapman. Ensemble: Leos Strings.
    • Heaven's Vault - Official Soundtrack.

  • Gareth Coker

    Ori and the Will of the Wisps (extract)

    Performer: Kristin Naigus. Performer: Gareth Coker. Orchestrator: Dave Peacock. Singer: Aeralie Brighton.

  • Lena Raine

    First Steps (Celeste)

    • Celeste Original Soundtrack.

  • Lena Raine

    Heart of the Mountain (Celeste)

    • Celeste Original Soundtrack.

  • Nate Sandberg & Matthew Joynt

    The Brothers Swim (Burly Men at Sea)

    • Burly Men at Sea (Original Soundtrack).
    • Plied Sound.

  • Nate Sandberg & Matthew Joynt

    Heroic Feats (Burly Men at Sea)

    • Burly Men at Sea (Original Soundtrack).
    • Plied Sound.

  • Austin Wintory

    I was born for this (Journey)

    Singer: Lisbeth Scott. Orchestra: Macedonia Radio Symphonic Orchestra.
    • Sumthing Else Music Works.

  • Kristofer Maddigan

    Die House (Cuphead)

    Performer: Kristofer Maddigan. Singer: Alana Bridgewater.
    • Studio MDHR.

  • Julien Neto

    From Cover to Cover (Osmos)

  • Jessica Curry

    Everybody's Gone to the Rapture "The End of All Things"

    Singer: Elin Manahan Thomas. Choir: Metro Voices. Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: James Morgan.
    • Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (Original Soundtrack).
    • Sony Classical.
    • 26.

  • Jessica Curry

    Liquid Light (Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)

    Singer: Elin Manahan Thomas. Choir: Metro Voices. Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Lena Raine

    Awake (Celeste)

    • Celeste Original Soundtrack.
    • 4.

  • Lena Raine

    Anxiety (Celeste)

    • Celeste Original Soundtrack.
    • 10.

  • Lena Raine

    Beyond the Heart (Celeste: Farewell) (feat. Doug Perry, Michaela Nachtigall & SungHa Hong)

    • Celeste: Farewell (Original Soundtrack).
    • Materia Collective.
    • 6.

  • Peter Due

    City Streets (Forgotton Anne)

    Orchestra: Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • ThroughLine Games.

  • Andrew Prahlow

    Outer Wilds (Outer Wilds)

    • Annapurna Interactive.

  • Guillermo Portabales

    Romance Guajiro

    Performer: Guillermo Portabales.
    • El Carretero.
    • World Circuit.
    • 12.

Broadcast

  • Sat 2 Nov 2019 15:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Sound of Gaming

    A journey into the exciting worlds of video games and gaming music.