Jesper KYD The
Nations(Die Völker II) CD-ROM GAME SOUNDTRACK 
COLOSSEUM CST 8084.2 (43:14)
Techno based music written for the computer fantasy
game The Nations. In summary, 'hip', ambient and
bland.
From 'Forest Hymn (Bombastic Mix)' onwards, we
are introduced to a heavily percussive sound, often accompanied
by synthesized voices and this continues through 'Forest Spirit'
in mildly enjoyable fashion, although far too many pieces ('The
Amazons', 'Horizon', 'Ambient Fantasy' etc.) are infinitely forgettable.
What few relative high spots there are never really amount to
very much, such as 'Last Dance' making good use of those synth
voices, although this soon tails away and 'Fantasy World' displaying
some percussive verve with at least a little dramatic impetus.
But these examples are very much in the minority and the rest
is nothing more than techno rhythms and new age soundscapes.
The problem with Danish composer Jesper Kydd's
music, (who recently completed his debut film score for the comedy
Death of a Saleswoman) and indeed this applies to much
of the music written for CD-ROM games, is that it lacks emotional
resonance. In fact this work verges on muzak at times. It's as
though software producers do not feel there is any great need
to bring real emotional weight to music written expressly for
games. It's all a little too much like fast food; quick, easy
and rather empty. But I feel very strongly, as a games player
myself, that there is a place for music with a good deal more
heart and soul than is on show here. Only then perhaps will computer
games transcend their present limitations and becomes works closer
to art, rather than the consumable, ultimately disposable product
that they are now.
Mark Hockley
