Released on: 13th September 2019
TinkerQuarry is a top down RPG that is (vaguely) similar in appearance to the hyper-popular indie title Undertale. Reminiscent of noughties flash games that were found abundantly on sites like New Grounds and NES Arr-Pay-G’s. Ones that quite often shamefully flipped assets like your Mum flips her Merkin.
They are having none of that on TinkerQuarry. And as far as the music goes the OST is an amalgam of deranged melodies and fractured rhythms. Supplied by composer Antriksh Bali who provided the perfect soundtrack to accompany a girl on her journey through “an ethereal dollhouse.”
TinkerQuarry OST drives ahead on a journey surrounded in soft warm tones, interspersed with bright sounds. Contrasting the dull comfort that the strings and pads provide. These sentiments are echoed later where bright percussion and deep, and strained, orchestrations function. Affording a looking glass effect against the light hearted introduction. And augmenting the reality inspired by the game.
In contrast to the feeling of discomfort Bali has developed in response to game events his use of classical melodies in his pieces merge familiar pastiche with industrial flair. Effectively putting familiar melodies into fashionable masks of pretence. Suitably adapted to compliment the journey the players of TinkerQuarry will undertake.
As Bali contrasts day into night and darkness into wine his intuitive compositions resonate with the sentiments made inside TinkerQuarry. Projecting them onto the listeners thoughts. Creating an effective soundtrack and an electric atmosphere even when heard outwith its original context. And while it works effectively as the soundtrack it does give cause to fork a few raw emotions on its own accord.
9/10
