Description

Forth is a soundtrack for an imaginary game. The game is a first-person 3D adventure game where you can use your boat, go fishing, and do other activities, while trying to find the atoll.

The protagonist, you, have to set sail through the waves to save your brother that has been captured by a mysterious group of tribesmen and is kept on a remote island. The only way to get there is by boat at night. So you start your journey with your friend, Mark, a fisherman who has a boat. He's well experienced in navigating in the sea. He warned you about the dangers of the sea and you're well aware of it, but there's no other way to rescue your brother. He's ready to do this, even if it means dying.

Tracks

Forth (ambient/idk electronic)

This is the title theme of the game that plays at the intro cutscene and the title screen. The first part is calm, you are at the dock, waiting for Mark to arrive. You're a bit anxious, but you're also determined. The second half sets the dark tone of the game, the adventure won't just be all fun and games. Your brother's life depends on your actions. What if you arrive too late to the island? What if the boat breaks? What if the tribesmen catch and kill you? You've never done something like this before.

Sine (ambient)

You have started the trip. Slowly distancing from the coast, you feel a sense of peace, but also sadness. The sea is so quiet. The sun is slowly going out, and it's becoming dark. While your friend is rowing and following his map and the compass, you can try fishing, chat, or just observe the endless sea.

Gaia (drone/ambient)

As the sun sets, the starts and the galaxy starts covering the sky. Since you live in an urban area, you never got to see the sky this way. And it's beautiful. It's dark, but the moon and your lights prevents you from being in pitch black. However, something doesn't seem right. You see massive clouds slowly coming over, and the waves are starting to become more and more violent. Oh no.

Thunder (noise/industrial/ a bit of IDM)

It's a storm. And it's dreadful. The wind and the rain is so strong that you can't see anything. You don't want to die, you're still young. Why have you chosen a weak old boat for this? You hear a faint scream.

Mark... (downtempo?? electronic)

It's over. The ocean has stopped expressing its anger. But, where's your friend? He's no longer on the boat. It can't be. You are in denial. He's dead because of me. I should have been the dead one, not him, not Mark. Will I even be able to reach the island? You learn to use your now deceased friend's compass, the map is completely ruined because of the storm. It's still dark, but now that you're alone, it feels like it's pitch black and you've never felt as hopeless before. Then you see a silhouette at the distance. Is that the island? 

Nkumo Atoll (folk/IDM/electronic/ambient)

After hours of the most intense day of your life, you disembark. This must be where the tribesmen live. You still can't get over the death of your friend, the guilt is immense. But you have to go on. As you explore the island, you discover a hidden community. There's huts, and probably people sleeping in them. You have to be quiet. Then you see a cage, and it's your brother. You are so relieved. You sprint towards the cell to rescue him. But they have awakened. You both start running for your life. You quickly take the boat and start ramming with all your force. The tribesmen couldn't catch you and you got away. You have lost your friend, but also successfully rescued your brother, and look, the sun is showing up now. You arrive safely to your homeland.

Software I used & Inspirations

The gear is just a pc that works well, shitty wired JBL earbuds, and an AIR 32 midi keyboard.

I used REAPER and other free stuff for this, such as: Emergence, Helm, Vital, Ragnarok, 8bit shaper, uhhyou plugins, kilohearts, TAL filter (mostly for panning), deelay, TAL Reverb 4, and a loot of DecentSampler instruments from pianobook for the bongos, strings, pianos, and other acoustic and non synth instruments. 

This is the first time I made tracks seamlessly transitionning into the next one, and I'm overall very proud of my work.

 Some inspirations: Gaia inspired by Radio Amor from Tim Hecker (like the track Spectral and the album's seamless transitions, also AMAZING ambient/drone artist you should listen), Venetian Snares for the odd time signatures (everything he does is never in 4/4), and just a mix of IDM and Ambient artists I listen to like Autechre, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, etc etc. The track Thunder reminds me of Feedbacker pt.4 by Boris, (you should also listen that, an AMAZING rock/noise album).

Links

bandcamp: https://alpikespot.bandcamp.com/album/forth