Jim Andron - Tetris CD-i (1992)

 

Composer: Jim Andron
Console: Philips CD-i
Developer: Philips POV
Game Release Date: 1992-xx-xx
Soundtrack Release Date: 1992-xx-xx
Runtime: 44:54, 11 Tracks

This will be the second CD-i game I post about on this blog. And it likely won't be the last one. Not my fault the CD-i had such good music on it. This is the CD-i port of Tetris. 

Tetris needs absolutely no introduction. It's one of the most famous games ever made. The CD-i port is less known, however. I have no idea where to even purchase a CD-i and copy of the game but fortunately CD-i emulation is really good. A while ago I gave this Tetris port a try. I liked it, even if it is basic. The game is very 'aesthetic'. When you play you get the Tetris window delegated to the side of the screen while a nature GIF plays in the background. The game prides itself on being a relaxing experience of which I can agree. The controls are a little bit rough around the edges, but it is nothing unbearable. Other than that there isn't anything else to really write about the game. It's a basic Tetris game with no gimmicks and it looks pretty. The soundtrack is other unique part of this game. 

The music for the game was composed by Jim Andron. His page on RYM is massively incomplete. According to it he is a member of the 60s pop group The Calliope but I'm not sure that is accurate. (also because Calliope is from CA while Andron is from PA). He also has a bunch of film credits scattered across different databases. He composed music for Alien From L.A. (1988), the TV series Insight and other movies and shows. For games he has composed for Pac-Man Fever, Labyrinth of Crete, Nomad and a few other ones. The Tetris CD-i is by far the most popular OST he has done. He was even interviewed by the magazine, Fanbyte on the soundtrack. 

So how does it sound? 

Tetris CD-i is a relaxed game. As such the soundtrack needs to be to. Jim Andron utilizes a number of 90s synths to create a new age and lounge sound. It even has some soul notes too. He achieves a really unique soundtrack that sounds unique. The music literally just vaporwave. If I used 'proto' genres I would call this proto-vaporwave. The closest thing I can place to this hazy synth sound would be the Faces of Evil soundtrack. I don't know why by Philips CD-i had a lot of bangin music for some reason.
Below I have shared my copy of the soundtrack. The quality varies from 180 to 200kbps. I have also included a link to the interview. Fascinating stuff. 

Download: aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWdhLm56L2ZpbGUvS0lJVzFSN1EjVDNCZ0dtTUpMcUNGVzJGTGtNOVBFdWxSZHIwSmRZNVdzams3UTkzNW9LVQ==

Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJLw-dQXHA
Fanbyte Interview: https://www.fanbyte.com/features/before-tetris-effect-there-was-the-vaporwave-bliss-of-tetris-on-the-cd-i/
p@ss: vaportetris