The Dig
Michael Land
" Atmospheric score is a delight from top to bottom "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the collector's edition
It took me quite some time, but years ago I was finally able to grab one of the most sought after scores of my "to get before I die" list. That score was Michael Land's The Dig. For people who do not know what The Dig is, I'll tell ya. The Dig is one of the many brilliant LucasArts games that were released during the 90's, featuring simple visual effects but loads of puzzles, mysteries, adventures and humour, and unleashing the player through what is essentially a storytelling puzzle. The Dig was fantastic because of its fantastical idea that you were playing 3 stranded astronauts on an alien and uninhabited planet. And there was only room for a mystical, fantastical score by LucasArts' house composer Michael Land.
I always loved the score when I was playing the game, but not until I listened to the full picture did I realize just how good The Dig was. The game carried this magical, atmospheric and ambient spell on you, mostly because it had a mystical magical score alongside of it. And to my utmost delight, composer Michael Land rearranged and composed new pieces so that everything would click just right during the listen. And luckily he did because now The Dig listens as a film score, a magical and inspiring listen and a sound that transports you to where it belongs, in fantasy, in outer space and on science fictional undiscovered planets.
This score runs for about 40 minutes and carries from begin to end an ambient mood, never deviating from this style but in contrast adding different colours to it so that the experience never becomes the same. While the first two tracks are a bit alike, they still set the score directly on fire. "Mission to the Asteroid" is 10 minutes of ambient, atmospheric, magical and mystical mood music. But the thing is, it works to give the listener and gamer a sense of outer space, delivering a magical final minute when we finally hear that amazing main theme (the people that played the game will recognize it as the wonderful theme when the Shuttle removes itself from the asteroid and flies towards the camera, before the asteroid explodes).
"Ghosts" is completely different, the first 10 seconds are used during the game but Land adds another minute and a half to it where cello and synths are battling each other in an odd mix (a bit like Close Encounters of the Third Kind). But if we want to talk about beauties, then "The Ancient City" is truly one to mention. A wondrous theme for the city is supported through lonely trumpet, and the mix with the magical music is stunning. "Underwater Cavern" by then states dark piano based melodies against a lonely moody and jazzy tone, making again the effect quite interesting. However nothing can prepare you for game/movie music at its best. "A River Canyon" is brought to life by choir and a female solo vocalist named Emily Bezar, and it unleashes absolutely amazing beauty. I'm not kidding, this track is a highlight that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
And the thing is, it simply continues. "The Madness of the Crystals" is very intriguing as it represents the outer beauty as the inner danger of the crystals with mystery and dark mood. The effect it creates is once again great. "The Monument" is also noteworthy as it shows the beauty and pride with bells against a set of ambient music. The same quality is reached during the magical "Dimensions in Time" and with choir through "Cathedral of the Lost".
In the end I find that The Dig is one of life's ultimate treasures. Solely composed by synthesizers (with of course various solo instruments as cello, piano and trumpet), the score helps the game to become this magical hair-raising experience. While it may appear to be one exact same listening experience, the intricate details do show you otherwise. Plus, it is a score that grabs you and doesn't let go until we have reached the final note. And besides, you will be proven delightfully wrong once you"ll hear Emily Bezar put a spell on you. Trust me for once, start digging for The Dig, because ambiance and magic have never aligned so clearly as now.
Tracklisting
1. Mission to the Asteroid (9.53)
2. Another World (3.33)
3. Ghosts (1.49)
4. The Ancient City (3.46) Excellent track
5. Underwater Cavern (2.13)
6. A River Canyon (4.13) Excellent track
7. The Madness of the Crystals (2.21)
8. Tomb of the Past (2.12)
9. The Monument (2.47)
10. Dimensions in Time (4.07) Excellent track
11. Cathedral of the Lost (3.41) Excellent track
Total Length: 41.01
I always loved the score when I was playing the game, but not until I listened to the full picture did I realize just how good The Dig was. The game carried this magical, atmospheric and ambient spell on you, mostly because it had a mystical magical score alongside of it. And to my utmost delight, composer Michael Land rearranged and composed new pieces so that everything would click just right during the listen. And luckily he did because now The Dig listens as a film score, a magical and inspiring listen and a sound that transports you to where it belongs, in fantasy, in outer space and on science fictional undiscovered planets.
This score runs for about 40 minutes and carries from begin to end an ambient mood, never deviating from this style but in contrast adding different colours to it so that the experience never becomes the same. While the first two tracks are a bit alike, they still set the score directly on fire. "Mission to the Asteroid" is 10 minutes of ambient, atmospheric, magical and mystical mood music. But the thing is, it works to give the listener and gamer a sense of outer space, delivering a magical final minute when we finally hear that amazing main theme (the people that played the game will recognize it as the wonderful theme when the Shuttle removes itself from the asteroid and flies towards the camera, before the asteroid explodes).
"Ghosts" is completely different, the first 10 seconds are used during the game but Land adds another minute and a half to it where cello and synths are battling each other in an odd mix (a bit like Close Encounters of the Third Kind). But if we want to talk about beauties, then "The Ancient City" is truly one to mention. A wondrous theme for the city is supported through lonely trumpet, and the mix with the magical music is stunning. "Underwater Cavern" by then states dark piano based melodies against a lonely moody and jazzy tone, making again the effect quite interesting. However nothing can prepare you for game/movie music at its best. "A River Canyon" is brought to life by choir and a female solo vocalist named Emily Bezar, and it unleashes absolutely amazing beauty. I'm not kidding, this track is a highlight that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
And the thing is, it simply continues. "The Madness of the Crystals" is very intriguing as it represents the outer beauty as the inner danger of the crystals with mystery and dark mood. The effect it creates is once again great. "The Monument" is also noteworthy as it shows the beauty and pride with bells against a set of ambient music. The same quality is reached during the magical "Dimensions in Time" and with choir through "Cathedral of the Lost".
In the end I find that The Dig is one of life's ultimate treasures. Solely composed by synthesizers (with of course various solo instruments as cello, piano and trumpet), the score helps the game to become this magical hair-raising experience. While it may appear to be one exact same listening experience, the intricate details do show you otherwise. Plus, it is a score that grabs you and doesn't let go until we have reached the final note. And besides, you will be proven delightfully wrong once you"ll hear Emily Bezar put a spell on you. Trust me for once, start digging for The Dig, because ambiance and magic have never aligned so clearly as now.
Tracklisting
1. Mission to the Asteroid (9.53)
2. Another World (3.33)
3. Ghosts (1.49)
4. The Ancient City (3.46) Excellent track
5. Underwater Cavern (2.13)
6. A River Canyon (4.13) Excellent track
7. The Madness of the Crystals (2.21)
8. Tomb of the Past (2.12)
9. The Monument (2.47)
10. Dimensions in Time (4.07) Excellent track
11. Cathedral of the Lost (3.41) Excellent track
Total Length: 41.01