Review Summary: More glorious, free Deus Ex music.
As I mentioned in my previous review for Sonic Mayhem’s extemporary release of demos, sketches and alternate versions that originally hit the cutting room floor of
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided’s score; Sonic Mayhem’s compilation came at a very auspicious time for me, because I was actually gushing over and playing through the Deus Ex franchise for the first time in about a decade when Sascha decided to drop the first volume back in August. Now, two months after the release of
Fragments of the Machine [Data Archive Vol.1], Sonic Mayhem has dropped an even bigger load of juicy content that lets us look further into the development of
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided’s music. In comparison,
Fragments of the Machine [Data Archive Vol.1] feels like an appetizer when you consider its run-time is only twenty-five minutes long, contrasting
Vol.2’s bulky fifty-three-minute journey. Despite the caveat both volumes of
Fragments of the Machine [Data Archive] are essentially a hard drive dump of tracks that range from unmixed and master, to incomplete entirely, like its predecessor
Vol.2 sounds and feels cohesive to sit through.
The distinctions between the two are very apparent, with
Vol.1 being slicker with its pacing and offering much more variety in terms of sound palette and what it offers stylistically.
Vol.2 focuses on Deus Ex’s idiosyncratic ambiences – washy synths and melancholic melodies. There are a few moments where things shift into a different gear, like the darkwave groover “20 DE_MD_Prague_RedQueen(Club)” and glitchy raver “15 DE_MD_London_Act2_Club”, but for the most part the record resides on a homogenous plateau of soft synth-y swells, ethereal layering, and poignant harmonies for the hooks. For me,
Vol.1 has the edge over this release, simply because it has ideas that shift away from the traditional Deus Ex MO, but this is still a very enjoyable experience. While I hadn’t played the games for many years, I’ve always consistently listened to the music from the last two games. The reason for this is because no other score has the same superlative qualities; there’s an emotional calm that comes from listening to these albums that’s both moreish and cathartic, and it’s got me through some rough days where stress is rampant. Both of these releases are very much appreciated, and, combined, create an even deeper Deus Ex playlist to go through on those stressful days.
The reason for these releases is to promote his latest project, Metal Eden, so if you’re wanting to show your appreciation for
Fragments of the Machine [Data Archive], go listen to the OST for that.
