“It ties in with the concept of Death Stranding – the isolation and disconnection in that world and its people, that the protagonist, Sam Porter, is trying to connect again.” – Au/Ra
We have recently been presented with a piece of work that creates the listener with an opportunity of reaching Utopia. The album ‘Timefall’ was created for Kojima’s upcoming videogame ‘Death Stranding’ and offers new music from artists such as Major Lazer, Khalid, CHVRCHES, Bring Me The Horizon, Au/Ra, Alan Walker, The Neighbourhood, Flora Cash, MISSIO and The S.L.P. RCA Records has partnered with Sony Interactive Entertainment for the soundtrack which provides the listener with the feeling of dysmorphia encouraged by the computerized production that runs through the album, something that draws parallels to the principles that surround Death Stranding.
The album starts with ‘Trigger’ a collaboration between Major Lazer and Khalid who decide to reflect on this new song using a gunshot as a breakup metaphor. Khalid’s soothing RnB vocals act as a threshold for the low-key love song drawing classic dance-hall inspired themes, in which Major Lazer is known for.
This is the first time we’ve ever had our music in a video game and it’s gonna be a trip hearing it while playing Death Stranding.” – The Neighbourhood
In The Video game, Death Stranding follows Sam Bridges as he embarks on a mission to reunite a shattered world on the verge of mass extinction that is transformed by the Death Stranding.
The feeling of isolation that is a recurring theme within the much-anticipated game is touched on with Au/Ra and Alan Walker’s song ‘Ghost’. Au/Ra explains: “I wrote ‘Ghost’ while I was first getting used to not being home a lot. At that time, I was feeling very disconnected from friends and family, and I needed to write something about that feeling of isolation. It ties in with the concept of Death Stranding – the isolation and disconnection in that world and its people, that the protagonist, Sam Porter, is trying to connect again.”
Flora Cash’s ‘Born In The Slumber’ accompanies The Neighbourhood’s ‘Yellow Box’ providing atmospheric qualities of gloom and detachment that draws the listener back to glimpses of The Neighbourhood’s earlier stuff. Talking about being a part of Death Stranding the band says: “We’re very flattered to be chosen by Kojima to be a part of this project. This is the first time we’ve ever had our music in a video game and it’s gonna be a trip hearing it while playing Death Stranding.”
‘Meanwhile…In Genova’ is a string-driven song that creates this dynamic trance-like atmosphere that draws a heavy contrast to the Bring Me The Horizon song, ‘Ludens’. It is interesting that these two songs are placed next to each other in the tracking list, is this to draw attention to what is expected to come when entering the world of Death Stranding. That you will never know what to expect.
Talking about ‘Ludens’, Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes told NME: “I wanted it to be connected to the video game, but I didn’t want to sing directly about that. I looked at Kojima’s whole ethos, went on his website, and as it was loading it came up with this thing that said, ‘We’re not homosapiens, we’re homoludens’. It’s Latin for ‘player’ and it’s all about how he believes that our creativity is our greatest asset and the biggest hope for mankind. It said something along the lines that even if all the flowers die and the world is at an endpoint, there would still be hope if there were humans on the planet because we find ways to adapt.”
If the soundtrack is anything to go by I think we will be in for one hell of a ride when immersed in the world of Death Stranding.
DEATH STRANDING: Timefall (Original Music from the World of DEATH STRANDING) Track list:
1. “Trigger” Major Lazer & Khalid
2. “Ghost” Au/Ra & Alan Walker
3. “Death Stranding” CHVRCHES
4. “Yellow Box” The Neighbourhood
5. “Meanwhile…In Genova” The S.L.P.
6. “Ludens” Bring Me the Horizon
7. “Born In The Slumber” Flora Cash
8. “Sing To Me” MISSIO