Kasumi’s Stolen Memory consists of just four new tracks, and none are extremely impressive. I commend BioWare for being thorough enough to include new music for their Mass Effect 2 DLCs, however, and there are a couple of interesting pieces here.
The first two sound far too similar, and they’re somewhat typical action/combat tracks at that, boisterous and heavy on percussive sounds. Both include a smidgeon of a new flavor that is better developed later, however, in “Infiltration.” This track sounds different from anything else in the ME2 music canon because of a significant Asian influence overlaying the typical synth foundation. The Asian sound contributes to an overall feeling of mystery and wonderment. While novel, “Infiltration” seems a bit awkwardly structured, but the overall effect is neat.
The brief album ends with another odd piece, “Party Music.” This pretty piano piece (with melancholy violin backdrop) sounds decidedly out of place within the Mass Effect universe, not to mention its inappropriate title. Whether the sudden intrusion of dolce piano is a good thing depends upon the listener, but I find it a memorable and unique conclusion.
