The Raven – Legacy of a Master Thief Soundtrack

 

Review by · June 20, 2014

Editor’s note: You can get a copy of this album through the game’s Steam listing.

When I reviewed the adventure game The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief, I found a lot to like. In fact, it might be better to say that there was very little about the game that I didn’t like. And the one aspect of The Raven that has stuck with me ever since is its music — I’ve actually found myself humming the theme on more than one occasion. And knowing that, I’m sure you won’t be surprised that I was happy to have the chance to review the game’s official soundtrack as well. The Raven is, in a sense, a series of locked room puzzles. You try to solve a mystery on a train, then later on a ship, and finally in a secure museum. Thus, each section of the game has its own particular atmosphere and requires different music to match.

Fortunately, it passes that test with flying colors. Take, for example, the song “Adventure in the Alps.” This tune plays as background music in the train section, and there’s no question that’s where it belongs. The jaunty melody perfectly conveys the feeling of getting underway on a much-anticipated trip, and the string section’s syncopated punctuation is reminiscent of the puffing of a train leaving the station. After that upbeat beginning, the strings transition to the forefront for a stronger, faster section that is easy to recognize as the sound of a train chugging down the tracks under a good head of steam. It’s a great piece of music, and a perfect accompaniment to the first section of The Raven’s story. “Constable in Action,” the album’s fifth track, plays as the main character tries to solve a puzzle that could mean life or death to his traveling companions, and it works perfectly in such a scene. The quiet beginning gives the listener the clear picture that something serious is about to happen, and the build to sections of quick, staccato notes impart a real sense of tension. Of course, even a constable’s life isn’t full of constant mortal threats. Sometimes, he’s simply trying to solve a mystery while those around him enjoy themselves. Such is the case when The Raven’s story has moved to a small cruise ship that features the happy “Saloon Tune” in the dining area. Its style is significantly different, as it is meant to be a song the characters on the ship can actually hear. This samba tune is one I could absolutely picture hearing under these circumstances in real life… although I’ll admit that I didn’t go on cruises in Europe in the 1960s, so I’m basing my opinion on having embarked on cruises in the 21st century. (And more than a couple of episodes of The Love Boat.)

I could probably go track by track gushing about why I love this soundtrack, but I’ll spare you from such a fate. Suffice it to say that this soundtrack reminds me at times of the music for a great stage musical, and at times of the score to a Disney movie from somewhere in the Mary Poppins through Bedknobs and Broomsticks era, and I can think of no higher praise to offer. The composer, Benny Oschmann, and the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt/Oder, who performed the music, are all to be congratulated for their excellent work.

(Those who are interested can see them actually recording the album’s final track in this video on YouTube.)

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John Tucker

John Tucker

John officially retired from RPGFan as Managing Editor in 2017, but he still popped in from time to time with new reviews until Retirement II in late 2021. He finds just about everything interesting and spends most of his free time these days reading fiction, listening to podcasts, and coming up with new things to 3D print.