Award-winning composer for video games and Scottish artist, Barry “Epoch” Topping (PARADISE KILLER, SENTRY, THATCHER’S TECHBASE, ENCOUNTERS) returns with The Needs, 11 songs of lavish reflection in a modern city pop style. The album takes the listener through an emotional exploration of identity and change set against the backdrop of late summer. It fuses city pop, rock and dance music into a rich, dreamy blast of video game-tinged modern pop music.

But The Needs is more than just an album title, like Barry explains: Its a new ensemble built around a core of the musicians that worked with me on Paradise Killer: Fiona Lynch, Fabian Hernandez, Thomas Temple and Kyle Murray-Dickson. A new trio of horns Elin Andersson, Nicklas Dahlin and Simon Fransman round out the full lineup. Having such talented musicians involved in a much bigger way has allowed us to challenge ourselves and make the best, most over the top music weve made yet. The Needs was created as a vehicle for my own reflections and is intended to help listeners reflect and find solace too. No album can be universal but if The Needs can help people feel seen or understood then Ill feel like its been a success. Getting to make the album has been an extremely rewarding experience.

Since Barry Epoch Topping is a household name for game soundtracks, of course also The Needs is influenced by that field: Im heavily inspired by the music of video games, so it felt natural to carry that inspiration throughout the album musically, visually and conceptually. I worked closely with Giannis Milonogiannis, my game development partner at POLYGON BIRD Games, to create a main character for the album. Our idea was for this character to act as a stand-in for the listener, while being part of the broader story for people who want to look deeper.

Introducing Rhoswen, one of four omnipresent demigods. Theyre tasked with maintaining the worlds natural order through their stewardship of the four seasons, while providing humans with insight, inspiration and motivation through emotional and spiritual musical guidance. You could consider them as emotional mediums, or as a friend who introduces you to a new band just when you really need them. As the steward of summer, Rhoswen acts as the albums main character, tying together the concept with the real-world musical and lyrical themes. Each song is about a different persons life and experiences, as felt by Rhoswen. The front side of the vinyls lyric sheet reads: Rhoswen could hear the heartbeat of the city and she could feel the pain and the joy of the people that lived there. One by one they appeared, drawn to her as the moon draws the sea, with the recognition of a half-remembered dream. She took each one by the hand and led them into her world of music. The radio is alive.

Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Accolades

• IGN Japan Best Soundtrack 2021 – Won
• Adventure Gamers Best Music 2020 – Won
• AGMA 2020 Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Runner Up
• Golden Joysticks 2020 Best Audio – Nominated
• The Dreamies 2021 Awesome Audio – Nominated
• AGMA 2020 Best Score Nominated

Press Quotes

• Its all synths and saxophones and tropical overtonesand its a delight Kotaku
• Coursing through the game is a sublime soundtrack, a wall-to-wall list of bangers which rounds off the aesthetic beautifully. Rock Paper Shotgun
• Composer Barry Epoch Topping crafted a suite that feels groovy, nostalgic, and fresh. TechRaptor

• New album from PARADISE KILLER composer Barry “Epoch”
• Featuring long-time collaborators Fiona Lynch, Fabian Hernandez & Thomas Temple
• Original artwork by Giannis Milonogiannis (OLD CITY BLUES, RONIN ISLAND, FUTURE STATE: GOTHAM)
• 11 original tracks of video game-tinged modern pop music inspired by city pop, jazz fusion, dance pop and more!

BSR146[Artist]]Epoch

• Format Detail: LP Transparent Curacao
• Internal ID: JIT
• Format: Vinyl
• Handling Note: **Please allow an additional 5 business days for this item’s shipment.**