Music to Game to: Kikagaku Moyo - Forest of Lost Children

I listen to a lot of music (over 40 days worth in 2017 according to last.fm) and I find that few things help me keep the mood of a game foregrounded in my mind like a good soundtrack. Plus, I’ve discovered that when I’m playing music to a speaker via Bluetooth, I’m less likely to be on my phone, lest my players hear any stray sounds, letting me better model engagement during a game. To that end, I want to share some of my favorite music to game to; the albums that inspire and inflame my imagination and that I’ve found work well as background music for games as well. I’ll do a mini-review and cover the basics of what mood it helps me set.

KIKAGAKU MOYO – FOREST OF LOST CHILDREN

A Japanese psychedelic psych rock quintent featuring a sitar in addition to the more standard guitar, bass, drums linup; Kikagaku Moyo tends toward the dreamlike on Forest of Lost Children, very much evoking a sense of wandering through a slightly unreal place of wonder and danger. Dreamy, but never hazy, meandering but never descending into the merely noodly, Forest of Lost Children is a fantastic addition to the soundtrack library of any fantasy GM. Unlike many of the other albums I’ve recommended for this series heretofore, the album is light on moments of intense anger, dread or suspense, making it a great choice for lighter games.

• Vocals?...Yes, in Japanese
• Music Genre(s)… Psychedelic Rock
• Perfect for…Laid back, dreamy fantasy games.
• If you only grab one track, make it...”Smoke and Mirrors” which meanders between languid dreaminess and driving urgency.