Mr. Robot, Vol 2

In the liner notes from Mr. Robot (Volume 1), composer Mac Quayle talks about his first encounter with a friend's synthesizer rig in 1980 (a Yamaha CS80 and a Korg MS-20). Obviously, he became intrigued by the sound and would eventually begin tinkering with "filters, envelopes, and oscillators" of his own. Like vinyl records, the sound of the synthesizer has definitely returned and a new generation of composers and fans are growing. When I first started listening and collecting soundtracks in the 90's, I usually avoided the syth scores and preferred only those with an orchestra. To me, in those early days, the synthesizer sound was too low budget and cheesy sounding. The electronic gadgets and gizmos for producing these types of movie scores were actually done to help save the cost of hiring a full orchestra. That is why you hear so many low budget horror films from the 80's using this type of instrumentation. However, with age, a greater appreciation and a better understanding of the creativity involved with these synthesized scores would develop. I would probably have to give the credit to the "Blade Runner" score composed by Vangelis. Watching that film and hearing how the score beautifully worked it's magic into the atmosphere and story...I soon began to realize how great some of these scores could actually be. You can't help but to appreciate how composers like John Carpenter would forever burn their sounds and themes into the mind's of the audience. Looking back now, the sound of the synthesizer offered a lot of creative interpretation for composers and even the likes of Jerry Goldsmith experimented with it in several scores like "Runaway" (1984).Currently, I have never seen an episode of "Mr. Robot". Never even knew the show existed to be honest. While I am waiting for the score for Netflix's "Stranger Things" (physical CD) to be released, I decided to check out some other recommendations of similar music and stumbled across this. Listening to samples of Mac Quayle's music hooked me and after reading/researching about the show, I've become very interested into checking it out as well. The music fits the premise nicely and the decision for an electronic score to capture this idea of "vigilante hacker" trying to save the world from Evil Corp sounds like a good choice. The score is totally electronic with the exception of a piano. Mac Quayle compares himself to the lead character, Elliot Alderson, in the liner notes by noting the similarities in how they both work with electronic devices and programming. He also points out another analogies he shares with the character and these notes provide some fascinating insight into the composer's development of the music. The score is presented in chronological order and the composer has tried to include as much of it as possible. There are actually two volumes of the score that have been released by Lakeshore Records. This same company is the one that is releasing "Stranger Things" as well and it too is also planned to be released in two volumes. Quayle's score for "Mr. Robot" isn't the same as "Stranger Things" however...and this is a good thing. This particular score fits the technical world of hacking, computers, and the anxiety that goes along with it quite well. The music bleeps, pulsates, statically bursts, and drifts into digital dreams (and nightmares) providing a captivating atmospheric sound for the show. It's quite amazing to listen to on my home system through CD as it seems to play in and out of various speakers moving in and around the room like it has a mind of it's own. While some cues are busy and chatter along, others like "Therealshayla" (track 18) will have you floating along in an ethereal daze. What I like about the score is that each track provides a different experience and no two are exactly alike.Lakeshore Records has done a nice job with the package design for the CD releases of these two volumes. Both Volumes have the typical hardshell clear plastic case but there is also an outer paper slip sleeve that is reminiscent of the old Atari games. The tracks are labeled as computer program/document files and the CD itself looks like a homemade blank disc with a white label that has the title, composer's name, and volume number handwritten with a black marker. The eight page insert reads like a game manual listing characters from the show as friends and/or enemies. There is also some notes from Mac Quayle, a proclamation from Mr. Robot, and some production credits. In case your wondering, Volume 2 contains the same format but lists additional characters from the show and is followed by a note from the director. Volume 1 contains 29 tracks with a running time of 1 hour and 13 minutes (Volume 2 contains 23 tracks with a running time of 1 hour and 14 minutes).I was glad to have bumped into this score and I have enjoyed listening to Mac Quayle's music for the show. The show seems to be really interesting as well and I will definitely be checking it out too. If you like a good syth score, whether your a fan of the show or not, I recommend giving Quayle's music a listen.

As a fan of the show I like the background music and the atmosphere it gives it, but didn't realize how much the soundtrack played a part in its overall excellence until I listened to it on its own. The tracks are in chronological order to the show so I instantly find my self reliving the suspense and scenes from it. Reminds me of my younger years writing code to electronic music like Aphex Twin, Future Sound of London, LFO. Prefer Volume 1 to Volume 2, but both are good. You may get a kick out of the liner notes laid-out like an old Atari 2600 8-bit game instruction booklet.

Brilliant, it reminds me a lot of old school Berliner style, space music i.e. Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze. A few reoccurring themes and and sum tracks are very short, but...... the deep, pulsating step sequenced Synthesizer sub bass, and percolating, delay synced, ultra slick analogue synthesizer tones, send you into a Si-fi audio trip that is urgent and disturbing. One track has some amazing stereo panned car horn like sounds that is down right un-nerving. Highly recommended to fans of spooky electronic music and those who love the TV series.

While everybody was going GAGA over Stranger Things soundtrack, Mac Quale’s masterpiece was a bit overlooked. Stellar work, deep and moving!

I have both season 1 & 2 and both are very good soundtrack albums. Original, just like the show it was written for.

Awesome music!

GAHHHHH GO MAC QUAYLE.Seriously. Why are you reading this and not buying this album? There is no code here, only mad synths and sub bass.

[...]Order placedAugust 27, 2016I want to review now, after some monthsonly for disappointment about late deliveryI lost the delivery because I was leave the place!What a pity, because the previous CD order had been handed out extensively before the times!

Je l'ai commandé pensant que c'était le volume 2 et en fait c'est le volume 1.Sur l'étiquette au dos du CD il est inscrit volume 2 alors que sur la jaquette c'est bien le 1. Du coup je me retrouve avec 2x le volume 1...Retour à Amazon....

Il y a une erreur dans le nom de l'article !Il s'agit du volume 2, et non du 1. L'erreur se retrouve sur l'article "Mr. Robot - Season 1..2"Les deux articles ont été interverti.

Bought for my husband. He LOVES it and says the pressing is a very good quality.