Part 14

Explore the music of Fez Part 14, including details on dynamic tracks like Puzzle and Fear, and the inspiration behind each song.

Puzzle

This track evolved from experimentation with a new instrument called Synplant by Sonic Charge. In Fez, this song is broken into 27 individual assets and plays phrases periodically, shifting through different keys depending on the in-game time of day.

Beyond

This song aims to evoke the feeling of a massive, indifferent, pulsating structure. Despite this, the mood has an upswing, reflecting Gomez discovering something special.

Progress

The core idea for this song was a piece of music originating from a central location and expanding outwards in 8 or 9 directions, with each level having its own key that the music would follow as you moved. The soundtrack edit attempts to convey this by surrounding the listener with slowly evolving, repetitive machines.

Beacon

This song began with two chords and has a second version that exclusively plays at night, only audible within the game.

Flow

The concept for this track was a piece that starts with a single note, builds up, and then fades away. The intention was to create a wet and airy atmosphere to match the game's context, utilizing complex instruments like synthetic flutes and tube percussion.

Formations

This track was designed to mimic the sound of water dripping from stalactites and other sounds from distant underground locations.

Legend

Inspired by chords moving up major thirds and a desire for a flute-like melody, this track also draws inspiration from the Shire theme from Lord of the Rings.

Compass

This track was influenced by the map music from Mass Effect and the stability of Tangerine Dream's "Love on a Real Train." The goal was to create a warm, sunny, and somewhat important feeling.

Forgotten

The music for this track changes in-game based on location and time of day. This version is edited to include portions of each. The "shaky" distortion is a result of modulating amplitude with a noise signal (a type of audio manipulation).

Sync

This riff originated from work on another track and was revisited a year later. The pulsing parts towards the end are labeled "Reich" in reference to Steve Reich.

Glitch

This song is composed entirely of elements from other songs within Fez. The eight elements used are: Sync (beat; regular + reversed), Forgotten (melody), Fear (effect), Puzzle (Night Version; not on soundtrack), Loom (Broken Portal Room; not on soundtrack), Home (percussion), Beacon (melody), and Knowledge (effect).

Fear

This track comprises three separate cues in the game, designed to mimic the sounds of bats, rain, and thunder. The "thunder" strikes are programmed to trigger randomly to keep the player alert.

Spirit

Composed almost entirely of black keys, this song creates a major pentatonic scale. It is an improvisation where only one note is played at a time, with other notes added as a MIDI effect (a way to digitally control musical instruments).

Nature

This song uses a single instrument and features different moods for day and night. Critters scurry during the day, while they dance at night. The first section consists of overdubbed improvisations without a set tempo.

Knowledge

This song is made up of short parts in different time signatures.

Death

Originally conceived on an upright piano, this melody was recreated with basic chord accompaniment on a laptop. The arrangement attempts to capture an 80s horror mystique.

Memory

This track serves as foreshadowing and relates to a past event.