Nothing held back: Lorien Testard's music for Clair Obscur
When finally presented with the opportunity to write his first ever game score, composer Lorien Testard grabbed on with both hands to take players on the ride of their lives.
Across a soundtrack album of more than eight hours, Testard put his heart and soul into every inch of this score, with themes and compositions that explore every possible emotional element of this story. His numerous melodies accompany the titular expedition, as they travel from their French-inspired city of Lumière to try and stop a creature known as The Paintress from enacting her annual erasure of souls, known as the Gommage.
The first part of the title, Clair Obscur , takes its name from chiaroscuro - the contrast of light and darkness in visual art, especially painting. This concept is at the heart of the game's story, characterisation, and visual style, driving every composition by Testard. As dark, heavy, and heartbreaking as some moments can be (the "obscur"), there is always lightness and levity to be found (the "clair").
Joining the composer on this score is vocalist and co-composer Alice Duport-Percier, who becomes a central voice to the score as she brings the lyrics of this world to life. Testard also features the Orchestre Curieux (the Curious Orchestra), a chamber ensemble led by Daniel Sicard, as well as several guest musicians to expand the score's sonic palette. Actor Ben Starr also makes his tender singing debut in this story, and vocalists Victor Borba and Axelle Verner bringing the heat to some of its biggest confrontations.
With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 , Lorien Testard has cemented himself as a talent impossible to ignore.
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