Oh, you thought Ska was dead? Wrong! Not only is it alive and well, but this precursor to rocksteady and reggae is thriving in the video game scene as well, as a group of artists have come together to create an album dedicated to Mario Kart 64 called Skario Kart.
Released under GameGrooves’ music label, Skario Kart is a 16-track album that features the work of 14 different artists, each bringing their own funky rhythm to the soundtrack. GameGrooves producer Allen Brasch had the following to say about this unique collaboration.
“Drawing inspiration from Skatune Network, I wanted to transform Mario Kart 64’s soundtrack into a ska-filled celebration. With the help of Brent and Jer from Skatune Network, I was able to contact several artists in the ska community, and together with existing GameGrooves artists, we created a one-of-a-kind album for fans of ska and video game music alike.”
The full tracklisting for Skario Kart: A Ska Tribute to Mario Kart 64 is as follows:
- Mario Kart 64 Theme
- 3 Raceways / Mario Stadium
- Moo Moo Farm/Yoshi Valley
- Koopa Troopa Beach
- Kalimari Desert
- Set up and Kart Select
- Toad’s Turnpike
- Frappe Snowland/Sherbert Island
- Choco Mountain/Battle Arenas
- Koopa Castle
- Battle Arenas
- DK’s Jungle Party
- Banshee Boardwalk
- Rainbow Road
- Trophy Presentations
- Victory Lap
Anyone interested in listening to Skario Kart can head over to Bandcamp, where you can also purchase a copy if you want to download it.