Minecraft is a dreamscape, a limitless world where

anything is possible. Minecraft is a tool, a means ofbringing the imagination to life. Minecraft is acommunity, a platform on which inventive minds of allages can share their creations and ideas. Minecraft, ofcourse, is also a game, the most popular and best-sellingvideo game of all time. Created in 2009 by Swedishprogrammer Markus Notch Persson, this culturalphenomenon speaks volumes of our current zeitgeistslove for virtual spaces, but its unprecedented successcouldnt be pinned on one factor alone. Countless layersof thoughtful artistry flow through Minecrafts singularexperience, not the least of which is its transportivesoundtrack by C418, the project of German composerand musician Daniel Rosenfeld. Minecraft Volume Alpha,the first installment of a two-part OST, helped breathelife into the games voxel-based universe. Upon release,fans and critics were universally enamored with C418sbeatless, nuanced electronic pieces. Popular gaming siteKotaku named it among The Best Game Music of 2011,calling the music remarkably soothing. The Guardiancompared Rosenfelds delicate piano and sparseambient motifs to legendary artists Erik Satie and BrianEno. Polygon distilled Volume Alpha to its essence: Itsnot bound by the retro aesthetic of Minecrafts graphics.It transcends them. The album is an attempt to uplift thecombined game/music experience into the sublime.