Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Randy Newman's evocative score for the 1998 film Pleasantville is set to make its debut on vinyl, and it's an edition that soundtrack enthusiasts won't want to miss. Released by Varese Sarabande and Craft Recordings, this 2XLP Deluxe Edition comes in a stunning 'colourblast' red white & blue swirl. The collection spans 34 tracks, expanding the original score to an impressive 66 minutes. Included are previously unreleased tracks and extended cues, making this a truly comprehensive offering. The film Pleasantville, starring Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, is a poignant blend of fantasy and comedy that delves into themes of identity and change. Randy Newman's score perfectly complements this narrative, blending nostalgic Americana with deeply emotional compositions. His ability to infuse humour and warmth into the music shines throughout, particularly in pieces like 'The Pleasantville Theme' and 'Bud's A Hero' and visually, this album looks as good as the music within.

Review: 25 years after it was originally unveiled, Nine Inch Nails' soundtrack for the video game Quake - a dark and doom-laden first person shoot-'em-up - still sounds surprisingly intense and unsettling. Their decision to write and record the soundtrack was itself pioneering - Quake was one of the first games to seek sounds from a big-name act - while its pitch-black musical blend of fractured electronic sounds, dark ambient sweeps and creepy, largely beat-free soundscapes was undoubtedly ahead of the curve. Remarkably, this meticulously re-mastered vinyl edition marks the first time the soundtrack has been available on anything other than a CD bundled with copies of the game. An undoubted classic of its type.

Review: Yikes, it's the 30th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s iconic album Ready to Die already. To mark the occasion it gets a special double gatefold and coloured vinyl repress and what hip-hop album is more deserving? Its initial release marked a pivotal moment in hip-hop history and introduced the world to Biggie's gritty storytelling, unique flow, and larger-than-life persona. Tracks like 'Juicy' and 'Big Poppa' became timeless classics that influenced generations of artists. The anniversary is not just a celebration of the album's success, but a tribute to Biggie's enduring legacy and listening back now to him, capturing the raw essence of struggle, fame, and survival in urban America is still as fantastic as ever.

Review: Hydeout Productions turn their attention once more to the ever-influential lo-fi hip-hop pioneer Nujabes (Jun Seba). Seba's simple formula for cooking up stirring beats - sampler-driven loops, piano overlays, and reverberative flows from guest rappers over and above - has proven timeless so far. His debut LP Metaphorical Music evinces the artist's mastery from the jump, with no letup on quality and handicraft thereafter. Through these serene beats, with enduring features from English-speaking compatriots Cise Starr, Shing02 and Substantial guesting, we're left to wonder what exactly the titular conceit is. Research hardly does the trick: despite the name, these are free-floating, proto-cloud rap sonic phosphenes, not overt concepts. The vibe of relaxation is present throughout, and Nujabes' emphasis on the instrumental despite the rap features are also evident, with floaty beat-centric breakdowns and abrupt easings of flow, present throughout.

Review: Embarking on a reissues campaign of lo-fi hip-hop pioneer Nujabes' earliest material, Hydeout Productions share a new edition of the storied producer's second record, Modal Soul. In contrast to his debut Metaphorical Music, Modal Soul is the full-length that really took the world by quiet storm. Laid down after both the solo debut and the release of two Samurai Champloo soundtracks, Modal Soul marked a return to source, and is another testament to what Nujabes did best. Most hip-hop fans will preconsciously, instantly recognise the central, flourishing piano movement of the opener 'Feather', which sticks to the four-bar formula whilst inviting fellow rappers Cise Starr and Akin to wax freely, the central theme being lightness of being: "drifting away like a feather in air / Letting my words take me away from the hurt and despair". The maudlin mood is kept throughout, with cumulative standouts such as 'Reflection Eternal' having also inscribed themselves in collective memory, and more swung experiments like 'Sea Of Cloud' showcasing Nujabes' slowly but surely disclosing a skilful abstraction of breakbeat roots.