Back catalogue: Classical

Review: It's hard to keep up with superhero movie franchises, at least in terms of timeline, but those who have seen the 2002 Spider-Man, which arrived early on in the comic book-screen explosion, will attest to the fact it's a great blockbuster deserving of the attention it received at the time. And box office results. No big screen bonanza is ever complete without an accompanying score, of course, and Elfman's offering more than sets to mood.

Known for his regular work with the likes of Tim Burton, Sam Raimi, and Gus Van Sant, the US muso - who, incidentally, earned his stripes as part of the 1980s new wavers Oingo Boingo - marries relatively traditional bombast orchestral arrangements with slightly leftfield compositions, drawing electronic elements into the mix while never forgetting the power of a huge string crescendo.

Review: Iconic movie classic Beetlejuice is back and we for one have enjoyed its return. Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic has been reimagined for modern audiences in 2014 and came complete with a new soundtrack. The original score, composed by the legendary Danny Elfman, blends whimsical melodies with eerie undertones, perfectly capturing the film's quirky and haunting vibe. Highlights of the original include Elfman's iconic main titles, which have become synonymous with Burton's gothic style. The new soundtrack also features standout tracks like Alfie Davis & The Sylvia Young Theatre School Choir's rendition of 'Day-O' and Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting," adding fresh dimensions to this timeless, offbeat classic.

Review: Nothing much compares to watching a Tim Burton movie. The macabre fantasy director, animator, author and artist has essentially built one of the most vivid fictional universes of all time for himself, his fans and characters. A place of outsiders, for outsiders, where leftfield and gothicism reign supreme, the original Beetlejuice is one of the defining films in that oeuvre, so pressure was on when the sequel was announced. If you're yet to see it, let's swerve opinionated spoilers and stick to what we can say - Danny Elfman's iconic theme tune is still as wonderfully evocative as ever, and the compiled soundtrack is great. Donna Summer, Sigur Ros, Scott Weiland... with the inclusion of Pino Donaggio's deceptively serene 'Main Title From Carrie', from the nightmarish 1976 Sissy Spacek version of Carrie, is a stroke of aural comedic genius.

Review: A true enigma, an artist that represents all that was fascinating and romantic and alluring and intriguing about 20th Century sounds, Brian Eno was always going to need a feature length documentary, when the time was right. Premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Eno, Gary Hustwit's ode to the man, myth and legend, wowed critics and blew audiences away. Not least because it uses a computer programme which selects footage and edits the movie so a different version is shown at every screening. Innovation befitting Eno, removing the visuals and focusing on the sounds readjusts our vision to bring Eno into greater focus. The breadth of what's on this soundtrack is remarkable, from upfront indie on 'Stiff' and the weird folk-pop of 'Spinning Away', a John Cale collaboration, the ghostly post-rave of 'Cmon' with Fred Again, spectacular pianos of 'Motion In The Field', ethereal ambient vocals on 'There Were Bells', the angular punk dominating 'Third Uncle' - we could go on, and on, and on.

Review: If you've seen the TV series The Last Kingdom chances are you're pretty hyped about the idea of a feature length movie. Before that, though, we get Destiny Is All, an album made up of sounds from the super-popular Viking drama that stands out for many reasons. Whether you consider this dinner party music is a question of taste, but in the grand scheme of tunes made to score historical shows this is a cut above so much.
Forsaking tradition in favour of innovation, the arrangements here seem to transcend the period in which the narrative was set, and yet are so evocative of that age. A time of heroes, myths, legends, thunderstorms, rituals, runes, and an overwhelming sense of adventure, all those things are captured here but through the combination of orchestral bombast, choral voices, chants and electronic equipment.