Back catalogue: Classical

Review: Carlos NiNo & Friends' Placenta is a deeply conceptual and collaborative album, marking the fourth collection of their imaginative music released on International Anthem in recent years. Inspired by NiNo's experience of becoming a father again, the album is dedicated to the spirit of family, birth, and the experience of bringing new life into the world. Each track is a sonic exploration, from the soulful 'Love to all Doulas!' to the ethereal 'Moonlight Watsu in Dub.' NiNo's refusal to confine himself to genres is evident in the diverse sounds and textures woven throughout the album, reflecting his belief that friendships drive the greatest creative collaborations. With contributions from an impressive list of collaborators, Placenta is a prime example to the power of community and the boundless possibilities of musical experimentation. It's a heartfelt and visionary work that invites listeners on a transformative journey of sound and emotion.

Review: Presented as a celebration to mark Ryuichi Sakamoto's 70th birthday, this fantastic collection sees an impressive and eclectic array of artists remix and cover tracks from the Japanese great's vast catalogue. The results are largely impressive, from the slowly shifting, foreboding, dusk-in-the-jungle ambience of Lim Giong's version of 'Walker' and David Sylvian's incredible vocal version of hazy soundacape 'Grains', to Devonte Hynes' Emily Schubert-sporting jazz re-make of 'Choral No. 1' and Cinematic Orchestra's delicious ambient jazz interpretation of 'DNA'. Other highlights include Thundercat's typically soulful, flash-fried 21st century jazz-funk take on 'Thousand Knives' and a masterclass in neo-classical/ambient fusion from regular Sakamoto collaborator Alva Noto. Impeccable!

Review: One of the most startling aspects of Todd Philips' Joker sequel - aside from the creepy, claustrophobic, horror-leaning moodiness of Hildur Guonadottir's original score - was the director's decision to get its lead character to belt out cover versions of well-known songs, jukebox musical style. It's that aspect of the film's soundtrack that's showcased on this release, rather than Guonadottir's incredible score. Joaquim Phoenix and Lady Gaga, then, are the undoubted stars of the show, belting out - individually or collectively - such familiar favourites as 'That's Entertainment', 'That's Life', 'When You're Smiling (The World Smiles With You)' and 'To Love Somebody'.

Review: Mortiz Von Oswald continues to apply his considerable legacy to intriguing new ideas as he explores the differences and similarities between humans and machines on Silencio. For this new project, the Basic Channel pioneer has teamed up with Vocalconsort Berlin. The original framework of the album was composed and recorded on an array of synths and then transcribed to sheet music to be performed by Vocalconsort in a Kreuzberg church. By merging the source material and the resulting new recordings, Von Oswald and his collaborators present us with a compelling reflection on the tension between organic and electronic, cast in his distinctive style of hypnotic minimalism.