Mondo Schallplatten & CDs

Review: There really is no stopping Ramon Djawadi. The German films score composer, conductor and producer has given us a number of very high profile soundtracks since he first began working professionally in the late-1990s, with the past decade seeing him rise to real prominence. Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Clash of the Titans, Pacific Rim, Iron Man, Prison Break, Jack Ryan, and a number of video games (Medal of Honor, Gears of War 4 and 5) all feature his name in their credits. Here we are with Westworld Season 3, then, another huge addition to his oeuvre, both in terms of the status of the TV show and the tracks on the record itself. From woozy string overtures we can only imagine complemented death or redemption scenes, to rough and ready metal and hard rock ('Moto'), huge percussive cinematic climaxes ('Start A Revolution') and lush ambient ('Caleb'). Simply put, this is epic sounding stuff.

Review: Mondo, in collaboration with Sony Music and the Jeff Healey estate, delivers a definitive edition of the Road House soundtrack, featuring the full breadth of The Jeff Healey Band's contributions to the iconic 1989 film. Unlike previous releases, which contained only a fraction of the band's performances, this album features all 12 songs recorded and performed by the band in the film, including seven previously unreleased tracks. Painstakingly restored by Roger Costa and the Jeff Healey estate, this release serves as a tribute to Healey's extraordinary talent and the enduring legacy of Road House. The accompanying eight-page booklet, curated by Costa, offers comprehensive liner notes and oral history, complemented by never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos from Healey's estate and images by Peter Sorel. With package design and layout by Mo Shafeek, this release is a great package of Healey's music and the cult-classic film. It celebrates both Healey's incredible contributions and the lasting impact of Road House, offering listeners a deeper version of the film's unforgettable soundtrack.

Review: John Williams' score for E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial may not be as instantly recognizable as his themes for Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it includes some of his loveliest and most varied melodies. The stirring theme from Elliott and E.T.'s iconic bike flight is the standout, but the score also features eerie, unresolved themes, delicate harp arpeggios, and a rippling piano piece in the closing credits. Despite its reputation for being saccharine, the film's score reflects darker and more poetic tones, with foreboding pieces accompanying the extraterrestrials' botany hunt and the scientists' invasion of Elliott's home. Dan McCarthy's cover art and Mike Duquette's liner notes enhance this reissue, which offers twice as much music as the original release, making this a great version to have.