Back catalogue: Modern Classical

Review: Joe Hisaishi's latest release offers a compelling fusion of classical and cinematic music. The compositions, originally crafted for film soundtracks, are reimagined with orchestral arrangements that breathe new life into the pieces. The album showcases Hisaishi's signature style, blending emotive melodies with intricate orchestration. Listeners are treated to a rich auditory experience that highlights the depth and versatility of Hisaishi's work.

Review: Wasia Project are a South Croydon-raised sibling duo - Olivia Hardy (vocals, guitar) and William Gao (keyboards, piano, vocals) - who strike a nice balance in sharing the limelight. This is only their second EP but you can tell they're going to be massive. They've already toured in support of Tom Odell and Laufey and they clearly have the quality to go the distance. 'Somebody Come Through' is as good as anything Sharon Van Etten has released. 'Track 6' brings back memories of listening to Beach House and 'To Get Better' is reminiscent of Matt Maltese. Underneath all the indie references there's a really strong classical training and we hear that on the closing track, with a masterful piano crescendo dimming the lights, but leaving us wanting for more.

Review: On March 30th last year, Joe Hisaishi made a triumphant debut at the sold-out Vienna Musikverein when he conducted a program of his own compositions. Now, Deutsche Grammophon has put together the release of Joe Hisaishi in Vienna, the renowned Japanese composer, conductor, and pianist's second album for the label. This recording follows his successful debut, A Symphonic Celebration - Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki, which was one of 2023's best-selling classical albums. The follow-up features two world premiere recordings in the form of 'Symphony No. 2,' performed with the Wiener Symphoniker, and 'Viola Saga,' featuring soloist Antoine Tamestit.

Review: This new one from our favourite US ambient outlet takes the form of a selection of long-form compositions from artists who are close to the label. As such it's a perfect reflection of its signature sound - deeply immersive soundscapes, slowly shifting synths and meditative moods made with a mix of hardware tools, guitars, pedals and even baritone vocals. It's named after a Norwegian term for warmth and intimacy, which certainly plays out from the evolving loops of 'A Whisper' to the textured melancholy of 'Canaan' and the reverberant drift of 'Coronation Ring'.

Review: Shackleton and Waclaw Zimpel's first album Primal Forms was a masterful collaboration which arrived on Cosmo Rhythmatic in 2020. The pair clearly found fruit in their crossover as they return for a second instalment, this time on 7K! and with an expanded approach thanks to the addition of Siddhartha Belmannu, a strikingly talented young singer in the field of Indian classical music. The over-arching intention of the artists was to make a joyous album about the wonder of life and living, but of course this isn't a one-dimensional happy-clappy record. Rather, it's a meditative exercise dealing in fascinating microtonality and mesmerising harmonic interplay with the power to have a profound, uncanny effect on the listener.

Review: Los Angeles-based composer Tashi Wada steps out with his long awaited debut album, What Is Not Strange?, and a fine first solo outing it is too. It is by far his most ambitious and widescreen work to date and it comes laden with plenty of emotion as a result of the fact that it was written and recorded over a period that encompassed the death of his father and the rather opposite feelings of experiencing the birth of his daughter. As such Wada reflects inward to explore various themes including being alive, mortality and finding one's place in the world. His unique song based expressionism goes from ecstatic to denser forms and starker contrasts. It is a wonderful experiment and immersive listen.

Review: Mutant has hooked up with Hollywood Records and 20th Century Studios to offer up the first ever physical release of Benjamin Wallfisch's score for Alien: Romulus. Wallfisch's masterful score successfully revives the chilling atmosphere of the original Alien films with the dissonant, atonal soundscapes of Jerry Goldsmith and melodies from later sequels creating a uniquely immersive listen. This limited edition release captures Wallfisch's remarkable craft and is a fine tribute to the franchise's legacy while adding his own distinct voice. It includes liner notes by director Fede Alvarez for an ever fuller experience.

Review: This deluxe vinyl reissue presents the original Bride of Frankenstein soundtrack featuring remastered audio, new artwork, and estate-approved likenesses of Elsa Lanchester. Directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff and Lanchester, the 1935 horror classic is widely regarded as one of cinema's greatest sequels and was rightly celebrated as Whale's masterpiece. The movie was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 1998 for its cultural significance and this historic release has been sourced from master acetates at Syracuse University and Universal's archives and marks the first time the film's original score is available on vinyl.

Review: This project began in 2018 when Jonny Campos was on a break from playing guitar with Grammy-winning Lost Bayou Ramblers and recorded ambient pedal steel passages at Kirkland Middleton's house. The resulting tracks are named after vanished Southern Louisiana waterways and evoke a sense of impermanence. The music flows like a dream, slipping into consciousness as a serene, meditative experience or a deeply resonant one. The album first came digitally and on cassette via Nouveau Electric Records in 2020 but now lands on vinyl thanks to DFA.

Review: "One might thus regard the Welsh rarebit as a Machine in which a process is applied to the conditioning and perception of the world of bread and cheese." Suffice to say, John White might not have had the same ideas about what constitutes Machine Music back in 1976 as you do today. This is also the first time we've ever managed to get a reference to Welsh rarebit into the first line of writing about a record, so everyone is learning something today. "The Machines" White refers to are the individual tracks themselves, all recorded between 1967 and 1972 and all comprising different combinations of a thing. Six pairs of "bass melody instruments" made 'Autumn Countdown Machine', different permutations of "the articulations 'ging, gang, gong, gung, ho!'" comprise 'Jews Harp Machine'. And 'Son of Gothic Chord' is crafted from the sequential chord progression of four keyboard players, spanning an octave. Conceptual experimental and wildly imaginative stuff on the borderline of electronica, abstract, mathematical and something otherworldly.

Review: The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble's debut album, Heat Ray, is a riveting exploration inspired by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes. Recorded on analogue synthesizers alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the ensemble - led by Goldfrapp co-creator Will Gregory - brings together up to 14 talented players, including Portishead's Adrian Utley and Mute's Daniel Miller. Heat Ray fuses spirals of melody, circular structures, and intricate patterns, drawing inspiration from Archimedes' mathematical principles. The album's genesis during pandemic lockdowns reflects Gregory's deep dive into Archimedes' life, sparked by online lectures. With a lineup boasting instruments like the Minimoog and Prophet 6, the ensemble weaves a stunning superstructure of sounds, guided by Gregory's effervescent spirit of discovery. The result is a splendid blend of ancient history and modern innovation, where musical exploration converges with mathematical curiosity. Heat Ray not only pays homage to Archimedes' legacy but also propels listeners towards an endlessly fascinating future.

Review: John Williams' Home Alone soundtrack is a heartwarming classic that perfectly complements the holiday season. Known for his work on Star Wars, E.T.and Harry Potter, Williams brings the same orchestral magic to this beloved Christmas film. The score includes memorable tracks like 'Somewhere in My Memory,' a recurring theme throughout the film, and 'Star of Bethlehem,' which captures the festive spirit with choral and orchestral elegance. The standout track, 'Setting the Trap,' diverges from Williams' usual orchestral sound, incorporating electronics and percussion to enhance Kevin's creative showdown with the burglars. Alongside traditional Christmas carols like 'O Holy Night' and 'Carol of the Bells,' the soundtrack blends nostalgia with whimsy. Though the album repeats familiar motifs, its charm makes it a refreshing alternative to typical holiday music. The Home Alone soundtrack is available in a limited edition red and gold vinyl 2xLP, making it an essential for any festive playlist. Whether it's playing while decorating the tree or enjoying Christmas cookies, this release brings the holiday spirit alive.

Review: The finale of the original trilogy had it all, sewers, blimps, mysterious invisible CGI bridges, you name it! What it also had was an incredible soundtrack, now reissued here to commemorate its 35th anniversary. Although Temple of Doom was another box office hit, critical reactions were heavily mixed and it obviously affected director Steven Spielberg enough that he spent a couple extra years on completing the Indiana Jones trilogy. John Williams of course returns with a lot of new themes - there are a couple of artifact themes this time around, both evoking a strong religious feeling, without any of the ominous feeling that some of the other movies' soundtrack have. The first is the primary Grail theme, which appears in the travel cue portion of 'X Marks the Spot.' Most of its appearances were absent on the original album, but restored here. In the case of Indiana Jones, the music is almost as important as the movies - and the Last Crusade was one of the emost original and in depth soundtracks in the series.

Review: John Williams' iconic soundtrack for Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom remains a classic amongst soundtrack fans as it captures the adventurous spirit of the film in every note. With thrilling orchestrations and memorable motifs, Williams once again proves his mastery in cinematic composition from the exhilarating 'The Temple Of Doom' theme to the haunting 'Slave Children's Crusade,' each track transports you in an instant to the heart of the action-packed adventure. The score's ability to evoke a sense of danger, excitement, and wonder is unparalleled and that makes this a must-have for fans of film music and Indiana Jones aficionados alike.

Review: Classical and film composition legend John Williams, at the time of writing, is currently still in Tokyo; it was only two months ago, in February 2024, that Williams returned to Japan for two special concerts, held in Matsumoto and Tokyo respectively, to perform select pieces from his esteemed film score repertoire. Performed alongside conductor Seiji Ozawa - and this being his debut with the world famous Saito Kinen Orchestra - the second of these concerts is now available to purchase on vinyl here thanks to Deutsche Grammophon, complementing his prior concert albums The Berlin Concert and John Williams in Vienna.

Review: A grand, limited-edition 7-LP vinyl set that celebrates the legendary composer through live performances with some of the world's most renowned orchestras, capturing Williams conducting iconic scores with ensembles like the Saito Kinen Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker and Wiener Philharmoniker. Additionally, it includes the world premiere of Williams' Violin Concerto No. 2, featuring violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The set covers a wide range of Williams' celebrated film compositions, including unforgettable themes from Harry Potter (like 'Hedwig's Theme') and Star Wars (featuring tracks such as 'Princess Leia's Theme' and 'The Imperial March'). Other highlights include E.T.'s 'Flying Theme', Jurassic Park's evocative main theme and the suspenseful, instantly recognizable score from Jaws. The box set's careful design includes a booklet with liner notes, essays by film-music writer Jon Burlingame, and personal reflections from Williams and other performers. Each LP is dedicated to a different concert experience, with memorable encore performances from Tokyo, Vienna and Boston adding to the collection's richness. A thoughtfully curated release and a unique journey through Williams' music.

Review: John Williams and Yo-Yo Ma have been creative and personal friends and collaborators for many decades now. Their fruitful partnership is revived here for a new recording for Sony Classical alongside the rightly venerated New York Philharmonic. The record features two concert works that the composer penned for the cellist with some extra inclusions taken from his famous film scores for movies such as Schindler's List, Lincoln, and Munich. There are also some guest appearances including Spanish guitarist Pablo Sainz-Villegas and harpist Jessica Zhou. A superb sounding and magnificently executed album for fans of classical music.

Review: The 2022 horror film 'M3gan' deals with the uncanny terror of having a sort of AI-driven robot gain malevolent sentience in the comfort of a suburban home. British composer Anthony Willis, known for his work on past greats like 'How To Train Your Dragon', proves himself adept at sonically reflecting this pre-singularity dread. Much like its theme of a shadowy toy company programmer's invention of a murderous lifelike doll, the soundtrack is looming and conspiratorial, and deservingly comes to OST specialists Waxwork on the LP version here.

Review: Windy & Carl's album Consciousness encapsulates the duo's exploration of ambient and drone music with a warmer, more pastoral feel compared to their previous works. Absent are the vague dread and claustrophobia, replaced by buoyant soundscapes that evoke sense of tranquility. The song titles themselves, such as 'The Sun' and 'Elevation,' reinforce this lighter tone. 'The Sun' opens the album with simple yet direct electric guitar chords, setting the stage for the serene journey ahead. Even tracks like 'Balance (Trembling)' touch on darker shadings but quickly transition to glowing, comforting tones. Tracks like 'Elevation' and 'The Llama's Dream' contribute to the dream-like atmosphere of the album, with shimmering tones and ethereal vocals adding to its hallucinatory quality. 'Resolution' concludes the album with a final, contemplative note. Consciousness shows Windy & Carl's dedication to perfecting the drone. While there may not be a major departure in style, the album is commitment to crafting immersive sonic experiences. For fans of ambient and drone music, Consciousness is another great album to have and enjoy.

Review: Portland's Luke Wyland is back with a deeply personal album exploring themes of flow, identity and self-expression. Named after a coastal Oregon location, it transcends its physical origin. Recorded live and blending computer-based composition with electro-acoustic instruments, the album features discontinuous ripples and repetitions that create emotive arcs that challenge the usual linearity of music. Wyland reflects on the complexities of self-expression throughout while offering an intricate soundscape that mirrors the unpredictable movement of water. Kuma Cove is a fine trip through transitory states and energies.