Back catalogue: Soundtracks

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: Tigran Hamasyan's latest album, The Bird of a Thousand Voices, is his most ambitious work yet and one inspired by a traditional Armenian tale. This transmedia project includes a staged play that premiered at the Holland Festival back in June of this year plus two cinematic music videos, a documentary video, and an online game. The ancient firebird tale, passed down through spoken word over the generations, symbolises the modern world's quest for connection amidst ecological, psychological, and spiritual challenges. By blending Armenian traditional music with jazz improvisation, Tigran, who himself is one of today's most innovative jazz pianists, continues his artistic collaboration with filmmaker Ruben Van Leer to create unique musical experiences.

Review: Those interested in Japanese cartoons should know Space Adventure Cobra. First broadcast in 1982, it is now considered one of the country's finest animated TV series. This triple-vinyl box set celebrates Kentano Haneda and Yuji Ono's music from the series, combining compositions featured on the show with unheard extended versions and tracks that never made the cut first time round. Musically, it's a mix of Japanese disco, sax-sporting lounge jazz, jazz-funk, neo-classical movements and eccentric interludes, all doused in layers of cosmic dust and stargazing colour. The release also comes packaged with a 12-page booklet telling the story of the series and the making of the appealing, endlessly entertaining soundtrack.

Review: The 2023 film Wonka has delighted audiences with its fantastic original soundtrack featuring performances by lead actor Timothee Chalamet and an exceptional ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, Calah Lane, and Keegan-Michael Key. Composed by Joby Talbot and penned by songwriter Neil Hannon, the score captures the essence of the golden age of Hollywood musicals while paying homage to the beloved classics of the past. Director Paul King's vision of a prequel to the iconic 1971 film comes to life with enchanting melodies and vibrant arrangements, inviting listeners on a whimsical journey through the fantastical world of Willy Wonka.

Review: The Pom Poko (Original Soundtrack), now available on vinyl, offers an excellent blend of Japanese traditional music, samba, mambo, and more. Composed by Shang Shang Typhoon, the soundtrack beautifully complements Isao Takahata's 1994 Studio Ghibli film, Pom Poko. The movie, which explores the story of tanuki (raccoon dogs) fighting against urban development, is a whimsical yet poignant reflection on environmental themes and Japanese folklore. 'Itsudemo Dareka ga' brilliantly shows an example of the album's rich and evocative soundscape, merging lively rhythms with the film's emotional core. The diverse use of instruments creates a vibrant atmosphere, reflecting the tanuki's playful and mischievous spirit while blending moments of melancholy with the encroaching destruction of their forest home. This reissue marks 30 years since the film's release and provides a perfect soundtrack for fans of both Ghibli and world music. Experience this soundtrack that will transport you back to the magical world of Pom Poko.

Review: The original motion picture soundtrack for The Truck Turner delivers a thrilling blend of gritty funk, soul and high-energy jazz that perfectly complemented the 1974 blaxploitation classic. Composed by the great Isaac Hayes, the soundtrack is a dynamic showcase of his signature style that blends soulful melodies with intense orchestral arrangements. Tracks like 'Main Theme' and 'Breaking Into The Business' capture the raw energy and tension of the film while Hayes' deep voice and lush arrangements bring an added layer of sophistication to the score.

Review: The 20th Anniversary Edition of the Beyond Good & Evil official soundtrack offers a revitalised take on the game's original music. The soundtrack features a full orchestra which manages to preserve the intimate, improvised feel of the original compositions while adding new tracks recorded with unconventional instruments. Christophe Heral, the composer, speaks of the balance between modern orchestration and the quirky, spontaneous creativity that defined the 2003 release in the accompanying notes. With additions like a broken guitar and unique tuning, this anniversary edition celebrates the artistic spirit of the franchise and offers a fresh yet faithful homage to the original music.

Review: Matthew Herbert's score for Starve Acre is an atmospheric blend of tension and subtlety, perfectly complementing the film's eerie rural setting. Known for his innovative soundtracks - as well as his innovative house productions - Herbert delivers a composition that merges traditional orchestral elements with unsettling electronic soundscapes. The result is a haunting mix that mirrors the film's themes of grief, folklore, and the supernatural. Throughout the score, Herbert balances delicate, pastoral melodies with darker, more ominous tones. Tracks swell gently before giving way to deeper, more unsettling layers, capturing the oppressive sense of dread that permeates the film. The inclusion of two renditions of 'Let Me In' i one performed by actor Matt Smith and another by folk-electronic duo Crewdson & Cevanne i adds a folkish, melancholic edge to the soundtrack. Each version offers a distinct interpretation, with Smith's stripped-down approach contrasting with Crewdson & Cevanne's more textured take. Overall, Herbert's minimalist yet powerful score elevates the haunting atmosphere of Starve Acre, turning it into an unsettling sonic experience. Fans of atmospheric soundtracks and experimental compositions will appreciate the subtle craftsmanship on display.

Review: Studio Ghibli's entire series of scores reissues continues with this new one of the OST for The Wind Rises. One of few, if the only biographical Ghibli film out there, the sublime anime tells the story of the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the first ever low-wing monoplane flighter aircraft to enter service in war. Noted for its emotional heaviness (perhaps even more so than many of Ghibli's more surreal works), this is an effect markedly achieved by in-house composer Joe Hisiashi, whose simple statement of just eight songs hears him make use of tremolo'ing strings, accordions, symphonic structures and sad string plods.

Review: The Sonatine (1993) soundtrack is an exceptional work from legendary composer Joe Hisaishi, known above all for his in-house scores for Studio Ghibli. This inviting compendium of neoclassical, synth-driven, turn-of-the-80s electronica highlights the infamous artist's contemplative, intimate side, bringing an equally sparring yet evocative experience. Not a Ghibli contribution, the score instead accompanies a signature addition to the filmography of Takeshi Kitano: Sonatine is a stylish yakuza crime thriller following a weary gangster sent to Okinawa, where violence and existential reflection intertwine. These pensive, purgatory pieces are equally capable capacity to melt and enrapt the listener's heart, with refulgent piano and Roland DJ-800 / D-50s scoring a distinctive J-chillout mood (just listen to those flourishes on 'Play On The Sands').

Review: Guy Ritchie's multi-award winning 2015 movie The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was a new take on the hit 1960s television series of the same name. The music is part of what makes it great and it comes from Ivor Novello-winning and multi-BAFTA nominated composer Daniel Pemberton. His music mixes super relaxing lounge instrumentals taking in element sou jazz and swing with some stone cold classics like Roberta Flack's 'Compared To What' and Nina Simone gem 'Take Care Of Business.' This double vinyl package contains a four page booklet and is limited to 1000 copies.

Review: Master composer Joe Hisaish has a vast discography or works that have made him one of the best in the game. The Orchestra Stories Soundtrack was done for the Studio Ghibli animated Japanese classic My Neighbor Totoro and this edition has been fully remastered. The album is narrated by Shigesato Itoi as the father and the music has been newly arranged for those who are exposed to an orchestra for the first time. It comes in two parts - the first with the narration introducing the orchestra and all its parts and the second as a full suite without the narration.

Review: It is at this point a given that every Joe Hisiashi / Studio Ghibli soundtrack should land on our doorsteps. Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, The Boy And The Heron, is the very latest anime fantasy film to be released through the esteemed film franchise; described as a 'big, fantastical film', it follows a boy named Mahito Maki who moves to the countryside after his mother's death, discovers an abandoned tower near his new home, and enters a fantastical world with a talking grey heron. Whereas many of Hisiashi's other soundtracks deal in wide variegations of whimsy and heart-warmth, The Boy And The Heron skews purely to the latter, working in the bare but endlessly affecting mode of solo piano, and evoking the lonely but ultimately revelatory internal process that occurs during grief. Befitting of Miyazaki's controversial decision for the film not to pander to audiences or spell out meanings, so too does Hisiashi's contribution find reams of expression in a spare, single instrument.

Review: Anime has long been a source of incredibly creative ambient soundtrack music for generations of Japanese artists. 1997's Princess Mononoke is one of esteemed anime company Studio Ghibli most accomplished and notorious work, with a lush and symphonic soundtrack to match. The film has recently been made available on Netflix and now the music gets its own release with beautiful artwork. It was written by Joe Hisaishi and this edition was actually recorded ahead of the soundtrack itself and was solely based on notes by director Hayao Miyazaki on how he wanted the music to sound.

Review: Joe Hisiashi's incredible career as the scorer for all of Studio Ghibli's animated films (among other endeavours) has lent him an almost godlike status in the world of film music composition. Now, what better way to celebrate is there than to have him stop by for a unique 'versions' release of all the main themes from his scored films, and release them on a well-known indie label? A Symphonic Celebration hears Hisiashi revisit and recompose all the main themes from the likes of The Wind Rises, Mononoke and Spirited Away, putting fresh ears on his spirited, lifelong collaboration with director Hayao Miyazaki.

Review: How do you start describing the Mad Max universe to someone who's never been to the Mad Max universe? A relentless post-apocalyptic chase sequence across waterless badlands where H20, oil and ammo are the key motivators, alongside personal safety? A landmark science fiction that swerves high tech in favour of brute force and scavenged equipment and infrastructure? How about: a vision of a dried up, barren, desolate future where desertification and the absence of stuff are the defining factors? Australian cinema is at its best when opting for unsettling quiet and sparse settings, and Mad Max set a precedent for that. The modern incarnation of the 1979 original upped the special effects ante and made things a whole lot busier, but never lost that feeling of isolation and vulnerability. Now the latest instalment in the 21st Century series continues where predecessor, Fury Road, left off, and Tom Holkenborg clearly understands what it should mostly sound like. The dull thud of distant machines, a spluttering engine passing by, and near silent tension are the highlights here.

Review: Pirates have always had a pretty rough time in the land of video games. On the face of it, there's so much about bandits-on-the-waves that should work perfectly for a playable adventure. And yet so few have managed to really crack the formula, save for the likes of Assassin's Creed Black Flag and Sid Meier's standard-bearing Pirates. Enter Skull & Bones, a high spec 2024 release which - having reportedly spent the best part of a decade in development hell - really wants to change the sketchy track record. Sadly, it only partly manages it, with reviews pointing to a title that's "almost great", but not really. Nevertheless, the aesthetics and effects have been praised, as has the music. Created by Tom Holkenborg, AKA Junkie XL, while much of it is relatively bombastic classical stuff, there's more than a garnish of experimentalism, ambient and avant garde here, too.

Review: Moviegoers have been obsessed with man v beast since the first cameras were rolling on the earliest motion pictures. Der Golem, a 1915 German silent film buy Paul Wegener, is often cited as the first example of an on-screen creature, and since then they have come thick, fast, and usually pretty scary. At least at first. Of all the monsters out there, though, none come close to the scale of King Kong. Well, OK, maybe Godzilla. The pair certainly give each other a run for their money in the size stakes, and they've been pitted against each other several times before. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is the latest incarnation of that premise, Adam Wingard's 2024 flick. Here's the soundtrack, which is as bombastic and thrilling as you would hope from a major blockbuster like this.

Review: A popular and controversial new TV series, This England, documents the recent history of England's most contemptible prime minister, Boris Johnson, and his Conservative government's reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding the surreality of so quickly dramatizing a very real and bad collective experience (there are theories out there that say turning real traumatic world events into TV spectacles has the useful effect of placating a public that would otherwise grow revolutionarily angry), we still commend the OST by David Holmes here, which matches the urgency and quick-action of the pandemic as it spread across the country. Holmes' orchestral score aims for three disparate themes ('creeping', 'urgency', and 'careful'), which cause the music to rise in tactful intensity, contrasting to not-so-tactful 'traffic light' system to which the public was subject - but which the government somehow weren't.

Review: Fans of this one have long been waiting for a reissue and it is now finally here. It's a soundtrack to the movie Marusa no Onna which was directed by Juzo Itami and was set in the National Tax Bureau Inspection Department. The film's main theme marks the start of the album with its epic sax melody. It really shows off Toshiyuki Honda's impressive sound and kicks off an immersive and evocative record that was first released back in 1987 and has been a real digger's delight ever since.

Review: Over the last couple of years, author Justin Hopper has joined folk musician Sharron Kraus and vintage synthesizer fetishists Belbury Poly on stage to narrate sections of his 2017 novel "Old Weird Albion" - a "poetical, autobiographical and psycho-geographical account" of his experiences at Chanctonbury Ring in West Sussex. This album is, in effect, an extended re-recording of those performances, with Hopper reading choice excerpts from his book over an inspired fusion of traditional folk tropes - think recorder, flute, and drifting female vocals - atmospheric field recordings and 1970s style electronic instrumentation. Given that these synths have largely been used to re-record tudor style Baroque tunes (think "Greensleeves" and you're close), the results are not only delightfully eccentric but also admirably unique.

Review: Several of Whitney Houston's albums are being reissued right now including this soundtrack to The Preacher's Wife, which is now making its first ever appearance on vinyl. The album is the best-selling gospel record of all time and was released in November 1996. It features songs both performed and produced by Houston herself and she also, of course starred in the film. Her heart-swelling vocals make this an emotional record with the hauntingly beautiful likes of 'I Believe In You and Me,' spiritual sounds of 'Joy To The World,' and fine guest artists including Shirley Caesar, the Georgia Mass Choir, and Houston's mother and singing legend in her own right, Cissy Houston.

Review: Several of Whitney Houston's albums are being reissued right now including this soundtrack to The Preacher's Wife, making its first ever appearance on vinyl. The album is the best-selling gospel record of all time and was released in November 1996, featuring songs both performed and produced by Houston herself and she also, of course starred in the film. Her heart-swelling vocals make this an emotional record with the hauntingly beautiful likes of 'I Believe In You and Me,' spiritual sounds of 'Joy To The World,' and fine guest artists including Shirley Caesar, the Georgia Mass Choir and Houston's mother and singing legend in her own right, Cissy Houston.

Review: .Hollywood heavyweight James Newton Howard has turned his hand to a wide variety of movie soundtrack styles in his tenure as one of the go-to names for Hollywood scores. Allow us a moment to reel off the names, or a few of them at least: Pretty Woman, The Fugitive, Space Jam, The Sixth Sense - a list that could go on, and on, but you get the point. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sits at the more pomp and ceremony-filled end of things, epic classical overtures that invoke a sense of adventure, overcoming adversity, mild peril and inner strength. Even when heard without the visual accompaniment of the film itself you can't get away from those feelings, making for a rousing and compelling listening experience.

Review: It looks like Damien Chazelle, the young, impressive director of Whiplash and the more recent La La Land, likes to surround himself with equally talented youngsters. For the latter film, he's chosen Justin Hurwitz to compose the score for his successful musical featuring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, and we have to say that this is a real keeper. There's a bit of everything in here, a little vintage pop, some classical elements here and there, but jazz is what's at the core of this original score, and that's why we think it's great. What's more, you can listen to Gosling and Stone sing on your turntables. Check it out.

Review: When they brought back Tom Cruise's macho fighter pilot for Top Gun: Maverick, they were making no bones about the nostalgia trip. The original remains an endearingly ludicrous slice of 80s action with all the brawn necessary to make it an enduring hit, and the soundtrack more than matches up to that, going nine times platinum, no less. That's a lot of success to match up to, so Maverick pulls out the big guns by tapping up Lady Gaga for the hit-making and Hans Zimmer for the epic Hollywood score. It's tonnes of fun, and it even features Kenny Loggins' classic 'Danger Zone' from the original.