Back catalogue: Soundtracks

Review: It's astounding to think that Mother 2 was released in 1994. A landmark moment for the SNES video game system, it arrived five years after its predecessor, and as such enjoyed the benefits of what was then a next generation platform. Felt in terms of graphical and gameplay capabilities, suffice to say the upgraded hardware was also capable of capturing much more engaging and imaginative music. Here we are, almost 30 years on from when this sequel first captivated people, and the score itself gets a re-release on vinyl. Again drafting Hirokazu Tanaka and Keiichi Suzuki as composers, the pair would later explain how much more freedom they had due to the technological progress made between this and its predecessor. Translated into a music review, think deep, atmospheric ambient constructed from many layers of sound. A futuristic sonic trip into the far reaches of the cosmos that still holds up within the genre today.

Review: The iconic Contra saga gets a big revival here with Ship to Shore unveiling the inaugural vinyl release of KONAMI's Contra: ReBirth soundtrack. In this superb adventure, Chief Salamander threatens Earth by altering history, plunging it into chaos. Exclusive to WiiWare in 2009, Contra ReBirth offers a nostalgic homage to classic 16-bit run-and-gun gameplay, enhanced with modern graphics and seamless action. The soundtrack, remixed in signature KONAMI ReBirth style, revitalises beloved Contra melodies and delivers an electrifying fusion of past and present. Complete with liner notes by Jeremy Parish and captivating artwork by Drew Wise, this one comes on striking purple-blue swirl wax.