Back in stock: Leftfield

Review: Since its release in 1997, David Lynch's neo-noir-horror, Lost Highway, has become something of a cult classic. The accompanying soundtrack album, here reissued on weighty double vinyl, is similarly revered in some circles. Put together by Nine Inch Nails' frontman Trent Reznor, composer Angelo Badalamenti, and punk-turned-producer Barry Adamson, it's a mish-mash of darkly intense songs (Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins, Lou Reed and Rammstein all contribute), and the kind of creepy, other-worldly soundscapes that have always been a feature of Lynch's work. It's arguably the latter tracks, composed by Badalementi and Adamson, which remain creepily potent all these years on.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Daft Punk's soundtrack for 'Tron: Legacy' is a masterclass in electronic music, seamlessly blending their signature sound with the film's futuristic aesthetic. The duo's blend of pulsating synths, orchestral arrangements, and driving rhythms creates a sonic landscape that is both epic and intimate, capturing the film's themes of technology, identity, and the human spirit. Tracks like 'Derezzed' and 'The Game Has Changed' showcase Daft Punk's mastery of electronic music, while 'Son of Flynn' and 'Recognizer' demonstrate their ability to create sweeping, cinematic soundscapes. This soundtrack is a must-have for any fan of Daft Punk or electronic music in general, a testament to the duo's ability to transcend genre boundaries and create music that is both innovative and timeless.

Review: Disasterpeace, aka Rich Vreeland, stands out in the world of soundtrack composers. Neither strictly an electronic artist nor a conventional composer, he crafts soundscapes that transcend traditional genres. His compositions, rooted in a digital sound palette, feel warm and organic, often played live instead of digitally sequenced, giving his music a human touch rarely seen in electronic scores. Known for his haunting It Follows soundtrack and the iconic Fez score, Vreeland's music has a life far beyond the screens it accompanies. The Hyper Light Drifter soundtrack, reissued by iam8bit, exemplifies Disasterpeace's distinctive style. It's a journey through ambient, textured soundscapes filled with layered synthesisers and devoid of heavy percussion. Instead of driving beats, the focus rests on lush chord progressions and ambient tones, perfectly suited for moments of quiet reflection. Standout tracks like 'Panacea' feature a tape-worn piano, which pairs beautifully with the synths to create a melancholy and immersive atmosphere. This deluxe 4xLP set, with translucent vinyl and elegant packagingicomplete with magnetic wingflaps and a metallic foil layeripays homage to Vreeland's artistry and the soundtrack's legendary status.

Review: Danny Elfman's score for Batman '89 remains one of the most iconic and influential superhero soundtracks ever created. Released as a collector's edition by Mondo, this reissue features Elfman's monumental work, expertly conducted by Shirley Walker and performed by The Sinfonia of London. Elfman's theme, with its haunting, ascendant four-note motif, perfectly encapsulates the duality of Bruce Wayne and set the benchmark for superhero film scores. This vinyl reissue, pressed on 'Butterfly Effect' vinyl, is accompanied by a graphic novel continuation of the Batman story, making it a great collectable for fans of the 1989 film and Elfman's music. Elfman's ability to blend operatic grandeur with intense action shines throughout the score, notably in tracks like 'Charge of the Batmobile' and 'First Confrontation.' The playful, waltz-inspired theme for Jack Nicholson's Joker adds a layer of dark humor to the soundtrack, contrasting beautifully with the film's darker, more brooding moments. Complementing the release are stunning new artworks by Jiro Fujita and Paolo Rivera. This reissue, produced by Neil S. Bulk and mastered by James Plotkin, honors the legacy of Elfman's career-defining score, which has stood the test of time as the definitive sound of Gotham's Dark Knight.

Review: Joe Hisaishi is one of the most successful composers in the history of Japanese film and television, best known for providing soundtracks to a string of much-loved anime movies, as well as tie-in "image albums" - musical scores inspired by a particular anime character, and designed to give an impression of their personality. Ponyo on the Cliff By The Sea is one such endeavour: a cheery, playful celebration of the lead character from 2008 flick Ponyo. Across the "image album", you'll find plenty of jaunty songs sung by both adults and children, sweeping orchestral pieces in the usual film score style, and jaunty pieces that draw a surprising amount of influence from non-Japanese popular music styles

Review: The 21st Century so far has seen to a huge explosion in the esports industry, and League Of Legends, one of the foremost RPGs of said Century, might be said to be this explosion's event horizon, its kamikaze vanguard. LoL's central esports championship is known as Worlds; described as the best and most riveting place for players to come together as one, and compete at the highest level, battling enviously and tirelessly for the crown known as the Summoner's Cup (oh, and several million dollars). So, to complement nearly ten years running of this gargantuan stadium-bound tournament, this new record delves into each year's star theme songs, bringing together the likes of Zedd, Lil Nas X and NewJeans to transport the listener to eternal gamespace glory.

Review: Grave Of The Fireflies is arguably the saddest of all the films in the peerless Studio Ghibli canon - a pinnacle of emotional impact in the world of Japanese anime. The soundtrack is of course a major part of that, and so we come to the latest edition in the beautifully presented Image Album Collection series, which goes in deep on the soundtrack to a Ghibli classic. The music itself was composed by Michio Mamiya, and their work is interspersed with dialogue from the film. Alongside the music itself is an extensive set of liner notes which feature round-table discussions between the film's director Isao Takahata and the composers involved in the soundtrack.

Review: Re-rendered in a stunning full-length form, the groundbreaking soundtrack to the 1988 anime film Akira is here remixed in full by individual members of Geinoh Yamashirogumi, the elusive Japanese music collective behind the original Akira OST. Founded in 1974 by musician and agricultural scientist Tsutomu Ohashi, Geinoh Yamashirogumi still to this day adhere to a loose ecology, comprising hundreds of people with different occupations. Recreating folk music along modern dance musical and electronic lines - terraformed folktronica, if you will - the original Akira soundtrack was innovative, drawing on such Japanese folk musics as gamelan and noh while merging them into. Spawning many later remixes across electronica and dance music, this fresh remix record is fully overseen by director Katsuhiro Otomo and tracks larger-than-life remixes from Makoto Kubota, Kuniaki Haishima and Yasuharu Konishi, ragtag but chosen members of Geinoh Yamashirogumi.