Back catalogue: Classical

Review: This recording of the Philadelphia Orchestra performing Sergei Prokofiev's 1936 story and orchestral score Peter and the Wolf was recorded in 1977 and was originally released in 1978. The role of the narrator on the recording was initially offered to both Peter Ustinov and Alec Guinness who both turned it down, before David Bowie agreed to take on the role, supposedly as a Christmas present to his son. On the B-side is another equally as charming piece of recent classical history, Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra as narrated by Hugh Downs.

Review: The golden age of superhero movies, spearheaded by Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films, was unparalleled, setting the stage for every Marvel movie that followed. These films introduced us to Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as MJ, and formidable villains like the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), shaping the blockbuster summers of the past two decades. Who else could score such an important film odyssey than the one and only Danny Elfman?! To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the soundtrack to Spider-Man 2 arrives on vinyl. The score's legendary themes continue to inspire. Witnessing Elfman perform these themes live at Coachella was an unforgettable experience, with a live orchestra captivating the audience. Enjoy one of the most important soundtracks in the superhero genre now on beautiful vinyl.

Review: We don't need to tell you why Tim Burton's musical masterpiece 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is good, but what makes the soundtrack even better? Why, the inclusion of Sir Patrick Stewart's cut epilogue on track two of course! Celebrating the cross-seasonal classic's 30th birthday is this double zoetrope record package, featuring iconic scenes from the stop-motion flick. The star of the show (sorry Patrick) is, of course, soundtrack legend Danny Elfman, who has seemingly gotten OST production down to an art form even to this very day. The Oingo Boingo singer-cum-producer has scored every movie you can think of: 'The Avengers', the 'Fifty Shades' franchise, 'Mission: Impossible' just to name a small handful. What newer fans may not know is that Elfman cracks out the vocals for this musical album, acting as the singing voice for main character Jack Skellington - yes, unfortunately, it's not Chris Sarandon's beautiful voice you're hearing, as great as that would be. It's never too late to get into a timeless classic like this, go out and spread the good word.

Review: It's no real shock that a Tim Burton Netflix modern revitalisation of The Addams Family, and particularly the central character Wednesday, would become a global success seemingly overnight. Jenna Ortega's performance was also key to retaining the character's essential components while imbuing new nuances and eccentricities, but the project wouldn't have felt complete without the almost essential soundtrack from Burton's go-to composer Danny Elfman, who is also currently experiencing quite the career resurgence thanks to his excellent Big Mess album from 2021. Linking up with the younger yet equally impressive Chris Bacon, the Wednesday score is equal parts whimsical, macabre, gloomy and horrific, yet endlessly playful, which almost describes all of the Burton/Elfman scores. Thanks to Bacon, there's a notable increase in glitching synths spells and modern tweaks to elevate the usual whimsy to a reimagined standard of orchestral dramatics.

Review: Iconic movie classic Beetlejuice is back and we for one have enjoyed its return. Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic has been reimagined for modern audiences in 2014 and came complete with a new soundtrack. The original score, composed by the legendary Danny Elfman, blends whimsical melodies with eerie undertones, perfectly capturing the film's quirky and haunting vibe. Highlights of the original include Elfman's iconic main titles, which have become synonymous with Burton's gothic style. The new soundtrack also features standout tracks like Alfie Davis & The Sylvia Young Theatre School Choir's rendition of 'Day-O' and Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting," adding fresh dimensions to this timeless, offbeat classic.

Review: A true enigma, an artist that represents all that was fascinating and romantic and alluring and intriguing about 20th Century sounds, Brian Eno was always going to need a feature length documentary, when the time was right. Premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Eno, Gary Hustwit's ode to the man, myth and legend, wowed critics and blew audiences away. Not least because it uses a computer programme which selects footage and edits the movie so a different version is shown at every screening. Innovation befitting Eno, removing the visuals and focusing on the sounds readjusts our vision to bring Eno into greater focus. The breadth of what's on this soundtrack is remarkable, from upfront indie on 'Stiff' and the weird folk-pop of 'Spinning Away', a John Cale collaboration, the ghostly post-rave of 'Cmon' with Fred Again, spectacular pianos of 'Motion In The Field', ethereal ambient vocals on 'There Were Bells', the angular punk dominating 'Third Uncle' - we could go on, and on, and on.