Back catalogue: Modern Classical

Review: Vincenzo Maltempo's new recording of Chopin's Complete Nocturnes promises to captivate pianophiles by offering a fresh perspective on such timeless works. Drawing from the traditions of the 'Golden Piano Age', Maltempo approaches the Nocturnes as dramatic tone poems and blends rhetorical artistry with Belcanto-inspired expression. His interpretation is enriched by the use of an 1888 Steinway grand piano which is known for its exceptional dynamic range and lyrical tone. It captures the atmospheric stillness and resonance essential to Chopin's music perfectly.

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: Vikingur olafsson's interpretations of Philip Glass's piano works have captivated audiences worldwide. This recording marked a pivotal moment in Olafsson's career, with the Icelandic pianist's perceptive and nuanced playing bringing a new dimension to Glass's minimalist compositions, capturing the composer's ability to transcend space and time. From the hypnotic repetitions of 'No. 20' to the ethereal beauty of 'No. 14', olafsson's performance is nothing short of mesmerising.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Vikingur olafsson's interpretations of Philip Glass's piano works have captivated audiences worldwide. This recording marked a pivotal moment in olafsson's career, with the Icelandic pianist's perceptive and nuanced playing bringing a new dimension to Glass's minimalist compositions, capturing the composer's ability to transcend space and time. From the hypnotic repetitions of 'No. 20' to the ethereal beauty of 'No. 14', olafsson's performance is nothing short of mesmerising.

Review: Legendary composer and producer Jean Claude Vannier - best known for his work with Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin - is back following his 2019 collaboration with Mike Patton on Corpse Flower. While loosely categorised as French pop, this instrumental album also fits within the classical realm thanks to its mandolin and accordion. Vannier brings nearly 60 years of experience to this album which features artists like Vincent Beer-Demander and Gregory Daltin. The results offer a poetic, orchestral soundscape that seamlessly intertwines mandolin, accordion and unexpected orchestration to evoke deep emotion.

Review: To celebrate the 30th anniversary of this cult TV show, this special edition soundtrack brings the iconic series' music to life once again. Featuring the legendary score composed by Jerry Goldsmith alongside additional tracks from renowned composers like Dennis McCarthy, this release captures the futuristic essence of the groundbreaking sci-fi series. From the soaring theme song to the dramatic orchestral compositions, the tunes evoke the spirit of exploration and adventure that defined the show, all presented in stunning sound quality.

Review: ***B-STOCK: manufacturing fault not continuous play ***


Founded by Zach Frizzell aka zake of Past Inside the Present fame, Healing Sound Propagandist (HSP) is based in Indianapolis and has quietly amassed a catalogue of nearly 100 releases since its inception, all of them specialising in textured drone and experimental ambient music. To mark this achievement, Retrospective [2019-2024] compiles 76 standout tracks across a five-hour odyssey through the label's most significant works. The compilation features artists like James Bernard, Pallette, and Sean Evans who, along with many others, create a varied world of atmospheres through unique instrumentations. HSP emphasises a focus on deep listening and quality over gimmicks and this retrospective serves both as a tribute to the label's legacy and an introduction to its transformative, meditative soundscapes.

Review: One may easily shorten the Light Sounds Dark label name to LSD. So too does this new V/A compilation of dark industrial soundscapes by the label befit the bad trip. With minimal release info besides an ardent confirmation by an unnamed witness - "definitely a trip into a darker dimension" - the notion of ingesting LSD takes on a whole new meaning here. The otherwise absence of info motivates some detective work: a stained-glass design on the front cover; a title referencing Indo-European paganism and/or Zoroastrianism; intense cloud-sonics and glassy chamber spaces on the ensuing tracks; everything intuitively fits, though we're not quite sure how. Some way to a narrative revelation emerges on track four, though at best it's a speak n' spell numbers station voice, half-lost under the solemn, soily noise scramble beneath. The trip only grows weirder, with strange bird calls melding into gong sounds and pan flutes on the lossy eighth track, and the closing locked groove spelling ultimate doom for the more harmonically inclined.

Review: Kompakt's Pop Ambient 2025 marks 25 years of their signature deep ambient series, embodying a refined sense of tranquility and atmospheric depth. This vinyl release gathers new gems from longtime contributors like Leandro Fresco, Pass Into Silence and Wurden & Schafe, who each bring lush soundscapes that feel like meditative journeys. Triola's inclusion reinforces the continuity of the series, while new compositions like 'Artifacts of Synthese' by Segensklang add fresh, delicate textures. Hendrik Meyer's 'Grun War Die Klamm' stands out with its natural, serene tones, beautifully complementing the collection. For ambient listeners, this anniversary edition presents a thoughtfully curated blend of Kompakt's ambient vision over the years, celebrating a legacy of introspective, lush sound and marking a milestone in the genre.

Review: We have long been big fans of the work done by The Numero Group and now they are back to present a guide to private-issue new-age music that is as essential as you would expect. Featuring trailblazers like Laraaji, Iasos, Joanna Brouk, Don Slepian, Peter Davison, Master Wilburn Burchette, Jordan De La Sierra, David Casper, Robert Slap and others from the Perrier underground, this double LP compilation is adorned with Marcus Uzilevsky's Linear Landscapes and includes a 32-page booklet. Showcasing the essence of a transformative era, the collection invites you to explore the ethereal soundscapes and boundless creativity of the fourth world, and a fine place it is to be.

Review: The good folks at Discreet Music celebrate its five-year anniversary with a special compilation featuring new and unreleased tracks from an eclectic lineup of artists. As highlighted in the extensive liner notes, this release covers plenty of ground, all of it part of the essence of Discreet Music but with an eye on evolution into new territories. It's a carefully curated collection with endless highlights - Eftergift's 'Demotiv' captures the sombreness of a dark winter night, Shadow Pattern's 'One Of These' is flickering, candle-lit space with distant synth tension and Livskraft's 'Lat Mig Tro' is a new age ceremonial ritual

Review: Waxwork Records presents another superb OST here in the form of the complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Released originally in 1968, this groundbreaking independent horror film follows seven strangers trapped in a farmhouse and besieged by flesh-eating ghouls. Made on a modest budget by a group of Pittsburgh-based filmmakers, it became a cultural phenomenon, earning over 250 times its cost and redefining the horror genre. Acknowledged as a cult classic, the film is preserved in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance and the soundtrack is just as compelling.