Soundtracks charts

Review: The full 83 track suite from the original Halo trilogy of video games is here, bringing you an exemplary score befitting of one of the most acclaimed Arcadian future combat shooter game series in the world. Now you can figuratively "don" your very own sonic Spartan supersoldier suit, as the game's trademark musical motifs - mystical Gregorian choral chants, missionary orchestral movements, gloried verging-on-prog upswells and downturns - are laid in pristine electronica-augmented fashion, by composers Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori and C Paul Johnson. The midpoint of the record marks a highlight, where the Halo 2 soundtrack heard a long list of A-list musician collaborators, marking a heavy metal and nu-metal sojourn.

Review: For the first time, Piero Umiliani's entire Liuto label production is collected together in a remarkable 19-CD box set. This set includes 18 albums (with the final album being a double CD), each housed in a replica of its original sleeve. Accompanied by a 72-page booklet featuring rare photos, essays by Maurizio Corbella and Niccolo Galliano, and a detailed discography, this release is fully endorsed by the Umiliani family. Umiliani's contributions were pivotal in shaping the Italian sound in jazz, film, and library music. His ability to merge creativity with production and publishing made him a true modern musician who was integral to Italy's rich musical heritage, as this collection proves beyond doubt.

Review: Following the enduring success of the 2017 action RPG Horizon Zero Dawn - in which we play as Aloy, a lone human hunter lost and confused in a world overrun by giant, aggressive mechs - now comes Horizon Forbidden West, its sequel, along with a brand new soundtrack by the game franchise's extensive in-house roster of composers. Matching the game's theme of environmental restoration and a return to purer pasts, we hear soaring original compositions from Niels van der Leest, The Fligght, Oleksa Lozowchuk and Joris De Man, all compiled onto a deluxe 6xLP edition - for the merch-heads, there's even an exclusive slipmat, a t-shirt, and several inserts with extensive notes on the game and music bundled in there too.

Review: The Complete Sound Work Shop Heritage box set is an extraordinary tribute to Piero Umiliani's prolific career, gathering his entire output on the Sound Work Shop label into an unparalleled 17-CD collection. Housed in faithful reproductions of the original album covers, this set is complemented by a 72-page booklet featuring rare photographs, insightful essays by Maurizio Corbella and Niccolo Galliano, and a comprehensive discography and tracklist. For the first time, Umiliani's extensive contributions to Italian jazz, film scores, and library music are showcased in one collection. His work at the Sound Work Shop studio, which he opened in 1968, played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Italian popular music. The studio was a hub of creativity where Umiliani explored a vast array of genres, from funk and psychedelic rock to avant-garde and electronic music. This collection reveals Umiliani's genius not just as a composer, but as a producer and visionary who controlled every aspect of his music's creation and distribution. The box set is a comprehensive portrait of a modern musician whose influence on Italian music during the 1970s remains indelible, making this collection essential for historical reasons.

Review: A grand, limited-edition 7-LP vinyl set that celebrates the legendary composer through live performances with some of the world's most renowned orchestras, capturing Williams conducting iconic scores with ensembles like the Saito Kinen Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker and Wiener Philharmoniker. Additionally, it includes the world premiere of Williams' Violin Concerto No. 2, featuring violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The set covers a wide range of Williams' celebrated film compositions, including unforgettable themes from Harry Potter (like 'Hedwig's Theme') and Star Wars (featuring tracks such as 'Princess Leia's Theme' and 'The Imperial March'). Other highlights include E.T.'s 'Flying Theme', Jurassic Park's evocative main theme and the suspenseful, instantly recognizable score from Jaws. The box set's careful design includes a booklet with liner notes, essays by film-music writer Jon Burlingame, and personal reflections from Williams and other performers. Each LP is dedicated to a different concert experience, with memorable encore performances from Tokyo, Vienna and Boston adding to the collection's richness. A thoughtfully curated release and a unique journey through Williams' music.