Hans Zimmer - Inception

The soundtrack from Inception sees a change of direction for composer Hans Zimmer. Zimmer's music works on several levels just like the film. Its simple set of related motifs evolve constantly, and you will want to hear this score again and again. One of his best! More...

Randy Newman - Toy Story 3

After a long gap, Woody and Buzz return for Toy Story 3. Of course Randy Newman provides the music for their 3rd outing. The music underlines all aspects of the cartoon action, but picks up on the adult themes and becomes deeply moving in its heartfelt simplicity. More...

John Debney - Cutthroat Island

As fans eaderly await the soundtracks for "Iron Man 2" and "Predators" we look back at one of John Debney's greatest scores. Cutthroat Island paid homage to Korngold's Swashbuckling scores, bringing the concept up-to-date for modern audiences with fun and relentless action. More...

Marco Beltrami - Hellboy

Guillermo Del Toro's brilliant comic book adaptation of Hellboy was expertly supported by the film score from Marco Beltrami. The composer perfectly balanced the wild inventive fantasy elements, with the underlying threads of humour and humanity. More...

Days of Heaven/Two Mules for Sister Sara

Days of Heaven was the first film score from Ennio Morricone to receive an oscar-nomination - for one of his most exquisite, spine-tingling masterpieces. On this album it is paired with "Two Mules for Sister Sara" - a lighter but delightful take on his Western scores for Sergio Leone. More...

Hellbound: Hellraiser II

The original "Hellraiser" was dark and moody and introduced Clive Barker's mysterious Cenobites. Hellbound: Hellraiser II was bigger, more grotesque, and yet more playful. Christopher Young took his original Hellraiser theme and made this bigger and bolder, while balancing the 2nd movie with unsettling fairground music. More...

Bach & Friends

Bach & Friends is a wonderful film tribute to Bach, told by a wide range of first class musicians who continue to draw inspiration from the composer's work. The 2-hour documentary film is on DVD1 while a superb set of performances is on DVD2, including Joshua Bell playing the Chaconne. More...

Thomas Newman: Angels in America

Following on from our recent review for Road to Perdition, this week we look at Thomas Newman's score to the award-winning TV miniseries Angels in America starring Al Pacino, Emma Thompson and Meryl Streep, which tackled the subject of AIDS. More...

Around the World in 80 Days

We voyage around the world with Victor Young's oscar-winning score for Around The World in 80 Days. The movie was a lavish production with many locations and cameos from lots of stars. The music reflects those locations, and takes us on a grand adventure accompanied by the main theme which became a hit song for Bing Crosby. More...

Bruce Broughton's Young Sherlock Holmes

Though well-known as a TV composer, Bruce Broughton made a big splash in 1985 with two excellent film scores - Silverado and Young Sherlock Holmes. With its genre-twisting opportunities, Young Sherlock allowed the composer to deliver a top-notch score full of action and excitement. More...

Knight and Day by John Powell

John Powell is well-known for his action scores, yet he always manages to bring something new and exciting into the mix. With Knight and Day Powell very effectively uses latin instruments and rhythms, which drive the action and also support the film's comedy elements. More...

Meet Joe Black by Thomas Newman

A love story for the Grim Reaper is always going to be a challenge, yet in his music for Meet Joe Black composer Thomas Newman gets to heart of the story. His score is warm and touching, with a spiritual side which allows the listening to contemplate the meaning of mortality. More...

The Abyss by Alan Silvestri

A claustrophic deep sea thriller, a stormy romance, alien close encounters - Alan Silvestri brings these all these facets to life in The Abyss. The composer builds on these elements as the story unfolds, and then ramps everything up a notch for the powerful finale. More...

Philip Glass in Concert

Philip Glass was in Concert this week in Edinburgh. Despite cellist Wendy Sutter being unable to perform due to illness the Concert went very smoothly with Philip Glass on piano and Mick Rossi on percussion. The composer introduced his music. More...

War of the Worlds by John Williams

War of the Worlds saw the return of the famous Spielberg-Williams collaboration. Though John Williams moved further from the big thematic scores with which he is associated, his great musical and dramatic sense rose yet again to the challenge. The finished soundtrack provides all the tension, action and angst that we would expect. More...

The Edge by Jerry Goldsmith

One of Jerry Goldsmith's great film scores, yet often overlooked, is the wilderness adventure The Edge. The composer effortlessly conjures up the majestic Alaskan landscape, his action and suspense cues make for a gripping story, while the character interplay is far from neglected. More...

Danny Elfman: Batman

Batman was a career-defining moment for Danny Elfman. His music was moody and gothic, but it also had humour and style. People could no longer dismiss him as the guy from Oingo-Boingo - here was a serious score composer. More...

Star Wars in Concert - John Williams

Is Star Wars in Concert coming to a city near you? With John Williams' music taking centre stage and narrated by CP3O himself, Anthony Daniels, this show brings back the magic in a way which can be shared by the whole family. More....

John Barry - Dances with Wolves

After a gap year, John Barry returned to film scoring in 1990 with Dances with Wolves. Kevin Costner's reinvention of the Western was a huge commercial and critical success, and Barry's music marked a major highlight in the composer's already superlative career. More....

Alien - by Jerry Goldsmith

In space no one can hear you scream - while waiting waiting to hear Jerry Goldsmith's full score for Alien. But the wait is over and the complete score is now available on a double album with bonus features included. More....

Escapade Velocity - from The SG Sound

Escapade Velocity is the latest album from The SG Sound and follows on from Planet Twist. The SG Sound is the swinging groovy sound of the 60s with classic guitars and brass, and the latest album has a strong sci-fi theme, with a number of Stars Wars covers and other such tracks. More...

John Barry - Goldfinger

With the announcement that Sam Mendes is lined up to direct "Bond 23", we look back at John Barry's score for Goldfinger (Bond 3) where all the music elements came together to make the definitive and distinctive Bond Sound. More...