New releases last two weeks:

Review: Alien: Isolation was a survival horror game eleased in 2014 by Creative Assembly and published by Sega, matched with a deeply atmospheric soundtrack. Described as a "mid-quel" between the filmes Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), it borrows the original film's claustrophobic terror perfectly. The game's soundtrack, composed by Christian Henson alongside The Flight (Joe Henson and Alexis Smith), is a standout achievement, blending Jerry Goldsmith's haunting themes from Alien with original compositions and evoking a powerful sense of dread and nostalgia. Familiar motifs like the eerie 'Main Theme' and the otherworldly 'Alien Planet' theme resurface with reverence, while innovative use of echoplexed percussion and avant-garde techniques add modern intensity. The new material enhances the game's atmosphere with orchestral tension, electronic elements and haunting vocals, particularly in tracks like 'The Descent'. Themes for the character Amanda Ripley, the android 'Joes' and the menacing Xenomorph are weaved subtly through the score, occasionally overshadowed by ambient textures but undeniably effective within the game's context. It's released on cassette tape, too, adding even more retro charm.

Review: The good news is this isn't a glitch in the matrix, there is an actual new Pulp album out on cassette in 2025. Nearly three decades on from their generation-defining album Different Class and the love for Pulp is still potent. Cocker's kept his tools sharp with various projects and collaborations - including Jav Is... - over the past few years, but that's done little to dampen the yearning from around the world for new Pulp. When they released 'Spike Island' to get the ball rolling, a special tribute was made to late former bassist Steve Mackay, who died in 2023. Two songs on the record are said to date from when Mackay was around, which makes him feel part of this incredibly special project.