Back catalogue: All genres

Notes: Originally shown in 1998, Big Train was the eagerly awaited follow-up to Father Ted from writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews. Resisting the pressure to make another sitcom, Big Train is, instead, a sketch show in the best Monty Python tradition, updated with influences from arch-surrealist Chris Morris as well as the contemporary The Fast Show. The sketches can be joyously odd--Pythonesque firefighting showjumpers, the evil hypnotist, and the outrageous onanistic office workers, for example--but the show never neglects to keep the punchlines coming thick and fast (though the animated staring contest does rather drag after a while). The cast comprises some of the best new names in comedy, including Kevin Eldon, Simon Pegg, Mark Heap, Julia Davis and Amelia Bullmore (who went on to become Alan Partridge's Ukrainian girlfriend).

Series 2 didn't pull into the platform until 2002, by which time Graham Linehan was absent writing Black Books. But Arthur Matthews maintains the quality of the first series on the whole--the man with oversized hands, the creepy cult questionnaire, the zookeeper's recruitment agency--adding some spot-on French art house cinema spoofs and other movie-style take offs somewhat in the manner of Spaced, which Pegg and Heap had gone on to make. That duo return here for more silliness along with new cast members Rebecca Front (The Day Today, Knowing Me, Knowing You) and Tracey-Ann Oberman (better known now as Chrissie Watts in Eastenders).

On the DVD: Big Train belatedly arrives on DVD in a two-disc set which includes a plethora of deleted scenes for both Series 1 and 2. There are cast biogs plus three of the sketches as performed on a German TV sketch show. Commentary on the first series is by both writers, though happily Pegg, Heap and Eldon gatecrash halfway through. Matthews and Eldon join director and producer for the somewhat more straight-faced commentary on the second disc. Menu options thankfully include the treasurable "Play all" facility. --Mark Walker

Region 1 NTSC format. Will only play on multiregion DVD players.

Notes: Beautiful People "If 60's Were 90's" Box Set Consisting of over 50 sampled Guitar Riffs, Lead Vocals & Word Raps From Guitar God Jimi Hendrix. Commissioned by legendary record producer and former creative head of the Jimi Hendrix Estate Alan Douglas in 1990, the cleverly titled "If 60's Were 90's" by the band Beautiful People, is a truly unique and seminal record. "Beautiful People are a bunch of movers and shakers from London's Acid House Scene, who have a highly developed fascination with the music of Jimi Hendrix, emphatically not a 'Tribute' band in the style of the Bootleg Beatles or the Australian Doors, Beautiful People have used sampling technology to virtually recruit Hendrix into the groups line up." - David Sinclair, Billboard Magazine.

Consisting of over fifty guitar riffs, vocal cut outs, out- take lead breaks, and word raps from guitar god Jimi Hendrix, "If 60's Were 90's" also features spoken steals from Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, 60's blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield and a party called the "Milky Way Express" that included the one and only Frank Zappa.

Like some Groovy Psychedelic time-machine cruising the Hendrixphere, Beautiful People pluck from over 30 different Hendrix recordings, writing nine new songs creating an... "Ambient Dance Dream Tribute" (Kris Needs, NME)... of ... "Super Psychedelic Baggy Indie dance with Orb like overtones.." (Ian McCan, VOX) creating a sound that arguably helped kick off the rock dance crossover phenomenon of the early 90's, bringing guitars back into dance music, while still retaining the psychedelic rock majesty of one of the greatest guitarists of the 20th Century.

Region code: 0 (universal)

Notes: Dolby Atmos mixes/Blu-ray audio. Brand new Dolby Atmos mixes of the style-defining Booka Shade classic Movements (2006), which marked the international breakthrough for the Berlin duo with club hits like "Mandarin Girl" and "Body Language (Interpretation)", followed by a world tour with 150 shows in 20 months, support gigs for Depeche Mode and Royksopp and remixes for Yello, Hot Chip, Moby, Dave Gahan, and Roxy Music. The new UHD versions were again created in collaboration with immersive mix and mastering engineer Fritz Hilpert (Kraftwerk), who was also involved in the Dolby Atmos mixes for Booka Shade's 2020 album Dear Future Self, which was nominated for "Best Immersive Audio Album" at the 63rd Grammys.

Regional code: global

Notes: Zakk Wylde shines with his Black Label Society in this concert recorded in Paris by big sound, good editing and sharp image. The directior is extremely creative with tools such as zoom, split screen and optical alienations, including tracking shots from the ceiling of the location. The band itself additionally gives everything in its committed and agile performance. As a plus there are four songs from a gig in London. With almost four hours of total playing time, this Blu-ray is filled to the brim and should be an essential part of any BLS collection!

Region code: 2