Back catalogue: Leftfield

Review: Within a few moments of a famous film score - or at least one that made an impact on you - scenes and even lines not heard in years come flooding back. And the recollections of the atmosphere in the cinema as the opening credits began. When James Cameron's blockbuster Titanic first hit big screens it was a very different time for movies, and theatres, one that seems remarkably simple compared with today's multi-platform, pre-release buy-in chaos. Simply put, the flick was seen by pretty much everyone, which is rarely the case now, and as such the typically emotive soundtrack, particularly the orchestral sections, will have made an impact on everyone of and over a certain age. First returning us to the glamour and wonder of that ill-fated ship, then the drama and desperation that defined its demise, and the death of an all-too-short love, listening now makes it clear how crucial the tunes and songs were. From the unbridled joy of 'An Irish Party in Third Class', to the somber reflection of 'Nearer My God To Thee', it's the stuff of epics.

Review: By 1996 Greek synth composer extraordinaire Vangelis - real name Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou - had become such an icon of electronic music not one but two retrospective anthologies arrived around the same time. Not bad considering this was only around halfway through his recording career, and in many ways his work was still in an evolutionary process. Gift was one of those compilations, and focuses attention on the first four records made by this Hellenic legend. Starting out with work from 1975's Heaven & Hell, from which an excerpt of the original (rather longwinded) 'Heaven & Hell Part II' has been lifted, we also get 'So Long Ago, So Clear', the artist's first collaboration with Jon Anderson (the musician-singer-songwriter whose name is credited on several other tracks here), and outstanding outings such as 'Pulstar' and 'Alpha'. A joy from start to finish.

Review: It's hard not to fall for the version of 'Stayin' Alive' featured on the Dominic Lewis-scored and curated soundtrack to Bullet Train - the 2022 David Leitch movie that unfolds on one of Japan's world-famous, super speedy, and appropriately nicknamed 'bullet trains'. The composer made some smart decisions pulling the choices together, opting to focus largely on East Asian pop and rock, with some bold inclusions. One of which is the aforementioned opener. In so far as overuse goes, The Bee Gees' seminal disco anthem is up there with the greatest, and that makes it difficult to find something new to enjoy in it. Drafting Avu-chan, of Japanese 'fashion punks' Queen Bee achieved the unthinkable, then, and sets the tone for a number of excellent covers by Japanese artists (Bonnie Tyler's 'Holding Out For A Hero' by Miki Asakura, 'Kill Me Pretty' by Tamio Okuda of Unicorn), alongside an impressive set of originals from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Carmen Maki, and more.

Review: It's surprisingly not that common for a director to pick music for their movie. There are accomplished experts at scouring and sourcing the most powerful and moving tunes for cinema, and, of course, composers who have established themselves as maestros of silver screen scores. Luca Guadagnino is an exception to the rule, then, with his coming-of-age drama, Call Me By Your Name, soundtracked via his choices. And what choices they are. The film itself is beautiful and incredibly moving, adjectives which also apply to the accompanying sounds. From the theatrical pop of Loredana Berte, to the staggering instrumentation of Ryuichi Sakamoto and heartfelt cries of Sufjan Stevens, this collection of tones is as varied as it is captivating from beginning to end, and - whether you've seen the flick or not - deserves a place on everyone's shelf.

Review: The 1970s was a golden age for popular music meeting with the ever-booming movie industry, and there was an abundance of original themes to major features which were incredible songs in their own right. Now Music On Vinyl has gathered together some of the greatest on a double pack compilation featuring fantastic artwork and an insert loaded with photos and credits. The list is heavyweight, taking in Giorgio Moroder's theme from Midnight Express, Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells', Isaac Hayes' 'Shaft' and the Diana Ross version of Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit', as featured in the film 'Lady Sings The Blues' (in which Ross plays Holiday).

Review: Martin Scorsese's Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues series may not be the Academy Award-winning director's most famous contribution to popular culture, but the PBS documentary film saga, in which the legendary director takes us on a journey through the development of a sound he holds dear to his heart, is well worth looking for. Featuring luminaries such as John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, and more, each episode welcomes a different filmmaker, allowing them to refocus on artists they love. For this album spin-off, we centre attention on the mighty Stevie Ray Vaughan, one of the most influential of all blues musicians who tragically died at the age of 35 in a helicopter crash. Although far younger than many of the greats he's often listed alongside, his exceptional abilities on the guitar, and often unique sonics, set him apart from almost anyone else, alive or dead. Listen to what we mean here.