Junkie XL Vinyl, CD & tapes by Junkie XL at Norman Records

A little less conversation, please: the Junkie who famously remixed Elvis has done a soundtrack. Not just any old soundtrack, either; Tom Holkenborg AKA Junkie XL has made the soundtrack to the (Original Motion Picture) 'Tomb Raider'. The aforementioned, Grammy-nominated one has been let off the lead to score Lara Croft's adventures afresh, resulting in a new vitality and urgency to the character. This release follows Tom's work on the impressive and top-selling Batman v. Superman film, so this is eagerly anticipated stuff. 

Dutch multi-instrumentalist and composer Tom Holkenborg AKA Junkie XL, who cut his teeth in groups such as A Forest Called Mulu, Empyrean Dub, and Mambo Jambo went on to soundtrack films including Black Mass, Batman Vs. Superman, Deadpool and Mad Max: Fury Road. His latest is for the adaptation of Stephen King’s Dark Tower. Intense stuff.

Honestly thought that this was a soundtrack release for some Beach Boys-themed action flick. With OST credits such as Deadpool, Mad Max Fury Road and Batman vs Superman, it's easy to forget sometimes that Junkie XL makes standard music too. Here, he combines old-style analog synth sounds with surf guitar, recalling the sounds of Suzanne Ciani and SURVIVE's Stranger Things score.

While you're still scratching your head working out why Batman and Superman are fighting (other than an excuse to make another superhero blockbuster), Hans Zimmer and Mad Max composer chum Junkie XL touch some keys and strings and maybe even honk some big horn bwwwoooongs in a probably successful attempt to capture world-shattering action. Whatever happened to world-trembling action? Why do we only watch stuff when the entire world's at stake?

Latest super-action blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road has been smashing its way into cinemas of late, with a suitably big, brash, and, to be fair, inventive soundtrack from Junkie XL, who feels serious enough here to use his birth name: Tom Holkenberg.