Soundtrack revival label Mondo is taking its first ever trip to a galaxy far, far away next week with the physical debut of the complete scores to The Mandalorian, the critically acclaimed Star Wars television series that was an early must-see on the streaming Disney+ network.
This 8LP set includes the complete Emmy-nominated score by upstart composer Ludwig Göransson, all pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Each album features unique artwork by designer Paul Mann, and it's all packaged in a custom slipcase marked with the titular hero's tribal "mudhorn" signet. It's limited to 3,500 copies worldwide and pre-orders are live.
Set a few years after the Rebellion's victory in 1983's Return of The Jedi, The Mandalorian follows a mysterious bounty hunter (of similar persuasion to the Star Wars trilogy's cult character Boba Fett) as he takes on a daring job delivering a prisoner to a remnant of the evil Galactic Empire. Despite Mando's cool exterior, he eventually rescues the bounty - a child of the same unknown species as Jedi master Yoda that became an Internet sensation upon its surprise reveal - from the Imperial clutches, becoming one of the galaxy's most wanted men in the process. Along the way, Mando and The Child encounter places and faces that expand the Star Wars universe like never before. The series was nominated for 16 Emmy Awards, including Oustanding Drama Series, and is slated to premiere a second season this fall. (It's rumored that the series will include a guest appearance by actor Temuera Morrison as the infamous Boba Fett, back from his supposed death in Jedi.)
Göransson, who cut his teeth writing scores for shows like Community and New Girl and producing records for Childish Gambino and Haim, made a major transition to cinematic scoring with the Rocky reboot Creed and the Marvel blockbuster Black Panther (which earned him an Oscar in 2019). The dissonant, rhythmic theme to The Mandalorian features ominous guitar, drums and an unusual recorder riff - all distinctly different from John Williams' legendary work for the series, but with the same sort of melodic spirit that's made the space saga so potent for more than four decades.
The Mandalorian ships in November; order it at Mondo today.
Ed says
I really hope this is available on CD in the near future, too....