Soundtracks generally aren’t meant to draw too much attention to themselves; they’re supposed to play in the background of a movie or show, setting the stage without stealing the spotlight. That’s why soundtracks are a popular choice for background music when people want to work, study, or do chores; they occupy the ear without being overly distracting.
But that undersells how unique and transporting a great soundtrack can be. Science fiction especially seems to inspire some great soundtracks, maybe because it allows the composer to think beyond the bounds of our world. What’s music like out there in space?
Some of these soundtracks will send you into a deep meditative trance. Some will get your blood pumping. All are worth listening to. Plug in.
Solaris (2002)
Listen to the Solaris soundtrack on Spotify
Let’s start with something traditional: the soundtrack for the 2002 movie Solaris, about a psychologist sent to investigate unexplained phenomena on a space station, matches the tone of the movie perfectly. Solaris is a slow, deliberate, contemplative movie, and Cliff Martinez’s soundtrack is slow, delicate, and laid back. This is exactly the kind of gentle, moody sci-fi music you want to put on while you study, relax, or lie on the floor contemplating the shape of reality.
There is a slightly eerie touch to a lot of the music of the Solaris soundtrack, but not so much that it’ll unsettle you if you aren’t listening for it. For our next entry, let’s turn up the intensity just a bit.
Interstellar
Listen to the Interstellar soundtrack on Spotify
We have to include at least one soundtrack from the great Hans Zimmer, a legendary composer who’s written scores for The Lion King, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and the new Dune films. Zimmer has also worked extensively with director Christopher Nolan, turning in scores for The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, and more. His greatest achievement is his score for Interstellar, Nolan’s film about astronauts searching for a new home for mankind.
As epic a film as Interstellar is, it’s also a very personal story about parents and children. Zimmer’s score has that mix of sweeping and intimate. The compositions are expansive and soaring, almost too intense for study music. But there’s a personal, calming touch that brings them down to Earth, no pun intended. You can put this score on in the background while you do chores or just sit and listen to it straight through, and it will work equally well in both cases.
Tron: Legacy
Listen to the Tron: Legacy soundtrack on Spotify
Alright, that’s enough chill vibes for now. Let’s switch to something a little more pulse-pounding. Sci-fi is about the future, right? And what’s more futuristic than electronic music? Cue iconic electronic duo Daft Punk and their soundtrack for 2010’s Tron: Legacy.
That said, we’re not going completely off the rails yet. This soundtrack isn’t straight electronic dance music back to front; it’s actually more like a traditional film score than you’d think, with a lot of aggressive strings and rising crescendos. But Tron is about people entering a digital world and battling tyrannical AIs, so obviously Daft Punk inserts some futuristic flourishes. The Tron: Legacy soundtrack is a great halfway point between your standard sweeping film score and electronic experimentation.
There’s a new Tron movie out right now, Tron: Ares, that also has a pretty interesting soundtrack, this time by industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. That soundtrack is even more high-octane; a shame the movie itself missed a beat.
Cowboy Bebop
Listen to the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack on Spotify
Okay, now we go completely off the rails. Do not put on the soundtrack to Cowboy Bebop if you want to study or work or concentrate. Put it on if you want to remember you’re alive.
This classic ’90s anime is about a ragtag group of bounty hunters traveling the solar system looking for marks. It was the original space western, before the likes of The Mandalorian or Firefly. But the soundtrack doesn’t take inspiration from country music or Sergio Leone movies; it’s hot jazz, composed by Yoko Kanno and brought to life by the band Seatbelts.
There’s also a lot of punk and rock in there. There are songs guaranteed to get your toe tapping and others so discordant and dissonant it almost feels like your ears are being trolled. There are even a few relaxing numbers…but not many. Put on this soundtrack if you want to have the funkiest dance party this side of the asteroid belt.
Annihilation
Listen to the Annihilation soundtrack on Spotify
Alright, we’re going to end with another relaxing one, just in case you need to come down after that. Annihilation is a 2018 movie about a group of scientists who investigate a quarantine zone where an alien presence is causing the plants and animals to mutate. It’s another slow, languid, contemplative sci-fi movie, the kind where the tone is almost more important than the plot.
Accordingly, the soundtrack is atmospheric but not intrusive. Composed by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow, sometimes it doesn’t even sound like music, and I mean that as a compliment. It’s full of pulses, trills, and what sounds like alien chanting. It’s truly otherworldly, a perfect fit for this movie or for an evening spent unwinding in thought after a long day.
Great soundtracks everywhere
We’ve focused on movie and TV soundtracks here, but you can find great soundtracks in just about any medium. For instance, there are a lot of great video game soundtracks out there, especially if you want to listen to something to help you focus. That makes sense; video game soundtracks are meant to play in the background while you go at it for potentially hours on end, so they better be worth listening to. Whatever your needs, there’s a soundtrack out there for you.
