Various Artists - Trainspotting #2 (Music From The Motion Picture Vol. #2)

Released on 21 October 1997, Trainspotting #2: Music From The Motion Picture Vol #2 is a compilation album created to capitalize on the massive critical and commercial success of the original 1996 film. Rather than serving as a traditional cinematic soundtrack, the album functions as a companion piece consisting of tracks that either missed the final cut of the first volume or directly inspired director Danny Boyle and producer Andrew Macdonald during production. The album famously opens with the electronic dance track "Choose Life" by PF Project, which samples Ewan McGregor’s iconic opening monologue from the film.

Musically, the compilation maintains the original's acclaimed curation style by blending mid-90s Britpop, early rave music, and legacy post-punk. It features returning artists alongside notable new additions like David Bowie, Joy Division, Goldie, and Heaven 17. Critics at the time, including reviews on AllMusic, noted that while the album was born out of a commercial push, it stood out from typical "cash-in" sequels by offering a high-quality, atmospheric look into the musical landscape that shaped the film's identity

Following up on one of the most culturally defining soundtracks of the 1990s is an unenviable task, yet this 1997 companion album successfully avoids the typical pitfalls of a lazy studio cash-in. Rather than presenting a disjointed collection of leftover scraps, the album acts as an atmospheric extension of the original film's universe. It brilliantly re-captures the frantic, grit-stained energy of Edinburgh's counterculture by leaning heavily into the tracks that directly shaped Danny Boyle's creative vision during production.

The tracklist deftly balances heavy electronic club music with foundational post-punk and alternative rock. Opening with PF Project’s "Choose Life," the compilation immediately re-immerses the listener by layering Ewan McGregor's cynical monologue over a driving dance beat. The inclusion of deeper electronic cuts, like Underworld's sprawling "Dark & Long (Dark Train Mix)" and Goldie's drum-and-bass masterpiece "Inner City Life," captures the sweaty, euphoric, and sometimes paranoid reality of the late-'90s rave scene.

Where the album truly excels is in its historical curation, mapping out the musical lineage that birthed the Britpop boom. Swapping out the first volume's New Order for Joy Division's haunting "Atmosphere" provides a darker emotional weight, while David Bowie’s "Golden Years" fits effortlessly alongside returning acts like Iggy Pop and Primal Scream. Pop-oriented contributions from Sleeper and Heaven 17 further bridge the gap between retro cool and contemporary alternative chart-toppers.

Ultimately, while it may lack the lightning-in-a-bottle novelty of its predecessor, Volume 2 stands as a highly cohesive and essential time capsule. It expands the sonic boundaries of the original film, proving that the world of Trainspotting was far too vast to be contained on a single disc. For fans of the movie or anyone looking for a flawless cross-section of late-20th-century British youth culture, this compilation remains an incredibly rewarding listen.

Ripped to MP3

1. PF Project - Choose Life (7:48)

2. Iggy Pop - The Passenger (4:38)

3. Underworld - Dark And Long (Dark Train Mix) (9:54)

4. Georges Bizet - Habanera From Carmen (2:07)

5. Sleeper (2) - Statuesque (3:21)

6. David Bowie - Golden Years (3:59)

7. ICE MC - Think About The Way (4:19)

8. Leftfield - A Final Hit (Full Length Version) (4:55)

9. Heaven 17 - Temptation (3:03)

10. Iggy Pop - Nightclubbing (Baby Doc Remix) (5:50)

11. Fun Boy Three - Our Lips Are Sealed (2:51)

12. Primal Scream - Come Together (4:55)

13. Joy Division - Atmosphere (4:07)

14. Goldie - Inner City Life (5:45)

15. Underworld - Born Slippy / NUXX (Darren Price Mix) (6:29)