Herbie Hancock
Death Wish Soundtrack

THE REVIEW

The soundtrack of a film is an integral part of the work itself; many recognize the importance of music in the successes achieved by cinematic works. This is no exception for "Death Wish," known in Italy as "Il Giustiziere della Notte," with the soundtrack entirely composed by Mr. Herbie Hancock, in which I find a lot of the artist's compositional freedom, even though it's tied to a specific subject. The work is steeped in jazz, funk, typical elements of Hancock, especially in the early '70s, following the wave of Headhunters, with experiments using synthesizers such as ARP and Moog. The album follows a guiding thread through the tracks that retrace the entire film. The album alternates between longer tracks (including the Suite Revenge) that open side B, with shorter, more melodic, and more descriptive tracks. The album opens with the Main Title, with its initial suspense then marked by a fast-paced Hancock-style rhythm, accompanied by splendid strings creating very '70s atmospheres. Following are tracks like "Joanna's Theme" and "Rich Country," much softer with Hancock's typical melodies that serve as an accompaniment.

A large part of the second side of the album is occupied by the "Suite Revenge," divided into 3 parts, where funkier moments alternate with more ambient, reflective ones that perfectly match the film's plot and Bronson's character.

An album to listen to in one breath, letting oneself be amazed by the inserts composing the various often unexpected tracks, such as synthesizer sounds, as well as winds or percussions. For me, one of Hancock's best works, published in 1974.