Payback

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Chris Boardman is mostly known as orchestrator and not as composer but his credentials do state a lot of titles anyway, mostly in the Television business. From time to time though, he scores the occasional movie and one was Mel Gibson's dark crime thriller Payback. Chris Boardman somewhat addressed this as a crime thriller with the funky rhythms that either Lalo Schifrin used in his time and at times feels somewhat in the vein of Shaft. Boardman mostly concentrated on the jazzy tones and added a sole theme to the proceedings. This sole jazzy suspense theme which moves quickly is heard almost during the entire 4 track selection and opens the score in 'Main Title', here especially the theme is constantly returning and it gives a really rough edge to Mel Gibson's character as he dodges bullets and crazy henchman. The one and only exception is 'Lynn's Habit' which presents itself as a somewhat somber and moody piece which presents a melody that actually doesn't go anywhere. The third track 'Porter Croaks Carter' uses Hammond organ with a set of funky rhythms and even has time to add the jazzy main theme with slashes of electric guitar riffs. Altogether this mix works and it gives further proof of the dark gangster world.

The last track which ultimately leans to the cool and surprising finale is 'Warehouse / Finale' in which dark moody pieces make way for the rhythm and jazzy main theme, receiving further trumpets as the climax presents itself on screen. Payback is released as part of Varčse's ever growing collection of movie music and offers besides the 15 minutes of music songs from the likes of Dean Martin, James Brown (with his classic It's a man's World), B.B. King and many more. I deleted the songs since they aren't what you'd call music I listen to for fun and somewhat in the same line lies Chris Boardman's score. However the effectiveness alone of this jazzy theme is catchy and for just 15 minutes it doesn't harm in hearing this score with another one after each other. Payback is not exactly a score to recommend since for 15 minutes of music it doesn't bring much to crave for, but if you fancy the rhythm of a gangster score and the beat of a Shaft in jazzy riffs, and perhaps liked the movie and the songs, then I can see that Payback might offer some personal thrills to your ever growing collection of movie scores. In other words, it might be something to rent or listen to for a short but guilty pleasure.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (5.21)

2. Lynn's Habit (2.20)

3. Porter Croaks Carter (2.07)

4. Warehouse / Finale (4.55)

Total Length: 14.43

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