CD REVIEW - El Cisco


El Cisco
Music by Bruno Nicolai
Digitmovies CDDM047
28 Tracks 53:31 mins

Digitmovies have done it again, and in an especially big way this time. This is the first of three really exciting new releases from this enterprising label. I'll bring you my reviews of the other two in the next few days but, in the meantime, we firstly have another fine western score from the pen of Bruno Nicolai for 1966's El Cisco, which was written and directed by Sergio Bergonzelli and starred William Berger.
This is a premiere release for the score, which is presented complete in stereo sound.
At the heart of the score is a typical Deguello, first heard as a travelling trumpet-lead theme, with Jew's harp accompaniment. This latter instrument pops up in most tracks and just adds a little quirkiness to the mix. The theme is versatile, sometimes played in more confrontational vein, either on trumpet, very dramatically, or sometimes by Franco De Gemini's harmonica.
Nicolai's secondary theme is a very nice love theme for strings and guitar, and there are also some tuneful source cues; but largely the score consists of tense, suspenseful and downright doom-laden music, with bursts of dramatic conflict here and there. So, these melodic moments are very welcome when they arrive, as of course is the main theme, which combines with the love theme to provide a suitably grand finale.
As always, the CD is accompanied by a colourful booklet, with a brief note on the music, details of cast, crew and plot, plus stills from the film and a reproduction of the original poster.