Headhunter: Redemption / Headhunter Original Soundtrack Recording
| Composed by | Richard Jacques |
| Arranged by | Richard Jacques |
| Published by | La-La Land Records |
| Catalog number | LLLCD 1023 |
| Release type | Game Soundtrack - Official Release |
| Format | 2 CD - 48 Tracks |
| Release date | September 01, 2004 |
| Duration | 02:08:40 |
| Genres |
Overview
In August 2004, La-La Land released Richard Jacques' orchesral scores to Headhunter and Headhunter: Redemption in a double disc set. Richard Jacques quickly became a well-respected name in the video game industry with his bar-raising work on this series, for which he received the 2002 Game Audio Network Guild Recognition Award at the Game Developer's Conference in March 2003. This two-disc collection demonstrates what made Headhunter's scores so special at the time.
Body
I'll start with the second disc, which is devoted to music from 2002's Headhunter. This score is noted for being one of the first to use a world-class recording studio along with an orchestra more noted for its work in the film world.
The music here is a delightful mix of action cues and wonderful lyrical reposes. The music of "Jack's Theme" is as good as Arnold's contributions to the recent Bond scores. There are a lot of orchestral details in this track. It features a kind of pop Baroque orchestral sound, a little techno beat, some great string writing, and an extra flute line that floats above and around the music.
The opening of Headhunter: Redemption features a brooding horn solo that recaps the primary thematic idea of the earlier score. The synthetic sound reproduction here is unbelievable, and, to the credit of the production, a list of the samples used in the score is provided. Even though a "live" orchestra is not used, one would be hard pressed to figure that out on their own in many of the tracks.
The music has more electronic additions than the previous score utilized in a way that is again well-integrated into the overall sound of the music. "MIG Encounter" has perhaps the most typically game sound of the lot, but even this is far superior to similar game music.
Summary
The Headhunter Redemption & Headhunter Original Soundtrack Recording is highly recommended for fans of the orchestra genre. However, sitting through both discs in a row may not be the best way to enjoy them. The album can be ordered from a number of outlets including Amazon.
Steven Kennedy
Executive Album Producer: Matt Verboys
Digitally Mastered by Adam Johnston
CD Art Direction: Mark Banning
Photography: Derek Askem
Richard Jacques Representation: Bob Rice, Four Bars Intertainment
Publicity: Greg O’Connor-Read
Headhunter Credits
Music composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by Richard Jacques
Conducted by Steve Lloyd
Music Preparation: Gary Spolding
Performed by the London Session Orchestra
Orchestral Contractor: Isobel Griffiths
Leader: Rolf Wilson
Recorded by Matt Howe
Assistant Engineers: Andrew Dudman, Richard Lancaster
Pro Tools Editing and Assembly: Ian Duncan and Richard Jacques
Sequencer Programming and additional post production: Richard Jacques
Mixed by Richard Jacques, assisted by Matt Howe
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London
Sample Library Credits:
Miroslav Vitous Symphonic Orchestra (Unisync),
Peter Siedlaczek’s Advanced Orchestra (best service),
Bob Clearmountain Drums II (East West),
The Ultimate Piano Collection (East West),
Peter Siedlaczek’s Classical Choir (best service),
Hallelujah (best service), Steve Stevens Guitar (East West),
Chemical Beats (Zero G), Symphony of Voices (Spectrasonics).
Headhunter: Redemption Credits
Music composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by Richard Jacques
Sequencer programming and Pro Tools editing by Richard Jacques
Mixed by Richard Jacques, assisted by Matt Howe
Sample Library Credits
Vienna Symphonic Library Pro Edition (Vienna Symphonic Library),
Miroslav Vitous Symphonic Orchestra (Unisync),
Peter Siedlaczek’s Advanced Orchestra (best service),
Garritan Orchestral Strings, Bob Clearmountain Drums II (East West),
Peter Siedlaczek’s Classical Chour (best service),
Hallelujah (best service), Steve Stevens Guitar (East West),
Chemical Beats (Zero G), Symphony of Voices (Spectrasonics),
Quantum Leap Voices of the Apocalypse (East West),
Sam Horns (Project Sam), Sam Trumpets (Project Sam),
Sam Trombones (Project Sam), Total Funk (Zero G), Ethnic (Zero G),
Distorted Reality 2 (Spectrasonics),
BT Breaks from the Nu Skool (East West),
Ali Baba and the 40 Ravers (best service),
Quantum Leap Rare Instruments (East West),
Junk Percussion (Zero G), Metriam (Prmie Sounds),
Percumania (best service)
| 1 | Main Title | 01:43 |  |
| 2 | Jack at Ground Level | 03:27 | |
| 3 | Leeza's First Mission | 03:23 | |
| 4 | Mig Encounter | 02:13 | |
| 5 | Perilous Descent | 03:31 | |
| 6 | Power and Recycling | 03:17 | |
| 7 | Recycling Migs | 01:09 | |
| 8 | Into the Tunnels | 02:08 | |
| 9 | Manufacturing | 02:58 | |
| 10 | Making Trouble | 01:05 | |
| 11 | End of the Line | 03:17 | |
| 12 | One-to-One With Che | 02:32 | |
| 13 | No Man's Land | 02:00 | |
| 14 | Tunnels to Entertainment | 02:24 | |
| 15 | Close Quarters | 02:20 | |
| 16 | The Opposition Plot / "One Day, Some Day..." / Leeza Remembers | 02:36 | |
| 17 | Jack Heads Below | 02:33 | |
| 18 | Jack Back in Action | 01:46 | |
| 19 | Research and Execution | 03:44 | |
| 20 | The Devil's Work | 01:07 | |
| 21 | Candy Floss | 02:12 | |
| 22 | The Black Suits | 04:01 | |
| 23 | Liberty | 03:14 | |
| 24 | Taking Liberty | 01:44 | |
| 25 | The 6808 | 02:19 | |
| 26 | End Credits | 03:48 | |
CD 2
| 1 | Main Title | 00:48 | |
| 2 | Escape from the Lab | 01:54 | |
| 3 | Meet Angela Stern | 01:01 | |
| 4 | The Stern Legacy | | |
| 5 | Jack's Theme | 04:58 | |
| 6 | On the Prowl | 03:59 | |
| 7 | Ready for Action | 02:12 | |
| 8 | Headhunting | 02:20 | |
| 9 | Greywolf | 04:05 | |
| 10 | Assault on the Mall | 04:14 | |
| 11 | Fulci's Final Threat | 02:14 | |
| 12 | Ramirez at Bay | 04:59 | |
| 13 | Aquadome | 04:07 | |
| 14 | Angela's Quest | 04:02 | |
| 15 | The Queen of Hearts | 02:59 | |
| 16 | A Dark Secret | 03:32 | |
| 17 | Jack's Dream | 02:01 | |
| 18 | Zweiberg's Nightmare | 04:16 | |
| 19 | Final Conflict | 04:29 | |
| 20 | Game Over | 00:19 | |
| 21 | End Credits | 03:40 | |
