One of the greatest things about Peaky Blinders, other than the crime drama series itself, it’s the carefully-curated soundtrack. I’ve just started watching it (sorry, even though I’m Travolta-to-the-bone and more-façonnable-than-thou, in terms of Netflix series, I’m pretty much a late bloomer), it totally blew me away. At first I thought since the movie setting is in the 20s era, they’d use old music accordingly. Instead they choose modern-day, contemporary tracks, from PJ Harvey to Radiohead; there’s folky, jangly, indie, stoner, till sludgy. What a bold decision.
And from what I analyse, all the songs have quite similar vibes: Southern Gothic. Deep, dark, dramatic, roots rock, folk, and some kinda bluesy Americanaâwith Gothic soul. You remember another cool television series, True Detective? Between Peaky Blinders and True Detective, I find them having pretty similar vibes, soundtrack wise.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, in the bleak midwinter, here’s the main razor-blades tune: “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Music video via BBC Music/YouTube, taken from their performance at Later⦠with Jools Holland in 1994.
Take a little walk to the edge of town
And go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracksâ¦
Read also NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS: THE WEEPING SONG.
