Three years since his solo album ‘Chaos For the Fly’s’ release, Fontaines D.C.’s frontman Grian Chatten returns to the world of solo music with his trance-inducing track ‘Puppet’ created for the Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, releasing March 20th on Netflix UK. Chatten is no amateur when it comes to soundtracks, having previously collaborated with director Andrea Arnold on the 2024 film ‘Bird’, and he continues to prove that he’s in control on his latest release ‘Puppet’.

The instruments on this track are phenomenally haunting, combined with the silkiness of Chatten’s voice. When paired with the film’s recent trailer, the track takes on new meaning with Chatten's voice echoing over the scenes of a tormented Tommy Shelby. Including lyrics like “How far do you think that they can bend you?” and “Do you think it's heaven they would send you?”. Each line sounds like it’s wrapped in the smirk of a man possessed. 

Standout line: “How does it feel to be a freak amongst the freaks?” is inescapable as the instruments abandon the words. Chatten weaves his voice up and down the scale to create a sound that can only be described as a puppeteer yanking at the listener's strings.

Distorted strings in the song's opening make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, building to an epic crescendo, solidifying the thematic chaos as the line “you're long gone” repeats itself like a nursery rhyme. ‘Puppet’ is a long walk down a moonlit street with your hands tied behind your back. There is no hope in the lyrics, but there is confidence and a delicate edge to Chatten’s voice, making a memorable return for fans of the Irish artist and hit BBC show alike.  

Erin Buckman

@renbuckman 

Image: 'Puppet’ Official Single Cover

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