Sony Music release the soundtrack to the fourth season of The Crown, with music by BAFTA and Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Martin Phipps (Black Mirror, Peaky Blinders). As the 1970s are drawing to a close, Queen Elizabeth and her family find themselves preoccupied with safeguarding the line of succession by securing an appropriate bride for Prince Charles, who is still unmarried at 30. As the nation begins to feel the impact of divisive policies introduced by Britain's first female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, tensions arise between her and the Queen which only grow worse as Thatcher leads the country into the Falklands War, generating conflict within the Commonwealth. While Charles’ romance with a young Lady Diana Spencer provides a much-needed fairytale to unite the British people, behind closed doors, the Royal family is becoming increasingly divided...

The fourth season of The Crown has a soundtrack that's almost impossible not to love. It's part traditional classical music, part James Bond score and part rousing film soundtrack. There's hardly a second wasted on this 14 track (43 min, 44 sec) album. And track after track you'll be surprised and delighted with what composer Martin Phipps delivers.

Discussing the project, Phipps says, "In Season 4, the world of our middle aged characters is blown apart by the arrival of Princess Diana. I wanted to represent this bombshell in the music, culminating in Episode 5 when Australia goes nuts for Diana and the score switches to a brash, technicolor electronic palette. We are also in the ‘80s throughout the season, so the score is sprinkled with retro synth elements. Peter Morgan (showrunner/general maestro) was clear that he also wanted a strong sense of musical continuity with Season 3, so I updated many of our familiar, more orchestral themes from previous episodes. One of my favourite scenes is the reuse of the Simple Harp theme, as Diana returns triumphant from shooting a stag during her 'Balmoral tests.'"

The two variations of 'Simple Harp' are the heart of this score. Both being beautiful interpretations on the theme. And it adds balance to the album which contains themes for power, intrigue and just about every element you'd expect from a well rounded score.

It's crammed with beautiful and richly layered themes that brings a freshness to the series.

9

Darren Rea