Young Fathers have shared ‘Only God Knows’ which is one of the three tracks the band has contributed to Danny Boyle’s T2 film soundtrack.
Young fathers are a three-piece band from Edinburgh, Scotland, and their sound has an undeniably recognisable tint. The hip-hop and pop group formed in 2008 and christened themselves Young Fathers as all three members were named after their fathers.
Six of the band’s tracks are set to feature in T2, Boyle’s sequel to the 1996 cult classic Trainspotting. ‘Only God Knows’ is one of the trio’s most recent songs and includes an appearance from the Leith Congregational Choir. Young Father’s captured Danny Boyle’s attention when they won the Mercury Prize in 2014 for their album Dead, and he has described their track as “the heartbeat for the film.”
The full statement from T2 director Boyle reads:
“Trainspotting, the original book is like a modern Ulysses. It’s unsurpassed I think, and reading it is still like the ‘rush of ocean to the heart.’ You’re always looking for the heartbeat of a film. For Trainspotting it was Underworld’s ‘Born Slippy.’ For T2 It’s Young Fathers. Their songs are my heartbeat for the film. And ‘Only God Knows’ is that rush again. The ocean. The heart.”
It is easy to see the comparison between ‘Only God Knows’ and Underworld’s ‘Born Slippy’ as both include a steady and assertive beat – almost like a racing heart. The track boasts the band’s trademark sound with raw, distorted and strained vocals, percussive, consistent drum patterns and soulful backing harmonies.
Other tracks by Young Fathers included in the film’s soundtrack are ‘Get Up,’ and ‘Rain or Shine.’ The full track list for T2 has now officially been released featuring an impressive line up of artists including Iggy Pop, Blondie, and Queen to name a few. The film is dated for theatrical release on the 27th January 2017 and the full track list for T2 is available to view here.
