An original adaptation of the Academy Award-winning feature film, ‘Fargo’ features an all-new “true crime” story and follows a new case and new characters. Complete with trademark humor, murder (oh so many murders!) and en masse of “Minnesota niceness,” this (it has to be said fantastic) 10-part TV series stars Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Colin Hanks and Allison Tolman.

When you watch the TV series from the onset you most certainly do get lovingly lost within the richness of the acted tapestry. But as soon as you can take a step back from that, take a breath you realize that the music backing it at its every step is as much a character as the characters themselves!

Songwriter, composer, guitarist, vocalist and producer, Jeff Russo - who actually first came to our attention as a lead guitarist and co-songwriter of the American rock band Tonic in the early 90’s - has already had a prolific career composing scores for feature films. So taking the helm of this highly-rated TV show was an undertaking he took on without a blink of an eye. And has succeeded in bringing us a masterpiece of a score, it has to be said.

The soundtrack for ‘Fargo’ is a delight to listen to from start to finish. At times fun and bouncy, at others dark and foreboding, but at all times versatile and strong, stand out tracks for me include the title track, ‘Bemidji, MN,’ ‘Murder,’ the haunting sleigh bells of ‘Malvo’s Theme,’ and others such as ‘Poor Demitri,’ ‘Malvo (Eyes Wide),’ and both ‘Thin Ice’ and the final track, ‘Highway Snow.’

Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk