Updated November 8, 2026 · By Shivam Das
Quick answer: Netflix Music released the Black Doves Season 2 original-score album digitally on November 6, 2026. The 19-track, roughly 49-minute collection brings together music by Martin Phipps and Ian Arber, with Benji Merrison also credited on two tracks. It is the composed score—not the separate collection of licensed songs heard in the episodes.
The new album gives listeners a way to revisit the second season’s tension without needing a scene on screen. Across 19 short cues, the music moves between covert operations, personal loyalties, political pressure and the damage left by the attack on the Black Doves network. The titles alone suggest the territory: “Spy Wife,” “Downing Street,” “Codename. WILDFLOWER,” “Kill List” and “The Safehouse.”
When did the Black Doves Season 2 score album come out?
Film Music Reporter announced that Netflix Music’s digital release was scheduled for November 6, 2026, across major music services. Film Music Site reported on November 7 that the score was then available digitally through services including Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and Amazon Music. The album contains 19 selections and has a total running time of approximately 49 minutes.
The release is credited to two composers who bring different experience to the series. Martin Phipps, who composed the first season’s score, returned for Season 2. Ian Arber joined him for the new season, bringing a background in television thrillers and a musical approach that can combine traditional instruments with electronic and experimental textures. Benji Merrison shares credits with Phipps on “Conteh” and “A Survivor.”
The complete 19-track album list
Here is the album sequence reported by Film Music Reporter. The order matters: it moves from a sense of elapsed time into the language of espionage, then through the show’s political and personal conflicts before closing on “The Backup Plan.”
- Another Lifetime Ago — Ian Arber (2:06)
- Spy Wife — Ian Arber (2:20)
- Don’t Worry, It’s All Part of It — Martin Phipps (2:11)
- We’re All Just Animals, Aren’t We — Ian Arber (2:01)
- I Am the Setting Sun — Martin Phipps (2:03)
- Stowaways — Ian Arber (2:56)
- You Never Don’t Turn Up — Ian Arber (2:08)
- New Arrangements — Martin Phipps (2:12)
- Downing Street — Ian Arber (1:27)
- A Black Dove — Ian Arber (3:18)
- Conteh — Martin Phipps & Benji Merrison (3:17)
- Codename. WILDFLOWER — Ian Arber (2:40)
- A Hostile Attitude — Ian Arber (3:01)
- Kill List — Martin Phipps (2:51)
- I Am Not Running — Ian Arber (1:50)
- A Survivor — Martin Phipps & Benji Merrison (2:51)
- The Safehouse — Ian Arber (2:06)
- A Message — Ian Arber (4:37)
- The Backup Plan — Ian Arber (3:25)
Track names and composer credits above follow the album announcement. The release is a selection of original score cues, not a complete list of every piece of music heard during the six episodes.
Why the composer partnership matters
Phipps brings continuity. His work on Season 1 helped establish the series’ musical identity, and his return means the second season can build on an existing sound rather than start from zero. Arber adds another perspective. His official biography describes him as a classically trained cellist and pianist who also experiments with analogue synthesis and unusual instruments. In an interview with The Geekiary, he explained that he likes to create a distinct musical concept for each project and can treat electronic sounds like orchestral colours.
That approach suits a show that constantly shifts between the polished world around No. 10 Downing Street and the unstable reality of covert work. A score for Black Doves has to carry suspense, but it also needs room for grief, intimacy and the show’s dry humour. The album titles hint at that range: “Spy Wife” points toward Helen’s double life, “Downing Street” evokes the political setting, while “A Survivor” and “The Safehouse” suggest the aftermath and the effort to stay alive.
The original score is not the same as the needle-drop playlist
One distinction is important for soundtrack fans. The 19-track album contains original music written for the series. It is separate from the licensed songs selected for particular scenes, including tracks by Billy Joel, Can, Olly Murs, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, DJ Shadow and Run the Jewels, Nina Simone, Peter, Paul & Mary, East 17 and RAYE.
Those songs are often called needle drops: existing recordings placed into an episode to create a specific mood or contrast. The original score works differently. It can follow a character through a sequence, maintain tension under dialogue or connect moments that are separated by a cut. The two musical layers complement each other, but they should not be confused when describing what is on the album.
Which tracks stand out from the titles alone?
“Spy Wife” is an obvious thematic signpost for Helen, whose public life as a politician’s spouse sits beside her work for the Black Doves. “Downing Street” puts that double life directly in the political setting. “Codename. WILDFLOWER” points toward the season’s buried intelligence and the past that keeps shaping the present. “Kill List” is the most direct title in the collection, while “A Message” is the longest cue at 4:37.
These are interpretations of the track names and their place in the series, not official scene-by-scene descriptions from the composers. The album announcement provides the titles, running times and credits; it does not assign every cue to a precise episode timestamp. For that reason, it is better not to invent a scene placement for a track simply because its name sounds as if it belongs to a particular moment.
Where to find the album and more soundtrack details
Film Music Site reported that the score is available digitally through major streaming platforms. Search for Black Doves Season 2 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) and check that the release credits Ian Arber and Martin Phipps. For the separate licensed-song guide, see our complete Black Doves Season 2 soundtrack list by episode. You can also revisit our coverage of RAYE’s “Bang Bang” cover and the season’s unexpected mix of Olly Murs, Billy Joel and Can.
Frequently asked questions
Has the Black Doves Season 2 score album been released?
Yes. Netflix Music released the digital score album on November 6, 2026. Film Music Site reported it was available across major streaming services by November 7.
How many tracks are on the Black Doves Season 2 score album?
The album has 19 tracks and a total running time of approximately 49 minutes.
Who composed the Black Doves Season 2 score?
The score is composed by Martin Phipps and Ian Arber. Benji Merrison is also credited alongside Phipps on “Conteh” and “A Survivor.”
Did Martin Phipps return from Season 1?
Yes. Phipps, who composed the first season’s score, returned for Season 2 and worked with Ian Arber on the new music.
Is the score album the same as the full episode soundtrack?
No. The score album contains original music composed for the series. It does not include every licensed song heard in the episodes, such as the tracks by Billy Joel, Can, Olly Murs and RAYE.
Where can I listen to the score?
Film Music Site reported digital availability through services including Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Search for the Season 2 soundtrack release and confirm the composer credits before playing.
Sources and further reading
- Film Music Reporter: Black Doves Season 2 soundtrack album details and full track list
- Film Music Site: Ian Arber and Martin Phipps’ score now available
- Ian Arber: Official biography and musical background
- The Geekiary: Ian Arber on his composing process
- Time Out: The licensed songs used in Black Doves Season 2
Editorial note: Album release information and track credits are attributed to soundtrack reporting. Scene-specific interpretations are identified as analysis rather than official composer commentary.
