Review: Fontaines D.C's Romance is their most ambitious and inventive album yet. The band's fourth studio effort marks their debut collaboration with producer James Ford and follows the success of 2022's Skinty Fia, which topped the UK and Irish charts. The lead single, 'Starburster,' showcases a dramatic shift in the band's sound. Inspired by frontman Grian Chatten's panic attack at St Pancras station, the track blends feral breaths, a propulsive beat, and shifting lyrical tones that transition from raw intensity to almost-psalmic introspection. Accompanied by a cinematic video from Aube Perrie, 'Starburster' highlights the album's cathartic and visceral edge. Romance reflects the band's evolution from their early punk roots to explore grungier breaks, dystopian electronica, and dreamy shoegaze textures. The album's title symbolises the band's journey from Irish-centric themes to broader existential explorations, influenced by diverse genres and experiences. With deeper, more spiritual undertones and a sonic palette that includes elements of hip-hop and heavy metal, Romance promises to challenge and expand the band's musical identity. Fontaines D.C. will support the album with a world tour, including appearances at major festivals like Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds.
Review: Fontaines D.C.'s fourth album, Romance, marks the band's first collaboration with producer James Ford and represents their most adventurous and inventive work to date. Following the success of their acclaimed 2022 album Skinty Fia, which topped the UK and Irish charts and earned them International Group of the Year at the 2023 Brit Awards, Romance is set to push their sound further. The explosive lead single 'Starburster' was inspired by lead singer Grian Chatten's panic attack so features intense breath patterns and shifting dynamics. Elsewhere the band's evolution is there for all to hear with with influences from grunge, electronica, and hip-hop reflecting their ongoing growth and experimentation.
Review: With a Mercury Prize nomination and a number two album already under their belt, Fontaines DC could be forgiven for resting on their laurels with third album Skinty Fia. Yet they've done exactly the opposite, relocating to London from their Dublin base midway through the Covid-19 pandemic in search of new inspiration. They found that in their status as Irish immigrants in London, with the resultant set of songs - sung, as usual, in their distinctive Dublin accents - exploring love, loss and being outsiders in another land. Musically, they've only made minor tweaks to their trademark sound, but the results are arguably even more impressive than their previous outings, with 'Roman Holiday', 'Jackie Down The Line' and the triumphant title track being among the highlights.
Review: Dublin's Fontaines D.C. have been itching for their debut album to arrive on Partisan Records for seven singles now (all of which released in the past 18 months). Full of semi-ironic lyrics delivered like a drunk Mike Skinner replacing Archy Marshall (King Krule), each track on the album delivers a jangley, dimly light, beer swindling vibe, though not all songs are for bar fights and moshing. Flashes of Bloc Party to Morrissey subtly streak across the album (see "Television Screens") while there's some sombre punk, funk ballads in "Roy's Tune" to be heard too. The album overall is electric, highly danceable, cooler than a denim jacket, and a quality first missive.
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