It’s hard to imagine a band that has as much hype as Fontaines DC The band is back for their 4th Album with a new look, new label and new sound.
Release date: 23rd August 2024
label: XL recordings
Formats: CD / Vinyl / Digital
Fontaines DC’s previous album, Skinty Fia (our review here), was released in 2022 to critical and box office acclaim, becoming their first album to hit number one in the UK and Ireland. The group continued to build their fanbase by doing their own major UK tour in support of the album, and supporting Arctic Monkeys on their North American tour last year.
STARBURSTER
The first taste for the public of romance was released in April this year with the bombastic single Star explosion, a track that saw the band trade their gritty post-punk sound for a much punchier, hip-hop inspired vibe that they had never done before. Along with the song’s release, the band announced that they had signed to XL Recordings, a label that houses artists such as Radiohead, Peggy Gou, King Krule and The xx. Fontaines DC also brought in legendary producer James Ford to produce the album.
James Ford’s contribution is clearly evident in the overall sound of the piece, but especially in the depth and sweep of the drums. To put it bluntly, Starburster would have stood out like a sore thumb on any of the band’s previous releases, which only made Romance even more excited to hear what the album as a whole would sound like.
DO YOU BELIEVE THE HYPE?
It’s normal for bands well into their careers to fade into the background and not challenge or push themselves creatively. That makes it all the more exciting and refreshing to see what Fontaines DC have been up to in the lead up to the release of Romance. After several more extremely well-received singles (Favourite, Here’s The Thing, In The Modern World) and a multitude of festival appearances, Fontaines DC’s fourth record has finally been released. Before listening to it, I had one question: would it be able to live up to the hype that surrounded it?
The short answer is yes, but the overall sound and feel of the album was not what I was expecting. If I had to compare Romance to the band’s previous work, I would say it reminds me most of their second album A Hero’s Death, an album laced with melancholy and darkness beneath the bangers. Romance has moments of pure euphoria and intensity, but overall there are many restrained and gentle moments that are some of the most beautiful tracks the band has produced to date.
ROMANCE
The record begins with intro and title track romancea song that immediately sets a tone with its powerful, distorted sounds alongside the sparse percussion and guitar interludes. Frontman Grian Chatten’s opening lines, “Into the darkness again”, fit the instrumentation perfectly, creating an unsettling yet seductive feeling that invites the listener to dig deeper and embark on the journey the album takes them on. The track continues to build to new levels for Fontaines DC, showing once again how this change in production and sound has taken them into uncharted territory as a band.
This is followed by the amazing one-two punch of the singles Starburster and Here’s The Thing, which sound even more explosive and exciting in the context of the album. Here’s The Thing in particular has more of a 90s alternative rock feel, reminiscent of bands like Weezer and Nirvana, with its smooth guitar grooves and Grian’s sharp vocals on the chorus. Both songs will be staples of the band’s live set for years to come.
The album then takes a real shift in tone with the delicate but captivating “Desire,” which sees the band employ more psychedelic, almost shoegaze-like elements, pairing the soaring guitar of the chorus with the layered vocals and hypnotic drum grooves of Tom Coll. By bringing in electronic elements as well as the string quartet on this track, the band creates an almost overwhelming atmosphere that shows just how much effort the band puts in and how much they are committed to developing their sound.
A TOTAL EARWORM
The opposite of this can be seen on the track Bug, which is much simpler but still incredibly effective. The song is an absolute earworm and feels familiar almost immediately. It’s incredibly direct and wastes no time at all. As one of the shorter tracks on the record, Bug really shows how well the band has mastered their songwriting. Drummer Tom Coll notes, “With songs like this, trying to distort them and give them an unnecessary twist is an overwrite.”
The album takes the listener further into this beautiful and delicate soundscape, culminating with “Sundowner.” Written as an ode to friendship, the track is the first song from the band where Grian is not the lead singer. Instead, guitarist Conor Curley takes the reins and delivers a gentle yet soulful performance, perfectly accompanied by the hazy guitars and drums that effectively break through the mix. It’s a true high point for the band and a sound I think they should continue to develop in the future.
DEATH-KINK
Towards the end of the record we are treated to another fantastic two-track run that takes the listener right back to the energetic sound the group is known for. The first is Death Kink, which would have been a great choice for a single with its relentless chorus and cheeky verses that once again exude pure confidence, similar to the alternative rock bands of the 90s.
The album closes with the beautiful and life-affirming “Favorite,” a song that has touched many people since its first release as a single with its personal, thoughtful lyrics paired with perhaps the most lush and anthemic instrumental piece to date. Although I really enjoyed the more tender middle section of the album, it is a brilliant ending that the record ends on such high notes.
Romance feels like an important album for the band as they continue to expand and evolve their sound, reaching heights they haven’t reached before. It’s an incredibly enjoyable listen throughout and you can just tell how much love and effort has been put into it overall. Believe the hype.
Watch the official video for Starburster – the first single from the album:
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