Fontaines D.C. – Romance review

Running out from their first album Dogrel, for Fontaines D.C. the last five years must’ve seemed like a constant process of anchoring themselves; physically they each left their alma mater Dublin, whilst Romance marks their fourth release in that period, one in which their appeal has spread far beyond just that of being simply owned by any diaspora.

This rootless existence has added a whole new layer of perspective; for Grian Chatten it’s allowed him the headspace to become comfortable with his own voice, whilst the recording process took place mostly in France, and the conceptual inspiration was drawn in part from cultural tokens shaped in Europe and Japan. In short, Romance sees the world, the personal shaped by a meta which more citizens of it are beginning to be wary of. There’s a lot by extension on it’s mind, which makes how good it is all the more remarkable.

What’s more, unlike it’s predecessor Skinty Fia, there’s a wholeness to it, a sense of completion of the experimental journeys of before. Along the way the quintet draw musical strength from hip-hop, shoegaze, metal and art rock, the results a bricolage which was laden with adventure and risk but executed to near perfection. ‘Maybe romance is a place’ Chatten ponders on the title track, and if so, then this mysterious and untouchable spot is yet another set down stop for a band who’re now truly at the peak of their powers.

You can read a full review here.