Ellie’s Hang out

Why not read and listen? click below. 

The fourth studio album by Irish rock group Fontaines D.C. is titled Romance. It was released on August 23, 2024, and was first revealed on April 17, 2024, along with the lead track, “Starburster”. The singles “Favourite,” “Here’s the Thing,” and “In the Modern World” are also included. 

The Irish quartet switches stadium-sized alt rock with a healthy dose of Y2K nostalgia for steely post-punk on its fourth album. Although this is an unexpected change, they execute it beautifully. 

A romantic story begins with a sense of boundless possibilities set against an atmosphere of impending disaster. The menacing title track has a death march-like atmosphere to it. The piano melody tones somewhere between innocent and eerie, while the sound of damp cave recordings and menacing fuzz guitar accompany the music. Chatten sings sultrily, “Maybe romance is a place. For me/And you.” What comes next is equally expansive and surrealistic, fusing the Pixies’ terrifying edge with the Cure’s eerie sweetness. Glorious string arrangements evoke the spirits of vintage film, then give way to a distinctly Western feel. 

Chatten sounds brighter than ever, with all the open-minded wonder of a tourist discovering a new place. His newfound versatility is astounding, as is the band’s, ranging from his nervous breathing and deep crooning on “Starburster” to the frantic falsetto and seducing sighs of “Here’s the Thing” to a weepy head tone on “Desire.” They emulate the ethereal tones of  Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” on “In the Modern World.” In the song “Death Kink,” Chatten’s lyrics unfold like a circle of exquisite corpse, his voice wavering between narcotised and menacing: “I live meretricious/You shattered/Amazing stars from the drink.”

The room created for the sound design allows the songwriting to flow naturally, maybe unhindered by the listener’s perception. Strings and boyband-style backing vocals contribute to the ’90s extravagance of ‘In The Modern World.’ ‘Motorcycle Boy’ features rollicking rhythms and ghostly repetition, while ‘Desire’ is pure shoegazey bliss.

Fontaines D.C. strikes an intriguing position in the depths of detachment, showcasing an uncomfortable blend of antic energy and polished workmanship that makes Romance so captivating.

SO…this is where we part ways. I hope you enjoyed this piece.

What did you think about this? Have you listened yet? If so what did you think. Let me know in the comments below!

-Ellie<3