Fontaines D.C.
Romance
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

Sealed 2024 black vinyl original. Custom hype sticker on shrink. The fourth studio outing from the Dublin based rockers! "Fontaines D.C. have always had a strong sense of self. Spearheaded by Grian Chatten's lyrics, they were able to reflect on themselves within the context of their career, resulting in three thematically cohesive albums. Where they'd previously had strong themes or sense of place, Romance is a more disjointed experience, like peering through a door at the center of a dimensional nexus. Chatten himself has referred to the album as a series of snow globes, captured moments or emotions that the band collated and put on display. After a trilogy of albums that focused on their identity as Irish musicians, it's refreshing to hear them step back slightly and create something more universal while keeping it relatable, heartfelt, and undeniably catchy.

Nothing exemplifies their change of direction more than the lead single "Starburster," with Chatten coming close to rap in style but ultimately sidestepping it. His experience working with renowned electronic artists such as Leftfield is put to use here, pushing his voice into new vectors in subtle but unique ways, opening his range in various directions. A powerful beat underlines the abrasiveness of this new style. Fontaines are used to being abrasive, but here they have found a new angle. In less capable hands this track could have veered into cringeworthy territory, but the energy and earnestness on display keep it vibrant and engaging.

The entire mid-section of the album can be ponderous at times, but as weird as it gets it remains grounded by Chatten's ability to emotionally engage, as shown by the deep yearning on "Desire" and the despondency of "In the Modern World." The songwriting isn't as immediate as some of their previous work, but makes up for it with sweeping sentiment.

The closing track "Favourite" finds the perfect middle ground and it's up there with the best songs the band has ever written. The perfect blend of hope, nostalgia, and melancholy threatens to eclipse everything else, making it a smart note to end on; it serves as a framing device for everything that came before it , including their career and their youth.

In many ways all their albums have their own identity, replete with shifts in their sound. Romance just happens to be the biggest leap so far, moving much further from their rough and ready beginnings. When all is said and done, they remain fantastic songwriters, able to convey a variety of emotions without relying on the trappings of punk. The corners may have been sanded off, but it has only revealed new and interesting textures underneath." All Music Guide - Liam Martin.