In the wake of the shimmering success of Fontaines D.C’s fourth album Romance, released via XL Recordings, the most recently released expanded edition of their lauded album falls upon hoards of welcome ears. The newly expanded edition sees the release of three new tracks, including the previously unreleased single “Before You I Just Forget”, with the Irish quintet flexing their musical muscles to extents perhaps not seen before. Whilst the band may appear to be diverging from the post-punk sound which catalysed their initial success, the release of such an expanded album proves that Fontaines D.C are confidently extending the realms of Romance to dizzying new heights.
The release of Romance in August 2024 saw a meteoric rise in Fontaines D.C’s reach, yet the further release of an expanded edition of their acclaimed album duly solidifies the band’s place as one of music’s generational greats. With the formerly released single “It’s Amazing To Be Young” now gaining a steadfast spot on the album’s track list, along with new number “Before You I Just Forget” and a stripped back version of hit single “Starburster”, the BRIT and GRAMMY Award nominated album now reaches a total of fourteen songs. The addition of the wistfully nostalgic “It’s Amazing To Be Young” is a glimmering guitar laced lullaby, written in the presence of guitarist Carlos O’Connell’s newborn daughter. Teaming with odes to a treasured youth, the single glows with stirring depth and sees Fontaines D.C bask comfortably in their earnest emotion. The track is then coupled with the charged track “Before You I Just Forget”, which is a number that teeters, twists and turns, but always remains deeply heartfelt. “Before You I Just Forget” features a melodious yet manic lyrical monologue by vocalist Grian Chatten, with lyrics detailing societal conformation and commodification, which is then fruitfully married with a barbed bassline that reverberates throughout. Of the track, guitarist Conor Curley states:
““Before You I Just Forget” is a song that started with a vision of this really blown out sound, something that heaved and shifted with new details becoming apparent every time you would listen. Like never being able to step in the same river twice, the song morphs and changes, finishing with an incredible string part by Grian”.
However, the final track, a stripped back version of standout single “Starburster” can perhaps be christened as the most poignant of the album’s new additions. Here, “Starburster” is seamlessly knitted with “In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)”, a mellow number written by filmmaker David Lynch, to appear in his 1977 film, “Eraserhead”. Combining the two songs has resulted in a melodic musical matrimony, officiated by Dublin’s sweethearts.
It is safe to say that Romance’s three newest additions are clear-cut examples of the musical and poetic prowess of Fontaines D.C. This recent, expanded endeavour comes a mere three months before their upcoming summer shows, namely their biggest ever headliner at London’s Finsbury Park on 5th July, along with later dates at Cardiff Castle and Wythenshawe Park, Manchester. Both spring and summer appear to be soundtracked by Fontaines D.C, with their newest releases swiftly cementing themselves within the band’s already burgeoning discography.
“Fontaines DC” by p_a_h is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
