LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Listening to Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C.鈥檚 latest album feels a lot like watching a movie about a complicated, sometimes painful, love story 鈥� albeit one with an edgy flair 脿 la 鈥淪id and Nancy.鈥�
That feeling has as much to do with the record鈥檚 sonic journey as it does with the lyrics of 鈥淩omance,鈥� the fourth album by the Grammy-nominated group.
They enlisted a new collaborator in producer James Ford, known for his work with pop-infused rock groups like the Arctic Monkeys and, more recently, the critically acclaimed, up-and-coming rock band
Ford's influence is evident in what is arguably the band鈥檚 most pop-sounding record yet.
鈥淩omance鈥� begins with its titular and maybe most compelling song, a sonic journey that offers glimmers of hope clouded by unnerving fear. A hauntingly atmospheric melody is interrupted by a heavily distorted, almost menacing guitar that captures the frightening sensation of falling in love.
鈥淪tarburster,鈥� the album鈥檚 lead single, takes a hip-hop-infused turn in which lead singer Grian Chatten lusts for 鈥渕omentary blissness鈥� in the chorus while gasping for air. The song was inspired by Chatten having a panic attack in London, where the group is now based.
A tonal shift hits with the third track, 鈥淗ere鈥檚 The Thing.鈥� It鈥檚 almost as if whatever afflictions plague the album's protagonist are finally starting to melt away 鈥� or at least be shared and understood 鈥� as this newfound lover brings hope and order to chaos. 鈥淚 feel your pain / It鈥檚 mine as well,鈥� Chatten longingly croons.
From then on, the album would make a great soundtrack to a moody romantic film, thanks in part to its poignant lyrics and sound, which is evocative of mid-90s alternative Britpop. (Ford coincidentally also produced Blur鈥檚 most recent album). Perhaps London is rubbing off on them.
That sound makes 鈥淩omance鈥� relatively accessible, especially when compared to the band's challengingly complex previous album, 鈥淪kinty Fia." It serves as a reflection of the band's growing popularity.
The remaining tracks vacillate between joy and longing or sadness 鈥� not unlike the feeling of being in a volatile relationship with an uncertain future.
The lovers introduced on 鈥淩omance鈥� get a happy, if still melancholy, ending with the album鈥檚 final song, 鈥淔avourite.鈥� Think of it as a slow zoom out as a montage plays of a couples' embrace to Chatten singing, accompanied by a bright, jangly guitar: "You been my favourite for a long time.鈥�
And the credits roll.
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Krysta Fauria, The Associated Press
