Fontaines D.C. are a punk band from the “back-arse of nowhere” in Dublin – and their debut album Dogrel, wears those hometown influences proudly on its sleeve. To mark its imminent release, drummer Tom Coll gives us a guide to the city’s record stores, venues, artists and best Sunday night residencies. DUBLIN is a city steeped in a rich musical history – from the beginnings of The Dubliners in O’Donoghue’s on Baggot Street to the mid-noughties singer-songwriter scene that ambled the likes of Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey out the front door of Whelan’s on Wexford Street.
The last couple of years has seen the city explore more alternative independent movements – whether it be the likes of Girl Band’s inspirational noise rock debut Holding Hands With Jamie, Villagers’ own brand of alternative folk, The city’s counterculture movement is certainly something to be very proud of right now.
Over the past five years there has been a real resurgence in more guitar driven music in Dublin and that’s been really exciting to have seen it grow into what it is now. I remember when we were starting out playing small shows in Dublin, we found it really hard to find bands to play with and it’s so encouraging to see a really healthy scene these days. Checkout the likes of Just Mustard, Melts, and The Murder Capital have all been relatively recent and important additions to a really healthy scene. In that sense, Dublin is definitely thriving.
Following the massive buzz that grew up around their series of 2018 singles including recent hit ‘Too Real’ and their support slots with Shame at larger venues across the UK the Irish four-piece are on a promise for their debut album, expected at some point early this year and produced by the great Dan Carey. Judging by new tracks debuted at a recent secret show at Camden’s Good Mixer we can look forward to something that could potentially bridge the gap between the poetic sensitivity of the Smiths and the intense, purposeful awkwardness of The Fall. They really are that good – and we’re hoping for a debut that reflects their brilliance. Fontaines D.C are set to be one of the breakout bands of 2019
The Debut album from the much loved Fontaines D.C. They don’t pretend to be from anywhere but Dublin, and that charges their colloquial rock’n’roll garage music with an authenticity that makes them stand apart. The album is sharp, gritty and intense. The band are locked in and the vocals mixed high with Grian Chatten’s irish accent prominent.
Standouts include Hurricane Laughter which is an insistent and repetitive song built on a Mark E Smith style spoken vocal and a band who are locked into a rock n roll groove. The hook of “And there is no connection available” lingers long in your mind after the song has left the building.
Boys in the Better Land is another golden nugget that has the sound of The Modern Lovers if they’d grown up in Dublin whilst first single on Partisan Too Real is a masterclass in repetition. It employs hypnotic, kraut-rock infused cyclical riffs, whilst channeling Dublin into their concise and often-unassumingly poetic lyrics with a distinctive gritty Irish drawl.
Seriously you won’t find a better debut album this year. It oozes class and is the sound of 2019.
‘Too Real’ is taken from the latest Fontaines D.C. release, out now on digital and on 7″ on 21st December 2018 on Partisan Records.
The Fat Angel Sings 