Review
Fontaines DC have come a long way from the slightly scrappy post-punk band first heard on 2019’s Dogrel. Since then, they have only gone from strength to strength with every release further expanding their sound.
Where is Gone comes at a time when both Fontaines DC and Rosalía seem to both be at the peak of their powers. Fontaines riding high with a string of critically acclaimed albums like Skinty Fia and Romance and Rosalia who has just finished touring last years massive Lux. It’s fair to say that this collaboration has been the most hyped single promoting Dopamine Chamber, released 16th October.
The collaboration between Rosalía and Fontaines DC may seem a bit like an odd pairing for some but in a lot of ways it makes sense. As Fontaines guitarist Carlos O’Connell explains:
“I’ve been a fan of ROSALÍA since her debut album, which was absolutely beautiful. What really excited me was how she was keeping a Spanish tradition of music alive, which in a spiritual way felt akin to what we’ve tried to do with Irish music. For someone with roots in both countries, it’s been beautiful to see. She’s an artist who’s blown me away at every stage since.”
Interestingly enough, Carlos himself grew up in Madrid, exposed to both Spanish and Irish cultures.
One of the first things that stands out about Where is Gone is how “bond-like” it sounds with its lush cinematic strings and atmospheric guitars. The quiet verses build into epic choruses with huge-sounding drums and impassioned vocals. The strings remain a real highlight throughout, particularly towards the end of the track.
The vocal interplay between Grian Chatten is also really effective. Their two very distinct vocal styles somehow work together very well in this song. The disinterested, detached vocal delivery also suits the song’s subject matter about an emotionally stunted couple.
The production and dynamics in the track are also amazing. It’s gentle and tender at certain points but also slightly rocky in the right places, with a cool slickness that runs throughout. At times, it gives similar hazy vibes to Some Velvet Morning, the drugged out duet between Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra (without the dizzying tempo changes of course) The track is on the longer side for a single at over 5 minutes, however at no point does it drag.
I haven’t had a chance to listen to Dopamine Chamber yet, but the stunning Where Is Gone shows that Fontaines DC are still going strong and evolving their sound, which leaves me very hopeful for the album. Every release seems to further prove that Fontaines are one of the most exciting and consistent bands out there at the moment.