Their most recent track, ‘Tongue’, is perplexing yet enticing on first listen, one that feels like a darker continuation of 'Romance', a culmination of tracks ‘Sundowner’ and ‘Before You I Just Forget’. It has the sound of Fontaines D.C. but is also nothing fans will have heard before, though not surprising either, with the band’s ability to contort their sound into something new.
The album so far captures some of the moodier, eerier emotions heard in earlier projects, with a more melodic, less guitar-focused ‘Skinty Fia’. Their poetic Irish influences show up in the sound of this project, as well as in the lyrics. It wouldn’t be a surprise if ‘Dopamine Chamber’ acts as a sister album to ‘Romance’, as it’s clear that the aesthetics are familiar and nearly identical in themes to ‘Romance (Deluxe Edition)’, arguably a calculated progression.
This song heavily on the repetition of the lyrics “Am I allowed to say it if nobody’s gonna listen?” And “Sh*t, I’m sorry, didn’t realise I’d called”, both lines coming across as a little more hopeless and draining each time they’re sung, reflecting the song’s haunting nature. This single has sparked a litany of online discussions about the direction the band is taking with this album and in general. The phenomenal run of ‘Romance’ singles like ‘Starburster’ and ‘Favourite’, set an astronomically high bar for Fontaines D.C., the mixed reactions are understandable.
'Tongue' is powerful, perhaps even more so than the previous single ‘Marianne’, and offers an honest insight into what's to come: an era bound to prove die-hard ‘Romance’ fans wrong. They continue to get better and better with each single.
Amy Porter
Image: ‘Tongue’ Official Single Cover