Songs of 2019 #4: Too Real - Fontaines DC

Too Real - Fontaines DC

Well, Fontaines DC shouldn't need any introduction by now.

I had heard some of their earlier songs, but it is with Too Real that I really started to pay attention.

And I think it is with this song they really started to raise the bar in their game.
For one thing, they started to become noisier and more daring.

Too Real has a uncommon structure, with an inro of drum and bass guitar creating a crescendo, that is then followed by a dystonic guitar noise, created by sliding the neck of the bottle on the strings.
The "song" then settles into a more conventional structure before  returning to the guitar noise and an almost "Motorik" bass guitar and drum beat.  It has a lot layers all very cleverly and originally combined to create something that sounds original and magnificent.

This is also the song where all started to click for me. As in most of their songs, Fontaines DC talk from the perspective of some character. Their characters and stories are local, all based around Dublin, where they live, but by focusing on 'real' characters, they provide an insight into topical and relatable themes that feels authentic and never contrived.
In this case, they speak from the perspective of some disenchanted character getting to grips with the need/desire for material wealth. The line "None can revolution lead with selfish needs aside" strikes for its directness, and is somehow poetic in describing something quite prosaic.

In this song Fontaines DC also refer to a poem by TS Eliot. They accomplish that all in an aggro post-punk piece with references to noise-rock and other avant-garde music. Amazing!

No comments:

Post a Comment