Fontaines DC: A Night at Montrose, Dublin review – a blast of joy and disquiet | The Guardian

The Dublin five-piece launch their brilliant second album with an intense, pre-recorded livestream event and bonus commentaryLast week, Spotify founder Daniel Ek enraged musicians by stating that they would have to keep the content mills turning (“continuous engagement with their fans” in Ekspeak) because “you can’t record music once every three to four years and think that’s going to be enough”. Of course one reason why the likes of David Bowie and the Smiths were so prolific was that record sales paid well so they didn’t have to spend most of their time touring. There was more opportunity to create.Ek would presumably approve of Dublin quintet Fontaines DC, whose creative velocity, as well as their sound, is reminiscent of the post-punk 1980s. Last April, their debut album, Dogrel, wasn’t so much released as unleashed: a fierce, hot blast of youth, wit, ambition, anxiety and romance. No gradual ascent for them. Next year, at least in theory, they will headline London’s Alexandra Palace. Continue reading…

The Dublin five-piece launch their brilliant second album with an intense, pre-recorded livestream event and bonus commentary

Last week, Spotify founder Daniel Ek enraged musicians by stating that they would have to keep the content mills turning (“continuous engagement with their fans” in Ekspeak) because “you can’t record music once every three to four years and think that’s going to be enough”. Of course one reason why the likes of David Bowie and the Smiths were so prolific was that record sales paid well so they didn’t have to spend most of their time touring. There was more opportunity to create.

Ek would presumably approve of Dublin quintet Fontaines DC, whose creative velocity, as well as their sound, is reminiscent of the post-punk 1980s. Last April, their debut album, Dogrel, wasn’t so much released as unleashed: a fierce, hot blast of youth, wit, ambition, anxiety and romance. No gradual ascent for them. Next year, at least in theory, they will headline London’s Alexandra Palace.

Continue reading…