Song of the Week: Fontaines D.C. Have a Trip-Hop Panic Attack on “Starburster”

Jonah Krueger and Consequence Staff
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The post Song of the Week: Fontaines D.C. Have a Trip-Hop Panic Attack on “Starburster” appeared first on Consequence.

Song of the Week is our weekly column that spotlights the latest and greatest tracks each week. Find these new favorites and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist, and for other great songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Fontaines D.C. return with the lead single to their upcoming album, Romance, “Starburster.”

Fontaines D.C. have come a long way since being boys from the better land. Their debut effort, Dogrel, while both promising and exciting, offered a relatively straightforward take on modern post-punk. With each subsequent release, though, the Irish act poked and prodded at the genre, folding in new influences and taking wilder and wilder swings. With their latest, the artsy, trip-hop-infused “Starburster,” Fontaines D.C. continue to turn the guitar music of their past on its head.

Serving as the lead single for their upcoming album, Romance, the ambition of “Starburster” is only matched by its writhing, anxious tone. With its saturated drums, fiery vocals, and wailing synth, it’s unsurprising that the tune originates from a panic attack frontman Grian Chatten experienced. It’s claustrophobic and, at times, intentionally overwhelming, especially with the sharp inhales of breath that help close out the song.

And yet — as if the band wanted to stop just short of inducing panic in the listener — just as the track seems like it is about to boil over, the clouds part, and a genuinely beautiful, string-backed bridge enters to ease the tension. Of course, it’s only a matter of time until the dread creeps back in.

It’s a remarkably well-constructed composition, one that pushes the band into new, unexpected places. Far from their early guitar-driven ragers like “Chequeless Reckless” or “A Hero’s Death,” “Starburster” uses the six-string as an accent more than anything. Instead, the percussion and hip-hop-esque production take center stage, successfully framing Fontaines D.C. as much more than just a gang of Irish rockers.

— Jonah Krueger
Editorial Coordinator

Honorable Mentions

A.G. Cook — “Soulbreaker”

The latest track from A.G. Cook’s upcoming album, Britpop, is the siren-like slow jam “Soulbreaker,” and it feels like the climactic moment of a forgotten film. Cook’s composition is both nostalgic and futuristic, with the occasional jarring break from its ’80s-influenced synth-pop sound — made all the more fascinating by a death-then-resurrection moment in the final third. As always with Cook, it’s singular, inspired, and totally majestic. — Paolo Ragusa

Boldy James & Rich Gains — “Yokohama Slim” with MadeinTYO

Boldy James has reunited with collaborator Rich Gains for the simmering “Yokohama Slim,” this time bringing along American-born, Tokyo-raised rapper MadeinTYO. The song is slight, with James and MadeinTYO each turning in a verse, but they don’t need much time to make their point. As another entry into the canon of songs James and Gains have worked on together, it’s clear this is becoming a partnership where they’re both winning. — Mary Siroky

GIFT — “Wish Me Away”

New York City band GIFT have returned this month with “Wish Me Away,” and it strikes the balance between dreamy and energizing. The song’s skittering drum machine and quick tempo add an outer layer of activity, but the way vocalist TJ Frida elides the words “Wish Me Away” in his feather-light croon is downright hypnotic. It’s got just enough psychedelic allure, pace, and precision to become your new favorite dream pop song. — P. Ragusa

Joe Goddard — “Moments Die (featuring Barrie)”

Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard is back with the latest single from his solo album, Harmonics, and he’s brought the illustrious Barrie along for “Moments Die.” Their pillowy vocals fit together like puzzle pieces throughout, rounded out by a strutting, but understated beat. Inspired by the ephemerality of the present, there’s a good helping of yearning baked into “Moments Die” — but even in the sense that something is incomplete, Goddard’s relentless groove provides warmth and sedation. — P. Ragusa

Joy Oladokun — “Questions, Chaos, and Faith”

Though many strive for it, few working artists have the tenderness or warmth of Joy Oladokun’s pen. On her latest effort, “Questions, Chaos, and Faith,” the artist proves once again that she’s one of the most skilled songwriters in the indie folk scene. From the swelling instrumental to the light melody to the crushing lyrics, “Questions, Chaos, and Faith” is a gut punch of a tune. But when the gut punch is this beautiful, go ahead and keep hitting me over and over. — J. Krueger

Lake Street Dive — “Better Not Tell You”

Rachael Price has such a dynamic and interesting voice that she instantly elevates any music she touches, whether it’s a cover or the latest entry into Lake Street Dive’s canon. “Better Not Tell You” falls into the latter category, and the latest single from the band is in the vibrant, horn-soaked strike zone in which this crew consistently thrives. As the latest look into their forthcoming album, due out June 21st, it’s excellent advertising. — M. Siroky

Riley! — “Bad Boys Boxing Club”

Riley!’s brand new album, Keep Your Cool, is out now, and I’m sure it’s well on its way to inspiring rowdy mosh pit after rowdy mosh pit. “Bad Boys Boxing Club” dropped as the last single before the release of the record, and it’s a tune that encompasses the raw, frenetic energy the band bakes into each banger. Taking queues from the more in-your-face acts of the emo revival (think Glocca Mora and company), “Bad Boys Boxing Club” and the rest of Keep Your Cool is pure, irresistible, and uptempo catharsis. — J. Krueger

Sex Week — “Angel Blessings”

Sex Week dropped their debut single, “Toad Mode,” in 2023, establishing themselves as tuneful and adventurous. The act’s newly-released second single, “Angel Blessings,” takes a turn toward the darkness, embracing distortion, noise, and even black metal-inspired screaming. It’s quite the pivot, and yet, it still sounds like Sex Week. “Angel Blessings” is everything a sophomore release should be, expanding the scope of the project while never losing sight of its original vision. — J. Krueger

Wafia — “Background”

Apocalyptic endings feel easy breezy in the hands of Wafia, whose new song, “Background,” embraces romance through ongoing chaos. The recent Nettwerk Music Group signee is content to exist in the gray, embracing her status “in the background,” while the structure of the track itself echoes this nonchalant attitude. It’s sunny and bright — toss it on a spring playlist this lovely Friday and thank us later. — M. Siroky

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Song of the Week: Fontaines D.C. Have a Trip-Hop Panic Attack on “Starburster”
Jonah Krueger and Consequence Staff

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