Fontaines D.C. - Marianne

Fontaines D.C. go full Joy Division on “Marianne”.

The kings of modern Irish post-punk are back. Meet “Marianne”, the first single from Fontaines D.C.’s upcoming album Dopamine Chamber, due out on October 16.

As befits the band’s finest traditions, their new track catches you off guard from the very first seconds. Set against a mysterious, almost otherworldly instrumental that sounds tailor-made for a Halloween movie, frontman Grian Chatten’s vocals dissolve into a sea of echo and reverb, his cries seemingly swallowed by the atmosphere. It’s a striking contrast to their previous lead single, “Starburster”, which was explosive, energetic, and just the right amount of abrasive. “Marianne”, by comparison, feels far more relaxed and dreamlike.

Leaning into the darker territory of Joy Division and The Cure’s early work, the lead single from the band’s fifth album marks the beginning of a new chapter for Fontaines D.C. Produced by James Ford, who also worked on the group’s previous record, the song seems to hint that the new album could explore the shadowier side of their magnum opus, Romance. Its final minute, with Chatten’s chorus intertwining with the haunting refrain “Marianne, oh Marianne, my dreams are made from you", sends shivers down your spine, while the urge to hit replay grows stronger with every listen.

And that’s precisely what makes Fontaines D.C.’s music so captivating and unmistakable: even when they slow things down, they never lose their ability to pull you deeper into their world.

8.3/10