GRIAN CHATTEN
Chaos For The Fly (Partisan)
Scorching heat, it turns out, provides a perfect backdrop to the vision of the weary coastal town which inspired the solo debut album of Fontaines DC frontman Grian Chatten. His originality shines through, taking us on a nine-song journey through Bob’s Casino to Fairlies and All Of The People, and features a much more mellow and melancholic sound compared to his work with Fontaines DC.
Accompaniments of instrumental interludes offer a unique and tantalising fusion. Embarking on a debut solo album while still part of a band could be viewed as a brave move on Chatten’s part, but one that’s explained as riding a wave alone rather than making the band sing to his tune, which is a noble initiative. Much like a short story collection, each track is different, but the storytelling thread offers similarities associated with the writer. A visceral, deep and inspiring album.
words RHIANON HOLLEY