Grian Chatten - Chaos For The Fly Review
Unmasked? Stripped back for sure. We are given a golden opportunity from the highly decorated Fontaines D.C frontman to experience such an intimate and separate viewpoint.
Matured and as inspiring as ever, Chatten pairs his Irish heritage and empirical approach to songwriting, ever present is the ability to illustrate the most vivid qualities of storytelling through that lucrative and winding Dublin accent.
Chaos For The Fly often pushes through a macabre narrative that is renowned with Chatten’s lyrical compositions. Yet rather than an appearing, often belted from the backdrop of a Post-Punk band, we are gifted a more honed version which had been picked up on through Skinty Fia.
The only true distant cousin you could expect from this album would be the prerelease single, ‘Fairlies’. Understandably, it is only natural to require something to cling onto with at least some driving toms, an overdriven guitar and more bellowing vocals from Chatten, Fairlies self serves as a great early break point for the album itself with a sense familiarity in tonality and topics of isolation paired alongside an overall high octane energy only yet to be met with a huge smack the face by the glissando of shimmering string sections coupled with big band brass elements. The lyrics delineate elements of a grand tragedy whilst married alongside grand imagery which is totally bolstered by the juxtaposition arrangement - thus allowing this particular track to step away from the somber overtone of the album. Aside are the acoustic guitars and reigned in drum machines.
The album flows iconically heartfelt song-craftsmanship from Chatten, it’s a wonderful opening in the current Post-Punk demographic to experience almost a virtually different as a different artist. Completely honing his skills Chatten demonstrates the finest abilities to mould as an artist, from a sneering Irish punk to a refined poet it is a wonder to marvel upon.
Chatten succeeds to portray a haunting yet reflective portrait into his deeper emotions, this is amplified by the virtuoso production and luminous detailing from none other than regular collaborator, Dan Carey. The attention to dynamics and character is ever present is a novel fact that this album had been finalised in two weeks. Fusing both Chatten’s Irish folk influences with modern electronic glitches alongside the contemporary post punk feel Chaos For The Fly glares as a modern classic already.
It would be expected in the coming weeks and months that there will be a myriad of solemn live shows from Chatten himself, however the sheer volume of arrangement will be much eagerly awaited too, the album would be done pure justice on the larger stages that Chatten himself has prowled upon so familiarly.