Fontaines D.C. – Say Yes to Heaven Review

Fontaines D.C. has finally found a voice. Their works on Dogrel and before were interesting but lacked the passionate punches of Romance. They have found an angle to work from and it is far more interesting than their previous efforts. Continuing with this dedication to the new sound, the slick and colourful style of a heartbreaking set of songs, Fontaines take on Lana Del Rey with a tremendous cover of Say Yes to Heaven. It is no secret the band wishes to collaborate with the Video Games songwriter, and what a pairing it would be. More fuel to the fire with this cover of the Del Rey classic. Say Yes to Heaven fits in well with the overwhelming feel of mood and emotion as a tangible place, rather than an out-there feeling. Romance hits on this well, and Say Yes to Heaven is a lush continuation of this theme. 

It is such a left-field choice from the band, a deep-cut TikTok leak written for Ultraviolence but ultimately left off. Smart choices aside, it means Fontaines D.C. can add their layer of meaning, and fit it to the gothic, booming structure of Romance in a way that inspires the liberation of the heart. Such is the message of Say Yes to Heaven, of being confident in yourself despite the actions of another. In the hands of Grian Chatten and the gang, it is a wonderful occasion, a formidable cover which relies just as much on the stripped-back instrumental flavours, the heartwarming percussion and the understated yet integral guitar work, to the monotone texture frontman Chatten provides. A sincere and open run of this Del Rey song is quite the treat for fans of both, and those not convinced by Fontaines or Lana will certainly find something to love in this one.  

Moody tones match well with the Del Rey experience. Her work may have a shimmering, almost universal appeal to it but she is an artist who can all too easily adapt the quality of her words. She rarely does, but it is up to those who deem it interesting to cover her to do so. Fontaines does just that and is rewarded with a quality cover, one which feels like it could slot right into their live performances, particularly around the tenderness explored on Romance. It feels like an extra piece of the puzzle, it fits in well even if the Romance sound is complete. Chatten and the group run a genuine risk with this cover when thought of in the context of their latest album, but it becomes yet another spectacle from a band that has recently hit a niche artistic groove. They have found their sound.  

And with finding their sound they have found a personable approach to their music; their writing and instrumentals evolved from Dogrel. It was an album filled with charm and heart, better now in hindsight than on its initial release, but spurned on by this left-field series of songs. Some of their strongest work to date and it is easy to include their cover of Say Yes to Heaven in that run of quality. Delightful stuff the whole way through and not at all out of step with the likes of Starburster or their title track. Del Rey covers of this quality are shockingly rare, but if there were a band to ever get to grips with her theme and style, it is the one which has noted their desire to collaborate. Chatten and the band understand the lyrical ins and outs of this and extend it beautifully with their BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance.