Fionn Regan: The Shadow of an Empire
Fionn Regan: The Shadow of an Empire
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Thursday, 04, Feb 2010 04:02
By Fiona White.
Heavenly, out February 8th 2010.
What's it all about?
An eclectic mix of Regan's traditional folk style with some tracks thrown in to catch listeners off guard are present in the Irishman's second album. Rock 'n' roll influences are hinted at in various songs on the ten-track collection. But devoted fans of Fionn Regan's clever lyrics will still find words of inspiration in the mix.
Who's it by?
Born in Bray, Ireland, in 1981, Fionn Regan established himself as a master of intricate guitar riffs and moving storytelling in his first album The End of History.
Released in 2006, his debut offering spawned a dedicated following of fans. Regan was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2007 and spent the subsequent months touring globally.
US label Lost Highway Records signed Regan, whose moving tracks proved popular in the states.
Be Good or Be Gone was one of the best known tracks from the debut after appearing in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Lines from the single such as "I have become an aerial view of a coastal town that you once knew" are typical of the first album's lyricism.
Returning to the studio last year to record The Shadow of an Empire, Regan built on the experiences gained from his earlier success.
The result is a surprising contrast to the debut album and gives an insight into Regan's experiences over the past three years.
As an example.
"The plug in the socket burns a hole in the pocket/These big companies are giving us the squeeze/Let's raise our glasses to Mr Onassis." - Protection Racket (Hand Over the Packet)
What the others say
"As far as second albums go, it is a brilliantly bold, robust work, showcasing real development and the kind of graceful erudition that places Regan squarely ahead of the curve." - James Skinner, the BBC
"It's a fully realised, sprightly rocking album that proves that sometimes musicians are best left alone to do what they do best . An uplifting, flawless follow-up." - Lindsey White, ClashMusic
So is it any good?
On the first listen of The Shadow of an Empire dedicated fans of Regan may be forgiven for feeling a slight sense of loss. Where are the delicate arpeggios and wistful lyrics of the first album?
After playing the tracks for a second time and listening to the compilation as a whole it becomes clear that what was present in The End of History is lurking in The Shadows of an Empire.
Innocent sounds creep in and out as a teasing reminder of why so many fell for Regan's charm in 2006.
But the Irishman's time spent touring has had a profound effect on his musical style and now clever song writing alone is not enough.
Perhaps it is down to the fact he travelled during the global recession - Protection Racket certainly alludes to this - but Regan has returned revitalised and raring to go.
Rock 'n' roll, punk and skilful piano playing are all putting their hands up and vying for the listener's attention.
At times it can get a bit much, but somehow the mellow, folky sounds manage to sit confidently in the background and work alongside Regan's latest style.
The album as a whole is reminiscent of when Paolo Nutini surprised fans with sometimes bizarre takes on various musical styles in Sunny Side Up after his fairly safe debut offering.
After a few listens to Shadow of an Empire, I'm left with the distinct impression Regan may just have touched upon something special and, dare I say it, Bob Dylan-esque.
8/10