Diverse Records, as well as releasing albums by established international acts (Alison Krauss, Richard Thompson, Joan Baez) like to put out LPs by artists they love and introduce them to a wider vinyl audience (Dolly Varden, Richmond Fontaine, The Duke & The King). Next up in that list is Irish singer-songwriter Fionn Regan.
Its been an interesting couple of years for Fionn Regan. Never one to take the easy route, Fionn could easily have made a safe and predictable follow-up to The End Of History, his 2007 Mercury-nominated and critically lauded debut. He could have simply recorded another collection of beguiling acoustic beauties. He could have made The End Of History Part Two. But that would have been too easy. Instead Fionn has returned with a very different second album bursting with ideas and a set of dazzling new tunes which are sure to reaffirm his reputation as both maverick genius and one of the most talented contemporary singer-songwriters around. If "The End Of History" was the sound of the countryside and woodland lanes "The Shadow Of An Empire" is the sound of towns and dimly lit streets; heartfelt and with a ragged edge. Regan has ploughed himself a new furrow.
It was during a period of great global upheaval, whilst touring his debut album for two years worldwide, and in particular across the US, as Fionn puts it - "seeing the world, the bone structure, the pulp" - that he began work on its follow up. It seems natural that his response was to become more outward looking and in "The Shadow Of An Empire" this manifests itself in a collection of songs that are peopled with characters and conversational dialogue. The often witty vignettes are used to facilitate more complex soul-searching.
Fionn again produced the album himself but the journey to this end wasnt as straightforward this time around. Fionn parted company with Lost Highway last year when it became apparent that they had different ideas for the album. Fionn bought himself a trident desk and a tape machine, set up in a small, disused factory space in Co. Wicklow, Ireland and set about making the album without interference. Never short of champions, Jeff Barrett was bowled over by the results and quickly signed him up for what was Heavenly Recordings first release of 2010 and Diverse Records first of 2011!
Features:
Audiophile 180 Gram Vinyl
Musicians:
Fionn Regan, vocals, guitar, organ, piano, tambourine, banjo, harmonica, mandolin
Laura Murphy, backing vocals
Gavin Wheatley, piano
Stephen O'Brien, bass
Drew McConnel, bass
Brian Murphy, drums, bass
Selections:
1. Protection Racket
2. Catacombs
3. Coat Hook
4. Genocide Matinee
5. Violent Demeanor
6. Lines Written In Winter
7. House Detective
8. Little Nancy
9. Lord Help My Poor Soul
10. The Shadow Of An Empire
Its been an interesting couple of years for Fionn Regan. Never one to take the easy route, Fionn could easily have made a safe and predictable follow-up to The End Of History, his 2007 Mercury-nominated and critically lauded debut. He could have simply recorded another collection of beguiling acoustic beauties. He could have made The End Of History Part Two. But that would have been too easy. Instead Fionn has returned with a very different second album bursting with ideas and a set of dazzling new tunes which are sure to reaffirm his reputation as both maverick genius and one of the most talented contemporary singer-songwriters around. If "The End Of History" was the sound of the countryside and woodland lanes "The Shadow Of An Empire" is the sound of towns and dimly lit streets; heartfelt and with a ragged edge. Regan has ploughed himself a new furrow.
It was during a period of great global upheaval, whilst touring his debut album for two years worldwide, and in particular across the US, as Fionn puts it - "seeing the world, the bone structure, the pulp" - that he began work on its follow up. It seems natural that his response was to become more outward looking and in "The Shadow Of An Empire" this manifests itself in a collection of songs that are peopled with characters and conversational dialogue. The often witty vignettes are used to facilitate more complex soul-searching.
Fionn again produced the album himself but the journey to this end wasnt as straightforward this time around. Fionn parted company with Lost Highway last year when it became apparent that they had different ideas for the album. Fionn bought himself a trident desk and a tape machine, set up in a small, disused factory space in Co. Wicklow, Ireland and set about making the album without interference. Never short of champions, Jeff Barrett was bowled over by the results and quickly signed him up for what was Heavenly Recordings first release of 2010 and Diverse Records first of 2011!
Features:
Audiophile 180 Gram Vinyl
Musicians:
Fionn Regan, vocals, guitar, organ, piano, tambourine, banjo, harmonica, mandolin
Laura Murphy, backing vocals
Gavin Wheatley, piano
Stephen O'Brien, bass
Drew McConnel, bass
Brian Murphy, drums, bass
Selections:
1. Protection Racket
2. Catacombs
3. Coat Hook
4. Genocide Matinee
5. Violent Demeanor
6. Lines Written In Winter
7. House Detective
8. Little Nancy
9. Lord Help My Poor Soul
10. The Shadow Of An Empire
