Fionn Regan - The Shadow Of An Empire (Album)
From the first jaunty yet dark sounds of opener 'Coat Hook', The Shadow of an Empire presents a multilayered insight into Fionn Regan’s creative inner workings.
On the surface, the songs seem optimistic, joyous and simple - on a deeper listen, the folk and blues influenced album unveils more sinister and sometimes sad undertones. It disguises confronting subject matter such as domestic violence and police brutality under bright chords and hand clapping.
There is a Southern feel to this album - the use of percussion, the both dirty and bright guitar sound (is that a tele?), the bluesy, often sweaty progressions and the drawling vocals. Yet, this record has been touted as his ‘city’ album, a move away from his country and folk influences which dominated his previous work.
You can still hear the influence in the songs from artists like Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams, but the combination of sounds is distinctly Regan.
He has an affinity with words, that’s a no brainer, but the man’s true talents lie in his ability to drag the listener into his often violent and messy world until they are so far in, they can’t extract themselves.
‘Violent Demeanour’ is the most honest, openly laid out track on the record with acoustic, singular guitar and skeletal lead complimenting a sad lament of drug use, police brutality and misdiagnosis of mental health.
‘Little Nancy’ is a sling back to the joy of innocence, of the basic pleasures of life, music, art, digging through the sand, riding the Ferris wheel, “let not this time be wasted on worrying”.
Fionn effortlessly merges his folk and country with blues and alternative rock. You could listen to this album day after day after day and still be surprised by what you find in the music.
Fionn Regan is the musician that every person who picks up an acoustic guitar and plucks a few strings wishes they could be. The Shadow of an Empire is a beautiful musical journey, though the album isn’t entirely perfect.
At times you get the feeling of Regan is trying to achieve more than he actually can, however, it is still a beautiful example of the depths of this singer/songwriter.
