The Shadow of an Empire
| The Shadow of an Empire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 February 2010 (IE) 8 February 2010 (UK) 8 February 2011 (vinyl) | |||
| Genre | Folk | |||
| Label | Heavenly Records (UK) Universal Music Ireland (IE) Diverse Records (vinyl) | |||
| Fionn Regan chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| BBC | Positive[1] |
| Clash |   [2] |
| The Guardian |   [3] |
The Shadow of an Empire is the second studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Fionn Regan, released on 8 February 2010 on Heavenly Records and Universal Music Ireland.[4] The album's aesthetic differs from Regan's previous album, The End of History, featuring more electric guitar-based rock songs. Regarding this change in musical direction, Regan stated, "This album's lyrically quite fast, with lots of word changes and phrase changes, and it asked for a different kind of coat."[5] In October 2009 the first single, "Protection Racket" was released as a free download.[6]
Following the album's release, Regan toured with support act, Danny and the Champions of the World, appearing as his backing band.
Background and recording
[edit]Following the critical success of his debut album, The End of History, Fionn Regan began working on a follow-up with producer Ethan Johns. Described by Regan as "quite an uncompromising record" and "a combination of two uncompromising people", the album was ultimately shelved by his label, Lost Highway.[7]
Regarding their decision not to release the album, Regan states that "Sometimes when you discuss making a record with a record company, everyone draws a sketch of the house, and when you come back with the finished thing it's like, 'Oh, we thought the doors were going to be on the left side.' [...] [the album] is in a vault somewhere. It ended up getting clamped on the docks and the tariff was too high to get it out, and they put red tape around it. And so, I backed out of the drive and made the record that I set out to make."[7]
Regan subsequently left Lost Highway and relocated to Ireland to start afresh, recording in an old biscuit factory.[7]
The majority of The Shadow of an Empire was written whilst Fionn Regan was touring in support of The End of History. Regan states that he wrote character-based songs on his typewriter first, before putting the words to music, and notes that:[5]
touring is very different to sitting in a room with a piano, and that was a big part of it, and some of the tunes this time felt like I could move them. Like I could do them in a country way, and then in a straightforward, kind of Velvet Underground way, and then put them on acoustic guitar. The results were just what felt like a good fit. There are lots of other versions, and that was different for me, I found that really interesting, that the tracks became kind of movable beasts. It's something I’m working on live, too. Maybe I don't always want to play a guitar, you know? The lyrics are the centre pole, and now I can swing whatever canopy I want over it.
Track listing
[edit]All tracks written and arranged by Fionn Regan.
- "Protection Racket" – 2:39
- "Catacombs" – 3:25
- "Coathook" – 2:20
- "Genocide Matinee" – 3:52
- "Violent Demeanour" – 3:32
- "Lines Written In Winter" – 3:58
- "House Detective" – 3:06
- "Little Nancy" – 3:17
- "Lord Help My Poor Soul" – 4:45
- "The Shadow of an Empire" – 4:04
Personnel
[edit]Adapted from the album liner notes.[8]
Musicians
[edit]- Fionn Regan – vocals, guitar, organ, piano, lapsteel, tambourine, bullhorn, bass guitar ("Genocide Matinee")
- Brian Murphy – drums, bass guitar ("Protection Racket")
- Stephen O'Brien – bass guitar
- Laura Murphy – backing vocals ("Catacombs", "Violent Demeanor", "Little Nancy"), reception bell ("Protection Racket")
- Drew McConnell – bass guitar ("Lord Help My Poor Soul")
- Gavin Wheatley – piano ("Violent Demeanor", "House Detective")
Production
[edit]- Fionn Regan – producer, additional engineering ("Genocide Matinee")
- Brian Murphy – engineer
- Stephen O'Brien – engineering assistant
- Paul Stacy – mixing
- Steve Rooke — mastering
Artwork
[edit]- Fionn Regan – artwork, design
- Laura Murphy – artwork assistant
- Autumn de Wilde – cover photograph
- Swollen Design – photography of artwork and layout
References
[edit]- ^ "Music – Review of Fionn Regan – The Shadow of an Empire". BBC. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
- ^ "Fionn Regan – The Shadow Of An Empire | Clash Music Latest Album Review". Clashmusic.com. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
- ^ Sullivan, Caroline (5 February 2010). "Fionn Regan: The Shadow of an Empire – CD review". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Fionn on his way to the Electric Picnic". The Irish News Online.
- ^ a b "Fionn Regan interview – Features | State Magazine". State.ie. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
- ^ Lindsay, Andrew. "Fionn Regan offers new track for free". stereokill.net. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
- ^ a b c Barton, Laura (2 February 2010). "Fionn Regan: My way or the highway". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ The Shadow of an Empire liner notes
