Beautiful acoustic finger picking begins the album with a sort of carefree necessity. It bounces along in an uplifting, serenely personal melody. It denotes ability and passion rolled into one. It is haunting and vivacious. Even before hearing the vocals, you are certain they will draw you in. They do.
The voice sails into the song, floating safely above the guitar. It quivers with emotion. It is soothing. It is strangely familiar and oddly original. The lyrics are observant and intelligent, “I have become/An aerial view/Of a coastal town/That you once knew”. The record opens like it could quickly find it’s way on a favorite’s list for the year-or decade.
It is the first full length from Irish folk singer-songwriter, Fionn Regan.
Fionn is male, for those who already have him packaged with a certain female singer/songwriter with a similar first name. He is the offspring of an artist mother and musician/composer father. And now, certainly making his folks proud, he is a Mercury Prize Nominee with quite a buzz attached to his name and debut album.
It is The End of History.
The End of Historyis a soft and emotional record that was virtually unknown before its Mercury Prize nomination. Its success may be a surprise to some, but one listen to its gorgeous melodies, near perfect guitar and strong, almost spoken lyrics will allow for understanding. It’s twelve tracks flow with the precision of a perfectionist. Yet the album is raw-recorded in houses, barns and garages. It is folk music, with a rock aftertaste. A la most singer/songwriters it tells stories of break ups, breakdowns and new love. However, Fionn uses elegant passion, guitar mastery and a damn good voice to distinguish himself.
The opening track “Be Good or Be Gone” and “Put a Penny In the Slot” are clever. The contradictory emotions slip through in the songs and they hardly feel singer/songwriter-y. Regan’s originality goes a long way, helping Jose Gonzalez reclaim the acoustic guitar’s coolness from John Mayer and James Blunt. By the conclusion of the record you are grateful there are still artists that play quietly.
With the soft instrumental fade of “Bunker or Basement”, the album ends as it started, like it could quickly find it’s way on a favorites list for the year-or decade. But just as there are moments that can fill your heart and lift your head, there are others that seem to occasionally disappear into white noise, and therefore it falls short of a classic. But that is OK. Remember this is a debut album and there is for plenty of growth. We may have a masterpiece soon enough.
Ultimately, The End of History is a fine record from Regan that divergently signifies a wonderful beginning.
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