Bernard Fanning’s third solo album, Civil Dusk, is the first music we have heard since his 2013 sophomore effort Departures. Not only does it mark his musical return, it also marks his return to Australia. The singer, along with his wife Andrea Morena and their two children, have made the move from her homeland of Spain to settle in Byron Bay.
His first solo album, released whilst Powderfinger were on a hiatus in 2005, was the highly successful Tea & Sympathy. Following some personal tragedies, the heartfelt album was fourteen songs of stripped-back, country-tinged folk, a deliberate departure from the indie rock sounds of the Brisbane five piece. The follow up, 2013’s Departures, was by contrast big on production, upbeat and full of synth beats and horn breaks. It seems now, third album in, that Fanning has finally been able to clear the shackles of expectation and take a more organic approach to his songwriting.
Although the majority of the material was written whilst was still living in Madrid, the entire album was recorded earlier this year at La Cueva (Spanish for cave), the new studio that Fanning built in Byron Bay alongside long term collaborator Nick DiDia, who also produced, engineered, and mixed Civil Dusk.
Returning to a more simplistic approach to recording, an effort was made to use as many timber instruments as possible, capturing the warmth of acoustic guitar, piano, strings and violin. Fanning was responsible for the majority of the instrumentation on the album, enlisting a few friends to help out, including ex bandmate Ian Haug, as well as longtime friend Kasey Chambers, who lends her instantly recognisable vocals to ‘Sooner or Later.’
Known for his strong views on social and political issues, the social commentary isn’t the main focus on this album. Instead we find a more reflective singer, looking back at past decisions and their consequences, both personally and as a society. The vocals are deliberately high in the mix, ensuring that the message is always at the forefront.
First single ‘Wasting Time’ is instantly catchy and melodically upbeat, looking at previous relationships with the benefit of hindsight, the repeated phrase standing out, “Only the good love survives.” ‘What A Man Wants’ is driven by a ’70s rock groove, preceding an organ led, gospel inspired chorus that reflects on past mistakes with the line “What a man wants, is seldom what he needs.”
‘Reckless’ is one of the albums finest moments, beginning quietly with only an acoustic guitar, the song slowly adding layers as it builds to a climax in the chorus. Rich in signature vocal harmonies, Fanning repeatedly asks himself, or perhaps those around him, “How could you be so reckless?” The slow rock groove and post chorus guitar solo is reminiscent of some of Powderfinger’s best work.
It is the quieter moments that remind us why Bernard Fanning is one of Australia’s favourite songwriters. Album opener ‘Emerald Plane’ is stunning, as is the largely piano and vocal based ‘Rush Of Blood,’ with harmonies and strings added for impact. ‘Unpickin A Puzzle’ is similarly sparse, an acoustic guitar low in the mix backing up a song were the singer reflects on a lifetime of repeated mistakes, the closing line open for interpretation; “God is making music, Devil is making wine.”
The mandolin, violin and doubled vocals of ‘Sooner Or Later’ really ramp up the country feel, before the harmonica-led ‘Belly Of The Beast’ closes the album in style, albeit on a more political note. The song makes comment on the current lack of decent political leadership in the country, and in continuing with the album’s theme, Fanning suggests that we are the consequences of our own decisions, stating “The saying goes the people get the leaders they deserve, take a look at our leaders, I guess that makes us all absurd.”
With a musical career that spans over 25 years, it seems that Bernard Fanning has finally recorded an album entirely on his own terms. Gone is the five-way democracy that was Powderfinger, gone is the deliberate effort to contradict expectations that were factors with his first two releases. It remains to be seen whether Civil Dusk has the songs that resonate with fans as much as ‘Wish You Well’ or ‘Songbird’, but it is clearly his most cohesive and accomplished record to date.
Civil Dusk is part one of two album series, the second part Brutal Dawn is due for release early in 2017. Bernard Fanning will be touring in support of the release nationally in October and November.
