If Irish singer-songwriter Fionn Regan's The End of History was the sound of the countryside and woodland lanes, this record is the sound of towns and dimly lit streets; heartfelt and with a ragged edge. He 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 America, 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 “as a writer you hold up a mirror, its reflections become the work” 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.
On the subject of influence, Fionn describes it as “hard to quantify, I wrote these songs from the page up, on an Olympia portable, the idea being that the words would stand up on their own. I think the percussive nature of typing informed the phrasing. I was reading a lot of Welsh, French and American poets, I started to explore Brecht, Mahagonny in particular, I have always loved Kerouac…, then I admire visual artists like Joseph Beuys, Basquiat and Francis Bacon equally. All these people switch the light bulb on, make me connect back to my work”
The album was self-produced (as was the case with the 2007 Mercury Prize nominated The End of History) and recorded in a small, disused factory space in Fionn’s hometown in Co. Wicklow, Ireland “There were no airs or graces about it, we cut live in the room, live vocals… the piano had come off a cruise ship and we wheeled it down the road…the guy who sold it to us threw a couple of cheap Silvertone guitars and a circus drum into the bargain. As far a production goes…I’m very much into keeping mistakes, a crack in the voice, the natural ebb and flow of live drums, so that there’s a sort of evidence of the process… I think it’s that atmosphere which makes me want to revisit my favorite albums again and again”
“The Shadow of an Empire” will be released on Heavenly Recordings / Universal in early 2010
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mam got me tickets for newbridge on the 14th I can't wait! On saturday night she called me to say you were on the late late. You were amazing! and you where in the newspaper? She brought me it home today! I still have them photos of you in marley park from damien rice
Hey what about us poor fans in the US? Where's my CD? We want your songs too!!! Why doesn't the US iTunes have the same stuff as the UK iTunes?? I want The Shadow of an Empire, I want Ice Cap Lullaby
Fionn, I am always listening to 'The End of History' and can barely contain my excitement for the upcoming album. The wait is almost over! Counting down the days... Jenn :)
Thanks for the add Fionn,I listen to yhe end of history all the time and it never gets old man. Im looking forward to hearing your new album. Im pretty shure it will be EPIC. Peace!
can't wait to have that new CD in my hands, I just hope I can get one of the music stores in town to get it for me so I don't have to wait to get it off amazon or something. Excited!
We want your songs too!!! 
Why doesn't the US iTunes have the same stuff as the UK iTunes?? I want The Shadow of an Empire, I want Ice Cap Lullaby 
