Bernard Fanning has been busy.
It’s less than a year since the former Powderfinger frontman released his third, solo album ‘Civil Dusk’. At the time of that album’s release, word was there would be another coming soon. Now the singer-songwriter has released his fourth album, ‘Brutal Dawn’.
Recording two albums together isn’t something Bernard has done before either with Powderfinger or as a solo artist. The thought of even doing a double album never crossed his mind until his manager, Paul Piticco (Splendour In The Grass), made the suggestion. “He was the first one to say, ‘Why don’t you make two records?’," Bernard says.
“We had a lot of material and we would’ve been putting a whole lot aside. It’s not that typical for your manager, who is also your label boss, to suggest that. So while he was that high I agreed. You only get one chance in your career to do it, so you better get it fucking right.”
The space between the release of the two albums wasn’t a deliberate decision, but Bernard is glad he gave himself the “brain space”. Even when recording for ‘Brutal Dawn’ was finished, Bernard found himself writing more songs that found their way on to the final album.
“They probably could’ve been released together a couple of months later, but we wouldn’t have ended up with the same record.
“I’m really glad we didn’t because I ended up writing a couple of songs right at the end of the ‘Brutal Dawn’ sessions around Christmas when I thought we were finished.”
‘Civil Dusk’ and ‘Brutal Dawn’ are separate albums, but both feature the return of Bernard’s backing band The Black Fins, producer Nick DiDia, the alternative-country flavours Bernard’s embraced as a solo artist and they share thematic ties, with the latter answering the themes of consequences and decisions on the former.
“I think this one is more about memories and the way you picture things that have happened; how accurate your memories really are and the gaps between those memories and what really happened.
“I think memories are the best version that suit you most. So, ‘Brutal Dawn’ is spinning that around and inspecting it, deciding whether that’s the case or not. The album also looks at the ideas of renewal and revitalising. How you look at the evolution of your life, along with decisions, consequences, your memories and the gaps between those memories.”
That theme of consequences features on the album's dramatic opening song, ‘Shed My Skin’, a song punctuated by Black Fin Salliana Campbell’s gypsy fiddle touches about a prisoner incarcerated for 14 years readying for release and ready to make amends with the loved ones he’s hurt.
“He’s on the verge of being released, so that idea of renewal is really evident in that song. That’s the main aspect of that song, that idea of anticipation and looking to make up for past indiscretions.”
One of the angriest songs on the album is ‘America (Glamour And Prestige)’, driven by the furious drumming of Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst. Despite the current state of American politics, Bernard is adamant it’s nothing to do with politics but more about its vanity and vapidity. “I think it’s a fairly snippy, sarcastic song. It’s not in great admiration.
“It’s about that idea of growing up and that whole idea of America and what it meant to people of my generation; leaving Australia and going to places that were more exotic. Going there and looking at the reality of the States, you get slapped in the face by reality pretty quickly. But, like Australia, you take the bad with the good.”
While in the middle of recording ‘Brutal Dawn’, Bernard and his band performed a massive tour across Australia in support of ‘Civil Dusk’. Touring for the new record will be no different, except with new songs joining old favourites. Knowing fans of Bernie, he’ll be creating some special memories.
'Brutal Dawn' is out now.
