The Deluge (Fanning Dempsey National Park album)
| The Deluge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Fanning Dempsey National Park | |
| Released | 2 August 2024 |
| Length | 41:50 |
| Label | Dew Process |
| Producer | Craig Silvey[1] |
| Singles from The Deluge | |
The Deluge is the debut studio album by Australian duo Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey credited as Fanning Dempsey National Park.[5] The album was released on 2 August 2024.[1]
The album will be supported with a five date Australian tour commencing in October 2024.[6][1]
At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album.[7]
Background
[edit]Fanning and Dempsey have been prevalent in the Australian music scene since the 1990s, with their groups, Powderfinger and Something for Kate respectively.[8]
In August 2020, the duo uploaded a cover of "Under Pressure" onto YouTube, which was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown in Australia.[9] Fanning also contributed backing vocals on the Something for Kate track "Inside Job" on their 2020 album, The Modern Medieval.[2]
In April 2024, the duo announced "devious plans" on social media.[10] Upon release of "Disconnect" Fanning confirmed more music saying, "We didn't want it to sound like a Fanning record or a Dempsey record, we wanted it to sound like a band."[2] The album was announced on 30 May 2024.[1]
Singles
[edit]"Disconnect" was released on 10 May 2024 as the album's lead single, following a fortnight of online teasers. Al Newstead from Australian Broadcasting Corporation called it "a barrelling number on which Fanning and Dempsey trade lead vocals over a triumphant, heartland rock backing."[2] Mary Varvaris from The Music said "the song, features Ron Dziubla's saxophone, huge drums, synths, and a gorgeous lead melody that showcases Fanning and Dempsey's skillset."[10]
The title track was released on 28 June 2024, which Mary Varvaris from The Music reviewed saying "A song that highlights both of the singers' bands melodic sensibilities with a little dash of Kraftwerk, 'The Deluge' is just the right balance of quirky, 80s-inspired electronic elements and rock and roll."[3]
On 19 July 2024, the duo released "Born Expecting".[4]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Courier-Mail |   [11] |
| The AU Review | [12] |
The Courier-Mail said "Think of it as the eight-bit spiritual successor to Regurgitator's Unit."[11] The Australian said "Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey's joint debut was created to establish something distinctly reflective of each musician's tastes, rather than merely an extension of their respective solo efforts."[13]
Pace Proctor from The AU Review said "The Deluge is a simultaneous throwback in both genre and concept, with modern production, songwriting and instrumentation that keep it fresh and exciting. While crafting an album that not only pays homage to their musical influences but also boldly carves out new territory for themselves, Fanning and Dempsey provide an exclamation mark on an already stellar run while finding another standout moment in their already illustrious careers."[12]
Andrew Stafford from The Guardian said "The Deluge (is) an album which harks back to Berlin-era Bowie, Gary Numan's Tubeway Army, new-wave era Robert Palmer, Duran Duran and Foreigner."[14]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Fanning, Dempsey
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Deluge" | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Born Expecting" | 4:01 |
| 3. | "Disconnect" | 3:44 |
| 4. | "Eyes Wide Open" | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Blood" | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Never Pass This Way Again" | 3:55 |
| 7. | "Strangers" | 3:25 |
| 8. | "Past Tomorrow" | 4:53 |
| 9. | "Dunning Kruger National Park" | 5:13 |
| 10. | "King of Nowhere" | 4:42 |
| Total length: | 41:50 | |
Personnel
[edit]Fanning Dempsey National Park
- Bernard Fanning – vocals, guitar, synthesizer
- Paul Dempsey – vocals, bass, guitar, percussion, synthesizer
Additional personnel
- Nick DiDia – engineering
- Ron Dziubla – saxophone
- Adam MacDougall – keyboards, synthesizer
- Craig Macfarland – bass
- Craig Silvey – production, mixing, drum programming
- Dani Bennett Spragg – engineering
- Simon Struthers – mastering
- Michael Urbano – drum programming, drums
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] | 3 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Fanning Dempsey National Park Announce Debut Album, Australian Tour Dates". The Music. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey release Disconnect, first single of collab project Fanning Dempsey National Park". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Fanning Dempsey National Park Drop Electrifying New Single 'The Deluge'". The Music. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b "With great excitement we present 'Born Expecting', a new track from our album The Deluge, out Aug 2!". 18 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey release new album together". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Fanning Dempsey National Park Will Tour The Deluge". Noise11. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Fanning Dempsey National Park". The Note. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Under Pressure - Paul Dempsey (Something for Kate) and Bernard Fanning, Live from lockdown". 12 August 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "Fanning Dempsey National Park Share Euphoric Debut Single 'Disconnect'". The Music. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Album of the week: Tell me why Amy doesn't like Sundays". The Courier-Mail. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Album Review: Fanning Dempsey National Park The Deluge (2024 LP)". The AU Review. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Rockers join forces to conjure a deluge of sonic exploration". The Australian. August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey on their new duo: 'The party hasn't started until the sax solo'". The Guardian. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
