Fionn Regan
The End of History
(Lost Highway)
So many new artists get touted as the next Dylan or Drake that such comparisons get diluted to the point where they have no substance. So what do you do when The End of History comes along? How can you convey its brilliance or potential without everyone thinking “I’ve heard that before?” But take note of Fionn Regan. This 23-year-old Dublin-born busker has struck gold with a debut that evokes the best of Badly Drawn Boy and even Nick Drake but achieves a disarming unpredictability. It remains to be seen whether or not Regan can translate this into a full-on career, but this CD rightly deserves the Mercury Prize shortlist placement it received last month.
Dave Hayden
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
