Departures Deluxe Edition

Eight years since the release of the ARIA and APRA-winning "Tea & Sympathy", Departures is 10 tracks and 40 minutes of synth overdubs, complicated rhythms, crackling beats, and newfound energy. From the first seconds of immediate opener "Tell Me How It Ends" it's clear: this is Bernard Fanning having fun.

Track one is all dirty synths and soul, a tale of modern guilt and the constant drive for success. Fast-paced first single "Battleships" opens straight into its chorus, layers of harmonies building up over a dark refrain. Double riffing guitars and Bowie-influenced funk pumps up "Zero Sum Game"; the upbeat, looping "Limbo Stick" takes a throbbing bassline and turns expectations on its head; the semi-nasty "Drake" pits a relationship conflict against a singalong chorus; "Inside Track" is a straight-up, no nonsense "blues denim rock song"; while closer and acoustic ballad "Departures (Blue Toowong Skies)" sees Fanning open up on death, love and loss.

Recorded in Oct/Nov 2012 at Los Angeles' Sunset Sound (the birthplace of legendary hits from Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Neil Young and more), Fanning was joined by producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Raconteurs, Augie March, My Morning Jacket) and some of LA's top session musicians. That includes drummer Matt Chamberlain (Regina Spektor, Kanye West), bassist Sean Hurley (John Mayer), guitarist Lyle Workman (Sting, Beck), and keyboard whiz Zac Rae (Fiona Apple, Lana Del Ray).

Departures best moments deliver intimacy, energy and soul. Widescreen in scope and closely felt, this is an album worth waiting for.

The Deluxe version comes with a bonus track, a 24 page booklet and a hard cover passport-look case.