When Bernard Fanning from Powderfinger announced he was going to be releasing a solo album, it’s unlikely the fans of light hearted summery pop music were throwing any parties. But with his first single Wish You Well, from the album Tea and Sympathy, Fanning has proven himself a master of a new style, and given us all something to get excited about in the process.
The song starts with a jangly strum. It’s an unexpected low key beginning, totally different from Fanning’s work with Powderfinger, but his vocals remind us who is behind this fun number. The lyrics are fairly reminiscent of his earlier work, as it’s a song of love lost.
“Welcome swallows dip and swing
Take their cue from the slightest thing
Rolling fog into my room
Why did you give up on me so soon?”
By the time Fanning hits the chorus, he’s in full sing-a-long happy rock mode, and sounding all the better for it. And although it’s a lovelorn song, there’s no bitterness about a failed relationship here, its all about emotional goodwill, and Fanning should earn some fan goodwill with this charming number.
Bernard Fanning will also be taking the new material on tour, and this song definitely sounds like it would lend itself to an exciting live performance.
Listening to the song on the radio for the first time, you could be forgiven for not even recognising Fanning. It’s a completely unexpected, extremely welcome turn for Powderfinger’s frontman, proving his musical dexterity and flexibility. Although other samples from the new album seem to be a bit closer to the melodramatic epic rock which Fanning is known (and occasionally criticised) for, this first single is at least a step in the right direction.
