Perfect Darkness

Perfect Darkness
Studio album by Fink
Released 13 June 2011
Recorded 22 November – 9 December 2010
in Brighton, UK and Los Angeles, CA
Genre Indie rock, folk-pop, blues
Length 46:54
Label Ninja Tune
Producer Billy Bush, Fink
Fink chronology

Sort of Revolution
(2009)		 Perfect Darkness
(2011)		 Fink Meets the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
(2013)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
The Guardian [1]
BBC Music (positive)[2]

Perfect Darkness is the fifth album from British musician Fink, and the fourth to be recorded with his self-titled band. It was released in 2011 on Ninja Tune.[3]

Background

On the concept of the album:

"With Fink we do sing about relationships and love and emotions – but we also sing about other stuff: embracing fear, Berlin dawns, looking forward. Perfect Darkness was written about a friend of mine who’s just signed a massive record deal and it’s all about to kick off. And I’m saying, ‘just roll with it man. It’s gonna get dark but you’ll survive and you’ll come out the other side.’" - Fin Greenall.

The album was recorded in the space of 20 days with the intention of capturing a "sense of right nowness" and an "organic sounding recording". The title was chosen because it sounded "really first-tracky" to the band. Behind the title is also a deliberate misinterpretation of the genre of folk, and the album is described by Greenall not to be "a collection of songs about being dumped or ships leaving meadows or whatever it is people think folk’s supposed to be nowadays, [it] is not that at all."[4]

The album was produced by Billy Bush (who has worked with artists such as Beck and Garbage) and recorded in Brighton and Los Angeles.[5]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Fin Greenall, Tim Thornton and Guy Whittaker, except where noted. 

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Perfect Darkness"  Greenall, Thornton, Whittaker, Matt Kelly 6:39
2. "Fear Is like Fire"    3:58
3. "Yesterday Was Hard on All of Us"    4:55
4. "Honesty"  Greenall, Thornton, Whittaker, Blair Mackichan 4:33
5. "Wheels"    3:04
6. "Warm Shadow"    5:46
7. "Save It for Somebody Else"  Greenall, Thornton, Whittaker, Michael Flury 3:49
8. "Who Says"    5:04
9. "Foot in the Door"    5:03
10. "Berlin Sunrise"    4:04

Personnel

Fink
  • Fin Greenall – vocals, acoustic guitars, sound effects ("FX")
  • Guy Whittaker – electric and acoustic bass
  • Tim Thornton – drums, electric and acoustic guitars
Additional personnel
  • Matt Kelly – string arrangement (on "Perfect Darkness")
  • Michael Flury – trombone (on "Save It for Somebody Else")
  • Shane Beales – electric keyboard (on "Foot in the Door")

Chart performance

Chart (2011) Peak
position
scope="row" French Albums (SNEP)[6] 149
scope="row" Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[7] 78

Release history

Region Date Label Catalogue
United Kingdom 13 June 2011 Ninja Tune ZENCD170
United States 19 July 2011

References

  1. ↑ The Guardian review
  2. ↑ BBC Music review
  3. ↑ Fink. Release info 29 April 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  4. ↑ Kerr, Will. Gigwise.com interview 7 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Stickler, John. Stereoboard interview 20 May 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "FINK [UK – Perfect Darkness"]. Lescharts.com. Hung Medien.
  7. ↑ "FINK [UK – Perfect Darkness"] (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.