''Modern Fables'' is the debut solo album by New Zealand singer-songwriter

Julia Deans Julia Mary Deans (born 27 August 1974) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of rock band Fur Patrol. Banshee Reel In the early '90s Deans joined Wellington-based Celtic rock band Banshee Reel. The group released ...

, former front-woman of the rock band

Fur Patrol Fur Patrol is a rock band, originally from Wellington, New Zealand. The band formed in Wellington in 1996. Their debut EP, ''Starlifter'', was released on the independent Wellington label Wishbone in 1998. Their debut album ''Pet'' was produced ...

. Released by Tardus Records in 2010, the

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and

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album peaked at no. 12 in the New Zealand charts.Deans, alone, gets intimate
''Otago Daily Times''. Retrieved October 26, 2020.Modern Fables by Julia Deans
''Spotify''. Retrieved October 26, 2020.JULIA DEANS ANNOUNCES MODERN FABLES TOUR
''New Zealand Music Commission''. Retrieved October 26, 2020. Three singles were released from the album: "A New Dialogue," "The Wish You Wish You Had," and the title track "Modern Fables."Julia Deans
''Audioculture''. Retrieved October 26, 2020.

Development

Deans had been heading in a new musical direction distinct from Fur Patrol's original rock sound for numerous years prior to the recording and release of the album, which was exhibited in the band's final few releases, such as "Hand on an Anchor" from 2007's ''The Long Distance Runner EP''. After the band fell apart, she originally contemplated quitting music entirely, though encouragement from friends and family as well as her record company motivated her to create a solo album. ''Modern Fables'' was recorded in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, and

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

. All of the songs on the album were written by Deans, including "Little Survivor," which was penned during her time in Fur Patrol but never ended up on an album of the band's. Numerous notable New Zealand musicians contributed to the album, including

Karl Kippenberger Karl Brenton Jamie Kippenberger (born 26 August 1973 in Wellington, New Zealand), grandson of Captain E.T Kippenberger, great nephew of Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger, is the bass guitarist of the New Zealand band Shihad. Kippenberger g ...

Shihad Shihad are a rock band formed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1988. The band consists of founders Tom Larkin (drums, backing vocals, samplers), Phil Knight (lead guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals) and Jon Toogood (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), ...

Aaron Tokona Aaron Arana Tokona (28 October 1975 – 20 June 2020) was a New Zealand guitarist and singer. Tokona was descended from Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Maniapoto. This heritage played a significant role in his upbringing through his grandparents, who ...

of Weta, and Dino Karlis of

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Release and promotion

''Modern Fables'' received positive reviews upon its release. In a review for the ''Rotorua Daily Post'', Tony Nielsen rated the album 4.5 out of 5, referring to Deans' voice as "amazing, from soft and fragile to high energy, but always driven by great melodies" and describing her as "exceptionally strong" lyrically.Album review: Modern Fables - Julia Deans
''Rotorua Daily Post''. Retrieved October 26, 2020. ''The New Zealand Herald'' gave the album a slightly lower rating, rating it 3 out of 5; although it criticizes some aspects of the tracks "Friend" and "Run," the review nonetheless notes that the album is an "impressive solo outing" and that "Deans' striking out alone might just be the making of her."Album Review: Julia Deans Modern Fables
''The New Zealand Herald''. Retrieved October 26, 2020. Deans embarked on a small New Zealand tour to promote the album, playing in Christchurch, Port Chalmers,

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

, and

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

in August 2010.

Track listing

Source: Spotify.

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2010 debut albums Pop albums by New Zealand artists Folk albums by New Zealand artists