Chain Reaction

<b>John Farnham</b>’s 14th solo album is notable for several reasons, beyond containing hits such as <b>“That’s Freedom”</b>, <b>“Burn for You”</b> and the title track (co-written by Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart). For starters, Farnham played a bigger songwriting role than on 1986’s <i>Whispering Jack</i> and 1988 follow-up, <i>Age of Reason</i>. He also played guitar on the record, something he’d never done before. A pervading sense of optimism flows throughout <i>Chain Reaction</i>. <b>“I Can Do Anything”</b> was conceived by Phil Buckle and inspired by Farnham’s tenacity, with the singer expanding that idea into the more universal theme of being the master of your own destiny. A similar, anything-is-possible spirit permeates <b>“In Your Hands”</b> (“The freedom that you want is in your hands”), while <b>“New Day”</b> is an optimistic prayer for better days ahead. Social commentary was also high on Farnham’s agenda: <b>“The Time Has Come”</b> acknowledges the invasion and dispossession of Indigenous peoples globally, while expressing a determination not to compound the problems it’s created; <b>“See the Banners Fall”</b> was inspired by momentous societal changes such as the Berlin Wall coming down and the end of apartheid in South Africa. By way of contrast, the gentle <b>“Burn for You”</b> shifts the focus inward as Farnham sings of missing his family while touring.