Armed with fully realised demos of songs written over the past two years, the trio spent half of summer at The Grove 
Studios, in remote bushland on the N.S.W. Central Coast, crafting an album from their solid blueprints. Enlisting the 
talented engineer Matt Lovell (The Mess Hall, Jebediah, Sleepy Jackson), Eskimo Joe also stepped up to the desk and took 
on production duties for the first time. "It took a bit for all three of us to come around to that idea, because it's a 
bit more responsibility," admits Quartermain of Eskimo Joe. "But in the end we backed ourselves and it worked well."

As such, the 12 tracks of Black Fingernails, Red Wine not only showcase a startling development in Temperley's songwriting, 
but shine the spotlight on the entire band's expertise with arrangements. No track is given more than it needs; while 
throbbing drums, warm keyboard atmospheres and ethereal guitars offer enduring depth without weighing down the melodies. 
From the memorable and haunting keyboard hook of "Comfort You" to the closing piano-tinged melancholy of "How Does It 
Feel", it's a captivating and complete listen. Find music by Eskimo Joe here.

"We've always strived to have a cohesive thread or tone through our albums," says MacLeod. "The first couple of songs 
we wrote seemed to have a bit of a feel to them; they were darker and had a bit of a dramatic, almost theatrical edge. 
So we continued that through the rest of the songs."

The bold production brushstrokes cleverly reflect material that has, thematically, just as much personality on display.
 
If A Song is a City was a metaphorical study of Temperley's life and those within it, Black Fingernails, Red Wine takes 
a more universal stance, the singer confidently slipping in and out of character. Succinct yet subtle, the songs hit you 
immediately and then steadily creep into your consciousness.

"I sat down to write a more pop-rock record, as opposed to just writing emotional Kav stuff," Temperley laughs. "It was 
time to put a bit more smoke and mirrors back into the whole thing."

So, after eight years together, some lesser bands may ponder what roads are left to travel. As Eskimo Joe prove, there's 
a whole world of possibilities to explore ­ if you simply follow your heart, listen to your muse and make the most of your 
talent. And Black Fingernails, Red Wine is the ambitious sound of a trio that has grown, both inside the studio and out.

"No-one in our band is in it for their ego; it's all about the songs," says MacLeod. "We're very lucky to have this 
relationship between the three of us; it's getting stronger and stronger, and it's much more of a brotherhood now than 
it ever was."