John Farnham’s 14th solo album is notable for several reasons, beyond containing hits such as “That’s Freedom,” “Burn for You,” and the title track (co-written by Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart). For starters, Farnham played a bigger songwriting role than on 1986’s Whispering Jack and 1988 follow-up, Age of Reason. He also played guitar on the record, something he’d never done before. A pervading sense of optimism flows throughout Chain Reaction. “I Can Do Anything” 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 “In Your Hands” (“The freedom that you want is in your hands”), while “New Day” is an optimistic prayer for better days ahead. Social commentary was also high on Farnham’s agenda: “The Time Has Come” acknowledges the invasion and dispossession of Indigenous peoples globally, while expressing a determination not to compound the problems it’s created; “See the Banners Fall” 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 “Burn for You” shifts the focus inward as Farnham sings of missing his family while touring.