Neil Finn
Flying In The Face Of Love
Lester Records/Kobalt Label Services / Playground

Two weeks before xmas, Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Brothers, and the father of Liam Finn) put out a new single, "Flying In The Face Of Love". Along with his November single "Divebomber", it'll appear on his forthcoming album Dizzy Heights (due February 10th). This will be his first real album since One Nil (2001). However, he has not been out of business since then. He's continued working with brother Tim Finn as the Finn Brothers, and 2007 saw the brief reformation of Crowded House. He's recorded and contributed music to a number of film and TV soundtracks (such as "Song of the Lonely Mountain" for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey), and he's also had the 7 Worlds Collide recording project going, which is a Oxfam charity project resulting in two albums; the self-titled live album from 2001, and 2009's The Sun Came Out), along with friends and players such as Johnny Marr, Eddie Vedder, Lisa Germano, KT Tunstall, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway of Radiohead, Wilco-quartet Jeff Tweedy, Glenn Kotche, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone, brother Tim, and several others (including wife Sharon Finn and son Liam). In 2011 he and his wife Sharon recorded the album Pajama Club as Pajama Club. Finn is a man for many seasons, it seems.

The new album is co-produced by Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips, MGMT, Tame Impala, plus plus), recorded both in Finn's own Roundhead studio, in Auckland, as well as in Fridmann's studio in the US. "Flying In The Face Of Love" is classic Finn-style pop, yet it's got a tad or tint of some more 'funky' steps. Finn's told that the Pajama Club project drew some influences from South Bronx band ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold). This gives a bit more 'slick' result, being something for the dance floor. Sophisticated quality disco, if there is such a thing. It's not totally my cup of tea, but if I imagine myself out clubbing, this wouldn't be the worst music to be exposed to. With a cocktail in hand and all.

Copyright © 2014 Håvard Oppøyen