It seems Sharon Finn brings out the quirky, playful musical side of Neil. They started having jams at Roundhead Studios (i.e. in their lounge) on Friday nights, with Neil on drums and Sharon on bass, having a bit of fun with a glass of wine or two now that Liam and Elroy have both flown the Finn nest. And it turns out they came up with some darn good material. Sharon has an endearingly youthful vocal quality that blends beautifully with Neil's voice, and she has an ear for a propulsive bassline (like on Go Kart, From A Friend To A Friend or These Are Conditions). There's a lovely simplicity and authenticity in the ease of the overall structure and mood of the songs underneath the imaginative guitar licks and fuzz. And the tracks are tastefully embellished by the production of Sean Donnelly (SJD), whose fingerprints are all over the electronic soundscapes filled with floating harmonies and synth washes.
While Golden Child and Dead Leg have some vocal harmonies that remind of both Liam's recent work and Crowded House, and TNT For 2 has a Private Universe melodic feel to it, these 11 tracks are truly groove-driven, and range much wider in reference than just previous Finn projects. Tell Me What You Want is deeply seductive with its breathy, intimate vocals and reverberating, distorted bass. The Game We Love to Play is an eerily spacey funky jam, while Diamonds In Her Eyes goes for the upbeat psychedelic Beatles-esque vibe.
Perfect for dancing round your own living room, actually.
Stars: 4.5/5
Verdict: Sharon Finn's groovy basslines are the perfect inspiration for Neil
Buy the album here.
