The Wall Street Journal-20080119-WEEKEND JOURNAL- Picks -- Liam Finn- Music- A singer-songwriter makes a solo debut
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WEEKEND JOURNAL; Picks -- Liam Finn: Music; A singer-songwriter makes a solo debut
Liam Finn, the son of singer-songwriter Neil Finn, wanted to go low- tech for his first solo recording, "I'll Be Lightning," out next week. He played most of the instruments himself, and recorded it on old- fashioned analog tape. "I wanted to recreate the demo style of recording where you are just on your own in a room and you get lost in your imagination," Mr. Finn, 24, says. He recorded the album in a building his father turned into a studio. His father played in the 1970s-'80s group Split Enz and founded the '80s pop trio Crowded House.
Liam Finn's album has a spare, melodic sound, with many of the songs addressing relationships and life lessons in an allusive way. The new release has drawn early praise, with Paste magazine calling it "a dazzling solo debut." Mr. Finn, who lives in New Zealand, will tour the U.S. for almost a year beginning next month. For his live performances, he will be accompanied by a backup singer, while he himself plays guitar, bass and theremin, an electronic instrument. "It's a swelling, raucous noise," Mr. Finn says. "It's quite punk in spirit."
