Riverside gallery dates, vintage coats, “hot sauce on your pizza”, sitting on fire escapes...
New York-based New Zealand musician Harper Finn is a vivid storyteller and brilliant musician, of impeccable pedigree, who favours nighttime songwriting sessions on piano.
The opening Fire Escape contains some fun vocalisation, especially the extended “Aaaah”s that sound like Finn’s just sipped a delicious drink.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“I thought I read your future with me/ I liked your sense of wonder/ The way you get your kicks for free…” – those Finn genes (Harper’s dad is Tim, his uncle is Neil) loom large during Doves, with its catchy riff The Strokes would surely be jealous of. Where Did She Go’s keys melody evokes Kelly Watch The Stars by Air.
The ridiculously catchy Broken Glass – with its blissful, escalating BVs – captures a honeymoon period: “Despite all of my crazy ideas, she got me… She could have whoever she wants, but she wants me!” – sync this one to a meet-cute scene, pronto.
“I can see you out there/ Shining on your own/ Like a satellite sending messages home/ I look up at night and think of you…” – written during a New York winter, Satellite bemoans the tyranny of distance. It’s a jaunty bop, though; our narrator must feel confident love will endure.
The closing title track is Split Enz quirky. Marrying insistent keys with conversational vocal melodies, Silo Park wraps with rattling tamba and carnivalesque squeezebox.
It’s worth noting that Finn throws some nifty shapes, as well.
LABEL: WARNER
RELEASE: 31 OCTOBER , LISTEN HERE
