Un-Finn-ished business
Steve Guimond
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Simon Finn in the light of the present day
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Simon Finn gets the second chance we all wish we had
Simon Finn has been given another crack at the troubled profession of singer/songwriter, his story the stuff of legend: A lone wolf troubadour from the mid-'60s U.K. scene, he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Bert Jansch. The powerful Pass the Distance, released to critical acclaim on a tiny imprint, seemingly lost forever, became the stuff of myth amongst the higher realms of record collectors. Mad jester David Tibet of Current 93 hears the sad songs and tracks Simon down in Montreal in 2004, rumoured dead, having long ago put down his guitar. Tibet reissues the lost classic and invites Finn to join his travelling sideshow, opening an international chapter. Since, a new record has surfaced - Magic Moments - capturing the past and the present, a seamless transition despite the quarter century. Simon Finn has won over fans worldwide - including Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and ex-Blur guitarist Graham Coxon - with his passion, his wit and his soul-shaking music.
Hour Take us into the recording of the new album...
Simon Finn I was back in the studio with Vic Keary, my old producer and manager from 1969 again, which was great. It's being done at a London studio called the Premises... I put down 18 songs; I don't know how many they'll use. Rose McDowell, Karl Blake and Danielle Dax popped by for a day to harmonize, scream and in Karl's case put some of his magical electric guitar on. David Toop from the original PTD is going to add some bits and pieces
and perhaps a couple of other surprises.
Hour What direction is the new music heading in?
Finn Probably anywhere and everywhere other than where most record labels would wish it to. I've never really had much control over the things I do. Writing is principally a poor man's therapy for me.
Hour Does it feel like you're living in some weird dream?
Finn The whole of life seems like a weird dream to me. Then you wake up and you're dead. This particular dream's had some nice moments and it's been in colour!
Hour What is the biggest difference between the music industries of old and new?
Finn The record labels and producers back then had never been more open - the cassette didn't even exist so you had to cart a guitar around and try and persuade them to listen to you. I doubt that's possible today. People probably just send them a CD that they won't listen to anyway. On the upside, the underground music labels make it possible for a lot of people to put stuff out somewhere or other. Which means that there's more interesting stuff than ever before. It also means that there's untold amounts of absolute pointless rubbish.
Simon Finn
w/ The Saffron Sect
At Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), Oct. 20
