In a chat with Neil Finn last night about his recent 7 Worlds Collide project, the singer - and national treasure, yes despite his birthright the band did form in Melbourne we'll take him thanks - Finn revealed details about the new Crowded House record:
Coming out of a project like (7 Worlds Collide), did you find it informed the Crowded House process as well?
It definitely informed it and it inspired me and y'know we had the studio humming and working with Jim (Scott, producer) the process was already established a little bit. I think it had a very positive affect. I was able to watch Wilco record their new rhythm tracks too and that was inspiring.
Any great insights into the newest Crowded House record?
I think it's a really cohesive "band" sounding record. You know the last one (2007's Time On Earth) was definitely an album in transition. To a degree. This one has a sense of cohesiveness and I think there's a few unusual step-off points for us. Some songs sound different from anything we've done before. But also there is a sound that evolved over the last two years of touring. I think we became a really good band and Matt (Sherrod) as a drummer has really come into his own. I'm finding him really effortless to play with now. Yeah I think there's a good energy to the record I'm really excited about it.
When do you think it might be out?
I think it'll be out in January, no later than February.
Finn also dropped, admittedly the smallest of hints, that Radiohead are getting back into the studio. This despite a recent interview with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke in the Believer mag that suggests the Oxford band are biding their time before recording another LP ("None of us want to go into that creative hoo-ha of a long-play record again. Not straight off.").
Finn mentioned the teaser when asked about the likelihood of the 7 Worlds Collide project playing more live dates:
Well there's a great will to do it but it's very difficult to work it out. With everybody's schedules yeah. Johnny's about to start touring with the Cribs, he's in the Cribs at the moment, so... Wilco have obviously got their new record out and they've been doing lots and lots of touring, Radiohead are about to go back into the studio...it's tricky. But you know there's a great will to do it. If there's a window it'll happen and I'm sort've hopeful. Some time in the next six months.
Stay tuned for our LONG interview with Finn, in which he talks about assembling some of the most famous musicians in the world at his home studio to record an album, the joy of creating in a family environment and how Radiohead drummer Phil Selway's actually has a lovely voice. UPDATE: Part one of our interview up now.