Play 90 second soundbite of 'Houdini's Blues' @ 'CD quality'
This album, this man, seems to be going in a different direction to most of his contemporaries in the blues world! And why not, why conform, why be a sheep and not the shepherd! Steven Finn does it simple, does it real, does it mean and keeps it keen!
'Houdini's Blues' has been taken to 'unplugged' extremities; Finn has laid himself bare, this is totally exposed blues, back to basics blues. Where most blues 'men' are laying down more and more instruments, giving it the full-Monty production, mixing this, double-tracking that, dubbing here, fading there ...and more, Steven Finn has refused to be drawn in to studio embellishments and augmentation preferring instead to 'trust to good luck' that he gets it right in its simplest form. To give you an idea of where Steven Finn is taking his music how about this; using finger snaps or foot taps to provide the timing beat and/or percussive base rather than relying on drums and other, more usual percussive, hitting, striking, brushing, clanging kinda things. This is just such a laid bare outing it's almost a risk too far. But, Finn holds it all together with great songs, precise and well proportioned vocals, the odd growl and howl here and there and sparsely accompanying instrumentation - just enough and no more!! Hey, it works!! In fact, it makes a really pleasant change not to be bombarded with electric sound and unnecessary gimmickry.
'Houdini's Blues' by Steven Finn is just so simple and so easy - it brings the blues back home, back down, back into the real world, back to where it all began. Steven Finn writes with a clear understanding of life and its shortcomings and failings. His gritty yet mellow vocal delivery allows the listener full access to his words and his stories. Finn has the same sort of feel as the 'protest' singers that were so prominent in the 60's; he sings with passion, belief and sympathetic, if not empathetic, emotion. Finn feels genuine, alive to what's real, what matters and how things should be. Finn's musical world is my world, your world, our world - it all makes sense, it all comes down and it all comes around! 'Houdini's Blues' by Steven Finn is a delightfully simplistic blues offering that makes blues music once more real, accessible, believable and, what's more, enjoyable! 'Houdini's Blues' by Steven Finn is lush without the pomp and absolutely real without the circumstance - a fine and mighty work that some might call risky but many will adore for its simple form and honest execution. Rather excellent methinks!
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