For those wondering what this album sounds like then it must be noted that Finn has taken a clear step away from his previous work, Try Whistling This. While this was also an excellent album, it suffered in that there was too much experimentation for experimentation’s sake (seemingly caused by Finn’s desire to rebel from his pop roots and to take a different direction after breaking up Crowded House). This time, though, Finn takes a clear step back to what he knows best- writing melodies that stand out for their sheer beauty, rather than the work of a clever production team.
Having said that, though, he does have a pretty good support cast. Names like Sheryl Crow, Wendy Melvolin, Jim Keltner, Mitchell Froom, Jim Moginie, Lisa Germano and Tchad Blake demonstrate that Finn is a ‘musician’s musician’. The combination of all these people’s talents makes for a compelling work.
This is clearly reflected in a song like ‘Turn and Run’. It wouldn’t be a Neil Finn album unless there was an instant classic, and ‘Turn and Run’ fills that role for One Nil. An irresistible tune is combined with typically thoughtful lyrics: “So turn and run/You cold killers of innocence/Against us there’s no defence/Your flash and your wickedness/You can’t break our love.” In the same category must be put the irresistible ‘Driving Me Mad’, a song that brings a smile to the face and is seemingly impossible not to like.
To generalize, many of the tracks sound like they could belong on Finn (1995), the collaborative effort of Neil and Tim Finn. They have the same beautiful, airy, Pacific atmosphere about them. That being said, there are a couple of rockier efforts, the likes of ‘Hole in the Ice’ sitting comfortably alongside ‘Souvenir’ and ‘King Tide’ from the previous record.
For all the talk about style, though, one thing is clear: One Nil is a collection of superb songs by an artist of rare ability. This has been proved time and time again over a career that has spanned almost 25 years.
RATING: 9.5/10
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