Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Crowded House, EMI Music Australia 2021.
A decade after their famous final concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House Crowded House return with a new line-up and new album.
Firstly, to the line-up changes, Neil Finn is of course the lead singer and main songwriter and Nick Seymour is still there on bass.
They are joined by Neil’s long-time friend, producer and collaborator, Mitchell Froom who played keyboards and produced the band’s first three albums, plus Neil’s two sons, Liam on guitar and vocals and Elroy on drums.
Thus, the band strengthen the family feel that they always had.
Neil’s elder brother Tim was a member of Crowded House for some time co-writing much of their Woodface album.
The early sessions for Dreamers Are Waiting were recorded in Los Angeles but cut short due to COVID-19 so the album had to be finished remotely from New Zealand.
In fact, the band members were still separated for a good percentage of the time even while they were back in NZ, each working from their own home studios.
Because most of the early sessions in America were recorded live the album retains that organic feel that can be so easily lost through overdubbing and layering.
Neil’s new songs retain the all important Crowded House ingredient, they are instantly singable.
He has an amazing knack for melody which make his songs so familiar.
They are instantly recognisable and although ten years have passed this album retains the feel and energy of the band’s earlier work.
It was Neil’s experience of touring with Fleetwood Mac throughout 2018 that made him aware of his own band’s legacy and encouraged him to start thinking about writing new material and to reform the band.
It also allowed him to acknowledge something that he didn’t want, and that was to play in a ‘heritage’ band.
In reforming Crowded House it was important that they were not just churning out old material but were creative.
New material was essential to give the band a vibrancy that would add to their impressive legacy.
So far, the critics have been forthright in their praise for Dreamers Are Waiting and the band has already completed a successful tour of their homeland.
They are heading our way later this year, assuming no dire COVID outbreaks, and I’m sure the tickets will be a very hot item.
So, when they go on sale get in early.
