Neil Finn's music career began when, as a New Zealand teenager, he was co-opted into his big brother Tim's band, the weird, new-wavish Split Enz. Seven years later, Neil moved on to form Crowded House, named after the cramped digs he was sharing in L.A.

After a string of hit albums and great singles, Neil Finn decided to break up the band and Crowded House signed off in 1996 with a huge farewell concert at the Sydney Opera House and a greatest hits compilation titled 'Recurring Dreams'.

Thereafter the Finns recorded as The Finn Brothers and then simply as Finn before Neil headed off home to New Zealand to plan his next move. With an almost nonchalant ability to consistently produce hooky pop songs ('Distant Sun', 'Weather With You' and Don't Dream It's Over'), it couldn't be too long before we would be treated to the next chapter in the Neil Finn story.

Freed of his band obligations and the need to write within a certain framework, Neil Finn has dug deep into his muse and released 'Try Whistling This', a thirteen-song album that will bring a smile to all those miserable Crowded House fans.

Although Neil Finn has utilised a wide range of gimmickry and effects to cloak these songs, there is no escaping the fact that he can still dash off enough exceptional pop tunes to fill an entertaining album. The triumphant 'Last One Standing' kicks off the album followed by 'Souvenir', 'King Tide' and the brooding, restrained title track.

With Finn writing and singing all the songs on 'Try Whistling This', it is not that far from being another quasi-Crowded House album. The first single 'She Will Have Her Way' is a stirring and lovable song delicately swamped by an acoustic guitar thrash. 'Sinner' is a dark and retrospective mood-piece while 'Loose Tongue' is driven by a squealing guitar riff.

With at least four potential singles and not a weak track among the other songs, 'Try Whistling This' is a welcome addition to the Neil Finn catalogue. It will be gratefully received by all the Crowded House fans but will also serve as a strong introduction to the music of this talented artist. Finn-tastic.

Stephen "Sugar" Segerman

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