Finch slams in like a hurricane. He sweeps past the Victorian coat rack in the narrow entrance setting rain cloaks and jackets swinging like pendulums and my dogs off like barking alarms in High-C and D-flat.
I haven't seen him in five or six years - but it's like we said goodbye yesterday.
He hasn't changed much - tall and rangy like a cowboy with long hair and moustache and high, tooled leather boots. He would have been a natch as an extra in High Noon. He's a trifle less angular now, from sitting on high stools with a guitar across his knees. That's how he's spent most of his life. When he's not cracking a wave. Or at Jay-Bay.
There's no regret. I doubt if there ever has been. He used to handle an Ovation, and still does. It's the same one, he says, he's been flailing for 33 years. Brian Finch is the consummate country-rock musician, and always has been. Now he has just emerged like a happy Hell's Angel from his birthplace, Durban, brandishing a freshly mastered CD - his first solo album for more than twenty-something years. And he's like a kid with a long board.
"CD player!" he shouts. "Where's your CD player?"
He's lucky I still have it. The last two were removed by break-and-entry investors. Finchy wants to know if I need to close the front door while he redlines the volume, but I tell him the neighbours have been matured on Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction Live. And an hour or two of Siegfried.
Finch isn't Wagner - but he's sure a legend in his time. And he smirks as the dogs retreat downstairs and the sound shakes loose some plaster from my 1879 house. No-one comes running. The cops keep away. A car alarm goes off somewhere.
"It's a masterful new album" I mouth at Finch, above his trademark chugging guitar, shifting like a locomotive through the speakers. The tracks run on but finally we wind down the sound - surprised actually that we're still in one piece. Its not heavy stuff but Finch's music is all consuming. Always has been. And there's not so much a whiff of a lead axe.
Right now, with intricate technology at his disposal, via Alan Judd's Leopard Moon Studios in Westville, Finchy sounds even better. Judd is co-producer with acoustic guitar legend Dave Marks and Finch himself.
It's the kind of technology that was never available when Finch was thrown into the musical deep end at age 18 by Mel (Green), Mel (Miller) and Julian (Laxton) in Durban.
"Sing, man" they told him. And he did. He played his first regular gig on the sedate Al Fresco hotel's veranda, in among the huge, weeping, palm trees, on the Esplanade. Finch has hung-ten on many waves since then. He's also played in London, done Stockholm, had his album Playgrounds in Paradise (with Kenny Henson), used as the sound track to a major surfing movie. He's done folk festivals, inside concerts, open-air gigs. Name it, he's done it. Now he lives in Cape Town, with regular slots at the Oak Lodge in Gardens, and uses his hands "to build things". It's his "other" job.
But it's the music that matters most. Finchy has never changed - the steamroller, galloping syncopated chords, the flat country drawl - the agonising, beautiful self-penned songs. They've set him apart since 1966 - and created 10 albums for him.
He's called this one Hero of Heroes and it speaks of the open road, bikers, angels and freedom. It's vintage Finch - with a tribute to his daughter called Tansy, and a song about his brother who lives at Folley Beach in South Carolina, among others.
But he lets loose with Ramsay McKay's seminal Orang Outang, adding extra words to this relatively unknown anthem of Africa. Music from a home-made Zulu violin (nDloko) introduces the track. Finch says: "I was in Dave Marks' lounge when this fellow walked past in Currie Road, playing this music. I shot up, ran out and grabbed him - he was playing just what I wanted for the track. His name is John Gcaba - and we put him the studio and onto the CD."
Another classic is Finch's arrangement of the traditional Freedom/Motherless Child (which Ritchie Havens made famous at Woodstock). A symphonic synthesiser, nudging itself through the bridge, adds a superb, ethereal, shivering touch.
But Finch's final track is beautiful. He's called it Positively No Bob Dylan, and is an ironic catchy throwaway. Finch does not play Bob Dylan - and the lyrics tell why. He says: "I wrote it after seeing Bob Dylan in concert at the Wembley Arena in London last year - that was a gas."
So is the album. "We put it all together in six weeks," says Finch, modestly. "It was a superb time."
And from the master of country rock, a superb album.
BRIAN FINCH – Brian’s last CD ‘EDEN’ sold 2500 copies, this album takes you down yet another road of self penned songs from a brilliant title track “Eden” to Outeniqua, Ella Bella Rose (written for his grand daughter) a favourite among many grand fathers, Christmas Day, and Watch the waters flow. Brian’s long awaited live DVD ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ now available – for Brian Finch fans, this is a must have for your collection, beautifully filmed and recorded at the Dros Theatre, Pretoria, live! – Sponsored by Hein & Tessa Krugeman, who are incredibly supportive of Brian’s music.
The lastest offering from this enduring singer/ songwriter is his new released ‘IN ANOTHER WORLD’ - recorded in Namibia at Jacked Up Studios. With yet another 10 classics in the true FINCH STYLE! This album/cd has sold the fastest to date, Brian Finch is ever more popular, his fans keep him going, he continues to write, and perform live! He says he will do until his “last breath”.
It would be fair to mention that a very enthusiastic fan Rika Smit, whose persistence at the radio station “RADIO HOUSTOK’ managed to get them to give Brian Finch the airplay he so needed! After all these years, this has lead to his music been heard by many for the first time.
One lady called to purchase a Brian Finch album started off by saying – “ where can I buy Brian Finch’s albums! - they don’t sell them in the music stores” ( a story of Note!) she was listening to the radio Houtstock – while hanging up the washing, she heard Brian Finch’s song “Beautiful Feeling” said to herself, this can’t be Brian Finch, he must be dead and buried, it must be his son, then heard them announce BRIAN FINCH! , it brought back such good memories of her and her sister going to a Brian Finch show in her young days, and had to buy one for her sister’s birthday coming up – she was so chuffed to hear he is alive, well and still performing! Hence the search!! With Radio Houstok, pumping out tracks from The last 3 of Brian Finch’s albums, he has gained More fame, and fans, thanks Radio Houtstok and Best of luck to you all! – Look out for a LIVE radio Interview and airplay of the new album IN ANOTHER WORLD” on the 15th SEPTEMBER, 2011-08-23 and a CD LAUCH PARTY AT BLOEMENDAL ON THE 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2011.
Brian ‘keep rolling “oh Brother - your live performances get better” – a gig at Bloemendal
Your DVD is awesome Brian, you are the heart and Soul of South Africa., Neil – Ireland – 3/8 – ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME LIVE – BRIAN FINCH’
“Fantastic Album” 17/8 “Jy doen dit vir my – Ek is totaal ‘Hooked' on FB- Marietah Schwartz – the New album ‘IN ANOTHER WORLD”
“Your passion reflects your god given gift, Your Passion is contagious, your ability amazing! Rarely Have I seen and appreciated a gift so perfectly Executed! You are inspiring. Thank You! Christine Krone – 3/5 – Live Performance Kukkies Namibia.
Stephanie Wait – Brian best cd ever!! – IN ANOTHER WORLD” – FB – 15/8
Dave Bell – UK – Another master piece! I love it! 20/8 – ‘IN ANOTHER WORLD”