Durtro Jnana
Original press copies of his frequently bootlegged MushroomRecords LP (which has only just last year been officially reissued onDurtro Jnana) have traded hands for insanely high prices, the inclusionof maverick experimental accompanists Paul Burwell and David Toopmaking it a desirable treasure, as well as soul-shattering tracks like"Jerusalem," easily one of my favorite songs of all time. Unexpectedlytwo years ago, David Late Tibet somehow dug up Simon Finn, who hascontinued to write music through the years, and has given Finn anoutlet to release new material, as well as utilized his considerabletalents on new Current 93 recordings. Magic Moments is acollection of 12 folk songs, Finn singing in his familiar, world-wearyTom Rapp-esque voice, accompanied on a few tracks by Joolie Wood onflute or violin. Because of the simple, unadorned recording style andthe minimal instrumentation, this record doesn't repeat the sameshambolic, psychedelic chaos that characterized his classic LP. Thiscan't help but come as something of a disappointment to me, but I haveno complaints about Finn's songs, which are deceptively simple,redolent of the best British folk, with cryptic lyrics pregnant withmeaning and emotional intensity. Three tracks on the album are repeatedfrom last year's Silent City Creep CDEP (now out-of-print) -"Walkie Talkie," "Eros" and "Wanted You," great songs all. Of thebrand-new material, the title track is one of the best, a sadrumination on how human lives involve long periods of unhappiness,punctuated by magical moments that we carry with us as a salve againstdepression. Also memorable is a song Finn wrote many years ago but hasnever recorded until now, "Golden Golden," an apocalyptic war balladthat ends the album on a pessimistic note: "All our lives we'researching/to find a lord to crown/And Golden, Golden was ourtime/Golden, Golden truths and lies." This song is also one of the fewtimes that Finn's vocals reach the throat-stripped ferocity of hisperformance on classics like "Jerusalem" and "Big White Car." Magic Moments is incredibly brief at only 30 minutes, but eminently listenable, and it's great to hear Simon Finn making records again. - Jonathan Dean
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