Audio CD review:
Fields of the Nephilim - Earth Inferno

Fields of the Nephilim - Earth Inferno

Band: Fields of the Nephilim Title: Earth Inferno Rating: Release Date: 11 February, 2002 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Intro (Dead But Dreaming: for Her Light/At the Gates of Silent ...) 2: Moonchild 3: Submission 4: Preacher Man 5: Love Under Will 6: Sumerland 7: Last Exit for the Lost 8: Psychonaut 9: Dawnrazor

Customer Reviews Strong Set Most people, however, were already familiar with the brothers Finn from Tim's previous band, Split Enz. My introduction to Tim Finn was his entry into Crowded House, his brother Neil's band of the time, on the album Woodface. Both bands exact their influence on this album, Tim's second solo one, but I personally find this album stronger overall than anything else I've heard either man in. The key word there is overall, for both Split Enz and Crowded House had some great singles--it was just that there seemed to be a lot of filler between those great songs, whereas on Before and After every song is as strong as any other. The Finn's songwriting style is similar to that of Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford of Squeeze: pure pop with strong hooks and clever lyrics, which always strays just slightly from the standard three-and-a-half minute pop formula with some surprising element or two. For instance, here in "Always Never Now," the spoken lyrical line is incongrous with the smooth chorus, as intimate as being right next to the singer at a concert. Or how about the fake "scratching" (accomplished by a sample through a synth?) on the song, "I Found It. " Many of the songs utilize multi-tracking, such as "Strangeness and Charm," and even when the other voice isn't Tim's but his brother Neil's, their voices are so complementary that it sounds like a doubled track. I do have a couple of favorite songs here, although I like them all. "Protected" has a wonderfully engaging base-line and is an excellent use of a minor key for a song that somehow still manages to sound positive. My absolute favorte Finn song, however, has to be "Persuasion," and it's a song where he didn't even write the music. The song was originally written as an instrumental by Richard Thompson for the soundtrack to the film, The Sweet Keeper. Finn liked the music so much that he asked Thompson if Thompson wouldn't mind Finn adding lyrics and recording the song. The combination shows off both men's talents--Finn's lyrics do not sound at all like an afterthought. Thompson must think so, too, as he now performs the song live with Finn's lyrics. There is a similarity of sound to this set that derives from the early-90s style of drum programming, likely a remnant of Finn's creative process which seems to con centrate less on time-signature changes or unusual percussion in favor of vocal or melodic instrument variations. This album has faded in my preference over the years, but I listened to it quite heavy in the 90s and it's just the thing I want to listen to every few months. A great album Every track on this great album has you tapping your toes by the second bar, and his wonderful harmonies and his ever evolving scores and musical surprises leaves you gasping for more as each track fades to the next. This album is a refreshing phase-shift from the blase pop-culture that constrains so much of modern rock music. You need a really good stereo as there really is so much going on. Tim's songs are simple songs done oh, so well. I have to admit that every day I drive to work 25 miles - and I'm thankfull that Tim Finn keeps me company. A Personal Fave Well, there was a time when I thought I might wear the thing down to a transparent nub. I picked this up after reading an interview with Tim Finn where the reviewer indicated this disc was in regular rotation in his CD player. This is a smart, catchy, irresistible recording. "Persuasion" and "In Your Sway" are personal faves, but there isn't a weak cut on this disc, and you can't say that about too many of 'em. Enjoy. . You can see a complete list of all Fields of the Nephilim discography, or go back to the Fields of the Nephilim tabs