Tim Finn and Phil Manzanera have global lockdown to thank for connecting them again, 45 years after they first worked together. During the last 9 months Tim and Phil, each working in their home studios some 12,000 thousand miles apart, have jointly written over 20 new songs, finding the time and space of a pandemic-restricted life leading to an incredible period of artistic creativity. There was no end goal in sight, just the sheer pleasure of two old friends making music together. This artistic freedom has produced songs that live in the moment. They are a moving and inspiring testament to a great singer songwriter and composer guitarist coming together in cyber-space and seeing where the music takes them.
The starting point for Project Finn/Manzanera was when Tim emailed Phil, out of the blue, in April, wondering if he had any tracks with a South American groove.Tim had travelled to Cuba in the 80’s, seen Los Van Van live in Havana, and had perhaps been responding to these memories when he reached out to Phil that lockdown night in Auckland. Phil, with his Latin heritage and long history of working with Spanish-speaking artists, duly delivered and virtually overnight, Tim responded with fantastic words and singing. Phil then sent more music, and back came more classic Tim Finn lyrics and singing , but by this point the songs were freely moving across genres.
Phil said: “It’s a joy and honour working with Tim, one of the finest singer, songwriters of his generation. I couldn’t believe how prolific he is, how he makes song writing seem so natural and instinctive, I’d send the music, and then within days, these beautifully sung songs would pop up…it was like Christmas every day! And we’re still writing.”
Tim said: “ The tracks that Phil was sending were instantly evocative and in a time of global pandemic represented a way of connecting emotionally with the countries first affected. Spain, Italy, France and the UK were all places I had travelled in, lived in and played concerts in. But now they were suffering and closed off. I started singing in Spanish and themes came freely. Sometimes I would write lyrics in English, translate them to Spanish, making changes for scan or rhyme which took me in new and unexpected directions. Phil’s music is always highly atmospheric and suggestive. He has a way of playing that is just the right side of elegant. My wife and children had also been playing Roxy Music in the car so Phil was present and vivid for me when I started writing these songs with him. A delightful and meaningful exchange between two old friends on opposite sides of the world.”
Tim Finn and Phil Manzanera met each other in Sydney in 1975, when Tim’s band, Split Enz, supported Phil’s band, Roxy Music, on the English band’s first Australian tour. This led to Phil producing the Split Enz album ‘Second Thoughts’, when they came to the UK the following year. Over the subsequent years, their paths would cross periodically, with Tim singing and writing songs for Phil’s ‘Kscope’ and ‘Southern Cross’ albums, and Phil doing guest spot with Tim in UK. Tim and Phil last saw each other in Auckland in 2006 for The Roxy Music Reunion’ tour.
The first release will be a four track EP :
TIM FINN & PHIL MANZANERA ( ft. ELLIOT FINN)
CAUGHT BY THE HEART
1. MAMBO, SALSA ,GUAGUANCO ( Finn /Manzanera) 4.30
Tim Finn vocals
Phil Manzanera guitars
Elliot Finn vocals
Matteo Saggese piano
Fank Portuondo bass
João Mello saxes
Mike Boddy drum programming
2.CAUGHT BY THE HEART.( Finn /Manzanera) 4.32
Tim Finn vocals, piano ,snyth
Elliot Finn vocals
Phil Manzanera guitars, piano, synth,programming
Yaron Stavi bass
Corinna Hentchel Stavi Strings
Mike Boddy drum programming
3. BAJO LUZ DISTINTA ( Finn) 5.58
Tim Finn vocals ,piano ,keys ,Perc
Phil Manzanera guitars Perc keys
Frank Portuondo bass, Tres
Mike Boddy drum programming
4.VAMOS DESPACIO ( Finn /Manzanera) 5.40
Tim Finn vocals
Elliot Finn vocals
Yazz Ahmed flugelhorn / treatments
Yaron Stavi double bass
Phil Manzanera guitars, piano, synth,programming
Mike Boddy drum programming
RECORDED By ALL the musicians in THE UK ,GERMANY, and NEW ZEALAND, 2020-2021
PRODUCED BY PHIL MANZANERA AND TIM FINN
Additionall Production,engineering and MIXED BY MIKE BODDY
MASTERED AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS, LONDON
Publishing
Tim Finn Mushroom Music Publishing,Phil Manzanera Gallery Music ltd/Reservoir Inc
