Crowded House bassman Nick Seymour is holding court in EMI House, promoing the Afterglow album, a collection of demo, orphan and unreleased tracks from the band s various incarnations.
Not merely a fans-only offering, the album is a reminder of just how fine a unit Crowded House were Recurring Dream was written as early as 1985, while songs like Help Is Coming were recorded just before the group called it a day in 1996.
Many fans are under the impression that a serious falling out had occurred; in interviews after the breakup members were less than complimentary about each other, yet Seymour supplies the artwork for the Afterglow album, and is happy to talk about the track selection. Rumours of acrimony within the band are poo-pooed by Seymour.
While we were surprised that Neil Finn decided to quit the band, it was a decision that he felt he had to take, and you can t force someone to continue doing something that they are ultimately not fulfilled in doing. With regard to this album, Neil was in touch regarding the content, and I m very happy that these songs are being released. Neil thinks that it s a good idea to maintain the profile of the band, and the liner notes explain the reasoning behind the selection.
Since Seymour has played with Neil Finn since the breakup, at Dublin s Olympia Theatre, is it possible that we might see a reunion at some point?
I would really like to, though I had thought that Neil had written that off...I ve played with many musicians over the years, but Crowded House had an intuitive chemistry that is very uncommon in my experience. I know that that would still exist if Neil, Paul, Mark and I got together, but it s lifestyle decisions that stop us from being a band.
Seymour has been resident in Dublin since the demise of Crowded House, and as well as writing his own material, he has also donned the hat of producer. His latest production number, the debut album by Dubliners Bell X-1, is due for release at the end of March. What drew him to the band?
I d known them when they were called Juniper, but when the original singer left and the drummer took on the duties of frontman I noticed a real change in their attitude. The guys are all multi-instrumentalists, and their songwriting is superb. Plus they re fun guys and that always makes things easier.
We recorded the album in Wales, as I m a resident alien in Ireland and it s a complicated process to aquire permission to work in the Republic. After Crowded House, when I began to produce my own music on a home recording system, I suddenly realised that I hadn t been paying attention to people like Youth and Mitchell Froom who had worked with the band, I was a production virgin if you like! In order to produce a sound to do justice to the quality of the music, I really had to learn from scratch.
What s this I hear about you and Natalie Imbruglia?
Fuck off! , he says genially. I wrote a song for a Hollywood film and the producers suggested that it might suit a female vocalist, and as I d known Natalie before I suggested she come on board and she was delighted with the result. The next thing I hear is that we re engaged, which didn t exactly thrill Aine, my gilrfriend! It s a just good friends thing! Currently I ve got a couple of other production projects on offer, and I m still writing away. As for a Crowded House re-union, well I wouldn t hold my breath, but I d never say never . . .