Steven Finn's Blog

A clean distinct folk sound not straying too far from the roots. Houdini's Blues is an album that searches for truth, where sometimes the vocals scarily resemble that of the late Skip James.

From songs like Dream Song 1 with it's slow but very effective searching rhythm makes way to a slapping harmonica piece like "Hail To The Thief". This is no Radiohead cover, it's better, it's the real thing.
Add to the combination, classic folk singer songwriter songs like "Strong Storm Rising" and "All Come To Reap The Goldrush" with honest lyrics accompanied by graceful guitar playing and you have one mighty fine album.

(Folk Blues & Beyond)

The first thing that you notice when Steven Finn's excellent album, 'Houdini's Blues', kicks off is its totally stripped down, bollock-naked form. This album, this man, seems to be going in a different direction to most of his contemporaries in the blues world!   And why not, why conform, why be a sheep and not the shepherd!  Steven Finn does it simple, does it real, does it mean and keeps it keen!
'Houdini's Blues' has been taken to 'unplugged' extremities; Finn has laid himself bare, this is totally exposed blues, back to basics blues. Where most blues 'men' are laying down more and more instruments, giving it the full-Monty production, mixing this, double-tracking that, dubbing here, fading there ...and more, Steven Finn has refused to be drawn in to studio embellishments and augmentation preferring instead to 'trust to good luck' that he gets it right in its simplest form. To give you an idea of where Steven Finn is taking his music how about this; using finger snaps or foot taps to provide the timing beat and/or percussive base rather than relying on drums and other, more usual percussive, hitting, striking, brushing, clanging kinda things. This is just such a laid bare outing it's almost a risk too far. But, Finn holds it all together with great songs, precise and well proportioned vocals, the odd growl and howl here and there and sparsely accompanying instrumentation - just enough and no more!! Hey, it works!! In fact, it makes a really pleasant change not to be bombarded with electric sound and unnecessary gimmickry.
'Houdini's Blues' by Steven Finn is just so simple and so easy - it brings the blues back home, back down, back into the real world, back to where it all began. Steven Finn writes with a clear understanding of life and its shortcomings and failings. His gritty yet mellow vocal delivery allows the listener full access to his words and his stories. Finn has the same sort of feel as the 'protest' singers that were so prominent in the 60's; he sings with passion, belief and sympathetic, if not empathetic, emotion. Finn feels genuine, alive to what's real, what matters and how things should be. Finn's musical world is my world, your world, our world - it all makes sense, it all comes down and it all comes around! 'Houdini's Blues' by Steven Finn is a delightfully simplistic blues offering that makes blues music once more real, accessible, believable and, what's more, enjoyable! 'Houdini's Blues' by Steven Finn is lush without the pomp and absolutely real without the circumstance - a fine and mighty work that some might call risky but many will adore for its simple form and honest execution. Rather excellent methinks!
(Toxic Pete)

On this album by Steven, you will find nine very poetic songs sung with a high, sometimes delicate voice, and backed predominantly by a simple acoustic guitar.  Over the span of ten days, the album was recorded and mixed after which it was launched on April 5th at the Union Chapel in London.
Steven composed all the songs himself and succeeded in giving his poetic compositions a bluesy feeling.  This blues element is emphasised when he uses the harmonica or dobro, like on 'Hail To The Thief', that takes us back to the authentic roots of his music.  On the refined 'Dream Song', the dobro raises the desolate feeling of the lost blues troubadours looking for a place to sleep.  However the emphasis lies in the folky texts which are deceptively simple.
Steven uses images full of fantasy and cryptic wording to express complex feelings. A sentence like 'I'm all for peace, but I've never heard a white dove sing' is fairly profound.  Whether it's hostility or friendship, war or hate striking the innocent, he sings with tremendous sensitivity as if he is literally experiencing it.
Originally hailing from Manchester, Steven came to London to hit the folk club circuit.  As a teenager, listening to Dylan's 'Mr. Tambourine Man', he suddenly knew his destiny.  He further explored the musical past and found Leadbelly, Sonny Boy Williamson and the field recordings of Alan Lomax - all great sources of inspiration. Since then, he has toured folk clubs and supported acts like The Beautiful South and Elvis Costello.   For a while, he also had his own band in which the other members played the fiddle and the bodhrán.  Steven then went beyond his own country, travelling America and Australia. 
As a solo artist, he prefers to sing his own compositions in which his diverse influences are reflected in a personal way. This ultimately led to the release of this solo album which makes us think of a combination between Josh Ritter and Nick Drake or a male version of Joni Mitchell.  Especially the intense 'All Come To Reap The Goldrush' in which his voice reaches touching heights, evoking this sensitive emotion. 
On 'Houdini's Blues', Steven sings that the line between love and hate is very thin.  After listening to this CD, I can also add that the line between very beautiful and extremely beautiful can be thin.  The only criticism I have is that this album – though a little gem in a league of its own – only lasts 36 minutes.
(Rootstime, Belgium)

Just a word, also, on Steven Finn, a massively talented singer/songwriter: Harmonica and guitar, a rough, gritty blues, the intensity of 'I Wish I had a Friend' recalled Johnny Cash, or Son House. He could make the guitar clang with that extraordinary heaviness, that solitude of the Blues.
(Mikulin blogspot)

In this modern world it's not often you find songs so deeply cultivated in the folk and roots tradition. Timeless, yet completely relevant, these are songs you want to listen to again and again. As a performer, Steve doesn't just let his songs speak for themselves (which he could), instead backing it all up with crafted skill and dynamic delivery.
(Bristol Folk House)

He plays beautiful songs, with the blues coursing through their veins. Neat little guitar figures, saucy slide, solo mouth harp pieces… BLUES NIGHT really digs Steven Finn. He also has an excellent pedigree, patina, provenance… whatever you'd like to call it.
(Blues Night)