Finley Quaye
Sunday Shining

He is, in a word, Roots. Roots for a new generation.

You've heard the classic old tracks that Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals use to play and you probably even have some in your collection. But no-one has attempted to bring that style of music into the 90's... until now.

Finley takes the Roots genre and mixes into it elements of Blues, Jazz, a touch of Rock and his own unmistakable, undentable optimism, humanity and down-to-earth point of view to create a sound that is very much his own.

His voice is mature beyond his years. Only in his early twenties, he could be easily mistaken for an artist somewhat older (as indeed you would believe given that he is also Tricky's uncle). Unusual, yet engaging, he has a unique vocal style that suits the style of music that he creates.

This vocal maturity is matched in no small part by the team of established musicians that he has formed as his band, who, amongst them, create a very tight, integrated sound. Their sound is still very acoustically-based, and not overly treated with synths and modern studio tricks... very much in keeping with the history of Roots music.

Despite this link with tradition, Finley's lyrics are by no means 'retro'. They are influenced by the eventful life that he has led and contain a streetwise nature borne of his upbringing in Glasgow. Tracks like 'Sogu Mugu' on his first EP, for example, throw phrases and concepts at you from completely unexpected directions - a lyrical curve-ball of a track.

His sounds are often challenging. Unusual percussive beats over the top of fresh rhythms and textures all add up to offer glimpses of a new approach to a traditional music... a kind of live Roots meets trip-hop.

This sonic experimentation and vocal talent is the reason that he has already been approached to do a number of film soundtracks, and why this is already his second major record deal of his young career. The first, struck when he was still in his late teens, resulted in an unreleased album for another major label, completed prior to his departure from the company, and his decision to emigrate to the US.

This latest single, 'Sunday Shining', his second commercial outing since his return to the UK, and the first on the Epic label. (His first stunning EP having been released on Sony's lesser-known 'Haiku' label), may sound lyrically familiar to some. Therein lies a tale.

Finley sprang to public attention a few years ago with the release of A Guy Called Gerald's acclaimed 'Black Secret Technology' album, on which he wrote the lyrics and contributed vocals to a track entitled, appropriately, 'Finley's Rainbow'. This was released as a single, and consequently resulted in a great deal of excitement within the industry. This interest lead to him collaborating with, amongst others, Dave Stewart, The Beastie Boys and Iggy Pop.

In a passing nod to this auspicious start, the chorus once again contains some of the lyrics from the Gerald track... but that is where the similarities end. This track is less technologically based, far more 'live' and contains some of the most unexpected, but perfectly blended lead guitar work you can imagine...

Following the release of his earlier debut EP, and with the amount of interest and excitement that has been generated by Finley so far in such a short space of time, culminating with his recent Showcase set at London's Ronnie Scotts club, we should be hearing a great deal more of him in the charts before long.

His forthcoming album, 'The Ultra Stimulation' is sure to open a lot of ears.