Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

FINN.

“Leonard Cohen on helium”, that’s how German singer-songwriter Patrick Zimmer or finn. (no capital, but with a full stop – pronounced finndot) his own voice. But the similarities with the voice of Jónsi Birgisson’s (Sigur Rós) are remarkable. finn. has toured with José Gonzales and Olafur Arnalds.

Zimmer recorded his third cd, prettily titled The Best Low-Priced Heartbreakers You Can Own, in the catacombs of a 14th century Hamburg church. It’s a concept album, with the songs following the structure of a classic five act play. The songs are pure and naked, with finn.’s guitar and voice as the basis and a trombone, strings and cymbals adding harmonious accents.

THE SLEEPING YEARS ”a record that only Bon Iver’s ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ has really rivalled in recent months. ‘We’re Becoming Islands One By One’ could be remembered as one of 2008’s best of its kind in years to come. 8/10” (muziekblog Drowned in sound).

THE MISERABLE RICH
” ...their lush orchestro-folk is so heartbreakingly beautiful, it reduces anyone who hears it to a weeping mess.” (NME, 8/10)

”Recorded in the front room of singer James De Malplaquet’s Brighton home, The Miserable Rich’s striking, fully fledged debut immediately sets them apart. Five in number, they play what can perhaps be best described as acoustic chamber pop, everything coming decorously draped with the rather mournful accompaniment of cello and violin. Beyond that, though, it’s De Malplaquet’s warm, hazy voice coupled with the songs’ ruminative aspect that impress most, from tales of drunks and bonnie barmaids to such beautifully tender moments as Boat Song and The Knife Thrower’s Hand. A handsome, original start.” (Q Magazine)