Andy White - AT (2023)

Belfast songwriter Andy White and former Split Enz frontman and ex-Crowded House member Tim Finn have reunited to write and record 'AT'.

Andy and Tim looked back on their mutual past before pushing forwards with their second major project together. They had first collaborated, as two-thirds of ALT, on the 1995 album 'Altitude', a venture which also featured Liam Ó Maonlaí, of Hothouse Flowers (you can listen and download 'Altitude' and an ALT live album on this site) and it was a 2019 Irish magazine interview with Liam that sparked the two into renewing their partnership.

Ó Maonlaí had told the magazine how ALT came into being, with the three musicians from different corners of the world becoming friends and swimming at the Forty Foot, near Dun Laoghaire (now famous as the place where the ‘Bad Sisters’ meet). With a mythical turn of phrase, Liam had declared that “the sea holds the memory”. Tim used Liam's phrase as the start of a song and wired the results to Andy, who continued the story. The song was soon finished, paving the way for another. And another. And another.

“It was overwhelming, and it all happened very fast,” says Tim. “Verses and choruses were sent backwards and forwards. We egged each other on as the songs were flowing.” Andy continues: “It was very natural and easy, and a real joy to be writing with Tim again. We knew after four or five songs that it would be a whole album. It was fun and exciting, and we were able to take our time with the things we liked to take time over.”

Liam gave the album his blessing but opted to sit this one out – and AT was mixed in Oxfordshire by John Leckie, the producer behind many great records including The Stone Roses’ debut and 'The Bends'. 'AT' builds on the strengths of its predecessor by embracing a dramatic sonic sweep, beautifully highlighted by John. The strings were arranged by Berlin-based composer Jonathan Dreyfus, and Andy’s son Sebastian plays drums alongside Tim.

The two friends had a lot of fun making the album, it was an emotional journey for both of them. 'Live Love Laugh Coffee'. That's what the sign says on the album cover. See if you can find it and enjoy the music.