Simon Finn’s Pass the Distance is an album of obscurity. Not out of place on a psychedelic or folk shelf, or better yet among a collection of gnomes or other freak folk novelties. With that said you may have a general idea of the album. Lots of acoustic guitar, organs, an occasional electric guitar line. Traditional drums take a back seat to more organic percussion instruments. Only the last bonus songs “Children’s Eyes” and “Good Morning” have drums. Primarily a collection of sparse lo-fi acoustic narratives. Simon Finn takes on a commentary of animosity on many tracks of the album. One can easily recognize this in “Big White Car.” “You’re given to all your charities and you’re thanked. Newspapers print your name. and they thank you so much. You still drive in your big white car. But don’t expect me to ride.” Finn often leads these songs into a breaking point erupting with hollering that isn’t always that musical, but I dig it. “Jerusalem” his statement of religious identity among hypocrisy would not be same without the climax of his desperate screaming. I have read a few other reviews where the reviewers made it clear how much the tracked spooked them. Indeed anyone who has had difficulty with religion will find refuge with this song. In my opinion the highlight of the album. Other memorable moments of Pass The Distance live on the sunnier side of life. What a day, what a day, what a day! You get the idea. Finn dabbles in experimentation resulting in a warm amateurish freshness that give all the songs on the album an intimate character. Really the only other album I can compare it to is Kevin Ayers’ Joy of a Toy. Sharing many of the same childish fresh qualities. With that said, it’s still not an album I find throwing on all the time as a whole. Instead opting for individual tracks that I have a liking for at that time. The bonus tracks that were written before the album are easily the most accessible of the album. Simon Finn declaration on the beginning of “Children’s Eyes” is classic. “I am he who understands all.” It is my suspicion that Finn throws in some arcane meaning to life in Pass The Distance. One finishes the album feeling a bit fonder of life. Not a perfect collection of songs, but still a nice hidden gem.
