I have this recurring idea that 2007 can only lead to musical disappointment for me because the expectations are so high. January brings a new Kristin Hersh album, February brings Aereogramme, then March brings Andrew Bird. And to make matters more exciting, all of them are touring within the next two or three months. But in the back of my mind, I’ve also been aware that a new Neil Finn album has been scheduled for March, and while I’ve remained sceptical of it actually being released then–I continued to worry he’d scrap it all and go re-record it–it stands a chance.

The thing with the Neil Finn album, however, is that I’m desperate for him to take some chances. I want something more edgy and artistically challenging, and at this moment, I’ve no idea what to expect. But he did record the bulk of the record at Real World Studios in England with Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne), so there remains a tiny chance that it won’t be entirely sugar coated.

But this solo album has also been recorded with ex-Crowded House member Nick Seymour, and throughout the collaboration in 2006, a number of media stories broke claiming it was the beginning of a Crowded House reformation–something rubbished by the majority of fans, and put down to the media jumping to conclusions. But were they? Maybe it was excited leaks from record label personnel more than just fiction.

The point is, a Crowded House reformation is on. It was certainly an unexpected thing to wake up to this morning, but the Australian press are carrying the story, with confirmation from Peter Green–the fans’ closest connection with the band. So yes, Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and (the wonderful) Mark Hart will be touring together (seemingly) as Crowded House in 2007.

There are still many unanswered questions at this stage. Is the solo album due in March still regarded as a solo album? Will it be toured first as a separate entity? Who will play drums?

It’s an unexpected decision, because of all the things Neil Finn can do, reforming Crowded House doesn’t have to be one of them. Especially after drummer Paul Hester committed suicide back in 2005. Which itself is something that will divide fans, because many will claim the band can’t and shouldn’t exist without Hester. I’d have to disagree, purely for the fact the two occasions I saw Crowded House live were after Hester had originally left the band, yet both shows were magnificent and life changing for little old 16-year-old me.

Of course, the chances of any new reincarnation of Crowded House moving me like they did then are slim. But there’s a magical chemistry about those guys on stage, and as much as I loved their songs as songs, it was the live experience which raised them to another level altogether–the simple reason that I still have hoards of bootleg CDs taking up entire racks in the shelving behind me.

Anyway, it’s looking like I’ll get to relive some old times in 2007, as well as soaking up the more ground breaking material from a selection of my favourite artists. I’m not quite excited about the Crowded House aspect just yet, mainly because I’m waiting to see how it unravels, but it does add an unexpected twist to my musical year.