Flight Case reviews >

2 May 2010

Just wanted to tell you I managed to secure a copy on ebay of the Matt Finish Live DVD with the super 4 piece line-up.

It brought back some memories that had been fading over the years and was impressed with the quality... where has this been all this time it seems like yesterday?

Matt's voice sounded fantastic and I forget how talented he was on guitar. Some choice solo guitar as well!

Mancini Shuffle is a classic and great to hear a live version of "Younger Days"!

John's powerhouse drumming was great to see close-up too!

Mystery is classic!

This will be played quite a lot of times for sure!!

All the best,

Greg

12 February 2010

I thought I'd let you know that the Flight Case compilation arrived today. Wow!!!!! You and Rob should be so proud of what you've created here. It's brilliant!!!!!

I'm playing your new music first and the 1978 - 2008 CD is fantastic. Dream Away and River make perfect "bookends" to a great CD. Your new versions of Mancini Shuffle and Layman’s Day just blew me (and my neighbours) away!! Your drumming on Eat Your Lips is so good, that is one killer bass drum you've got goin' there mate!!!!! Also your recording and production talents are brilliant and then you go and play fantastic bass as well on songs like Go! and Try on the Kite CD ......... Plus you wrote them as well!!!!!!!

Sorry John but I'm just gonna have to say this... John Prior... definite legend!

Also loved the original version of River with you and Matt… thanks for including the story about Matt's father Ian in the booklet. Must have been an emotional recording session for you both and no doubt it was an amazing moment of bonding when Matt played it to his father. The songs credits say it all Moffitt / Moffitt.

I don't mean to get too personal but I lost my son when he was very young and I found that the song that I wrote in his memory probably saved my own life. Music is just so powerful and so healing.

Well John, thanks again to you and your brother for compiling the wonderful memories of your and Matt's music and I wish you all the best in the future. I noticed on your website that Matt Finish had a recording session in January... hopefully this means there's a another new CD on way later this year. I'll keep an eye on the website.

Gary Phillips (South Australia).

25 January 2010

Finally got through all of the discs in 'Flight Case'. Outstanding job by all those involved. The sound you managed to get from the old tapes is astounding, nice and clear with plenty of bass up front which you never get these days.

One forgets what a formidable band Matt Finish were in a live setting. Even though I still enjoyed the studio work in this box set, the live discs are streets ahead in my opinion. 'Truck Surfing' is on high rotation in the car at the moment and when you listen to the Pararmatta show you realise what a great MF gig it was from start to finish. The louder you turn them up, the better they sound! It was a surprise to hear the band break into a slow blues number too, can't remember that at the few gigs I saw back then.

The one gig that sticks in my mind was, I'm guessing, early 80's at the Family Inn at Rydalmere, Sydney...maybe a Saturday night, the queue was out the door and down the street. Hot and sweaty night, punters packed in wall to wall. As they say, "the place went off". Hot band, hot girls, cold alcohol...a lethal combination.

The other thing to point out is what a prolific band you guys were in the early days. Lots of songs in a relatively short period.All in all, there's not a bad disc in the whole collection.

Once again congratulations, and keep the good work coming. Here's hoping there's a few more on the way in the not too distant future.

Erik Rowtliep (NSW)

22 January 2010

Working through the treasure-trove that is the Flight Case. It's a fans ultimate dream. Thanks for making so much great stuff available. Here's to a great job done and a happy new year mate.

Nick Kennedy (NSW)

22 January 2010

Love the box-set!! Still got a few cd's to get to yet but have especially been loving the live stuff, especially the Tivoli gig. Spotted my name in the credits in the book. Nice touch!

Thanks

Jeff Dibble (NSW)

20th January 2010

The flightcase is brilliant, well done.

Cheers,

Brian Walsh (Queensland).

16th January

Got the Flight Case box-set just before Xmas but have only just started listening to it. Got through the 'Truck Surfing' and 'Kite..' discs so far.

You've done a great job on the mastering, the sound is brilliant! Really getting into the 'Truck' cd, sounds awesome cranked up nice and LOUD!

Erik Rowtliep (NSW)

12th January 2010

I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying the Flight Case. It is fantastic to have a collection of Matt Finish CD's that goes beyond Short Note, Fade Away and Word Of Mouth. It's always hard to critically judge the contribution that a band makes to the music industry when there are limited references. Thankfully the Flight Case has now given a greater perspective of the band's originality and versatility. The songs on Music Farm show just how prolific the song writing was and the best of these songs would have made a fine album had they been released prior to Short Note. While at the other end of the band's career, On A Hurricane Day shows that Matt Finish were happy to keep changing the music not content on doing the same thing twice.

I'm also stoked that you were able to include a good number of concerts within this set of CD's as I previously only had very poor quality recordings on cassette from Parramatta Park and The Tivoli. It's great that you have been able to get recordings from different stages in the band's career too and now at last I have a good quality recording of Dying To Sleep as it of course never appeared on any studio albums.

Finally, the bonus tracks for Short Note, Fade Away and Word Of Mouth are a great addition to the original recordings. The thing I really liked about the original Fade Away EP was by recording in front of a live audience it seems to have given the songs a bit more energy than what might have been obtained had it been done in the studio so to hear more songs from these sessions is definitely a real bonus. As for Word Of Mouth, it is one of my all time favourite albums so to hear alternate arrangements and lyrics for these songs has been a real joy.

All the best for the new year and thanks for the mention in the Flight Case booklet. As someone who never made it in the music industry it is a real honour to not only have my name next to some of my favourite artists in the industry but to have it associated with Matt Finish. Hope to make it to the gig at the Bayview Tavern.

Regards,

Matthew Seery (NSW)

9th January 2010

Received my flight case yesterday and thought I'd drop you a quick note of appreciation.The work that both of you have put into this project to arrive at the " FINISHED"...lol product is sensational!

I'd often wondered about all that material that I envisaged existed somewhere, but never thought I would hear. Thank you for bringing this to life in such an exceptional manner. The varied mixes of "Word of Mouth" in particular are fantastic to compare the subtle nuances, and in places more distinct differences between mixes. Simply awesome work John.

And finally thanks for the "mention in the masses" on the back page. Hope to see you at a future gig when I can make it.

Best wishes for 2010,

Paul Rampling (Springwood, NSW)

7th January 2010

Many thanks and congratulations on the compilation of a truly outstanding collection of music, video and images.

The live recordings especially took me back many years reliving fond memories of the band, and the studio recordings reinforce the early eighties power of Matt Finish through to the seductive tones of “Kite on a Hurricane day” album.

The unique and unforgettable chorus ring of the Telecasters, punch of the bass and the energy, precision and drive of the drums and of course Matt Moffitt’s voice will remain with me forever now thanks to this comprehensive collection.

Great work.

Andrew Perrin (Newcastle NSW)

7th January 2010

What a great idea to have all MF cd's in one great collection.

Regards

Nick Salvestro (NSW).

6th January 2010

Bought the flight case n it's brilliant.

Thank you very much for finally making the music available.

Thanks.

Tom Takacs (NSW)

6th January 2010

The box set was at the local post office, I have it now and going through the Cds. I like the 1978 - 2008 CD - you guys still have a great sound vocally and are always so tight musically.

Hope to catch a gig soon.

Mark Telfer (NSW)

4th January 2010

The case arrived safe and sound before Xmas. All contents survived OK. The bad weather in Sydney over the Xmas break allowed plenty of time to get through it all. Well done.

A great collection of work, greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Richard Acheson. (NSW)

2nd January 2010

Congrats on this nicely presented box set.

The live recordings and previously unreleased material are a reminder of the quality of Matt Finish live performances and of Matt's immense songwriting and vocal talent.

Fascinating to see how some compositions evolved over time and the quality of later compositions like River and Baby Try.

I do hope that you publish an expanded history of the band, I am sure it would be a good read.

I will look forward to seeing the band perform at Thirroul in a few weeks. Well done.

Regards,

Ian Litchfield (NSW)

1st January 2010

Apart from all the Christmas and New Years blah blah, I had to write about the Flight Case collection. I finally picked it up from my sister’s place on Christmas day. God damn there are some great performances in there. Extraordinary even.

It really highlights the difference between bands then and now. If you couldn't put forward a good sound back in the 80s that was the end of you. Matt Finish was punching out the tunes with some tight and energetic playing, without all the digital crap, feedback arrestors and harmonisers etc that can make any band sound good. You couldn't hide back then and the boys certainly didn't.

I'm enjoying the hell out of the entire collection. I always knew the band had a lot more than the Short Note album, but this collection really confirms it, especially the live performances. There's even a few vague shades of some familiar styles of the 80's but the overall sound remains undeniably original.

It's also very interesting seeing some of the works in progress like Legal Load evolving into Always Another.

All the hard work from John and everyone else in sourcing, remixing, remastering and putting it all together was definitely worth it.

Looking forward to catching the guys in 2010. If the recent gig at the Clarendon was any indication, there's more to come yet.

Greg Wiles (NSW)

1st January 2010

I received the set on Boxing Day and it's one of the best Christmas presents I've got for a long time.

Great work all around, but special mention has to go to Kite On A Hurricane Day. A revelation, great stuff and I'm so glad that the songs have finally come to light.

I love the whole lot and very kind of you to put me in the "Thanks to" list. I appreciate it.

Keep up the good work.

Happy New Year,

Alan Greatorex (NYC)

1st January 2010

Great set of CDs and the DVD footage brings back memories - I never knew there was so much still unreleased. Also, the book is a great overview of the band.

All the best

Paul Conn (NSW)

25th December 2009

I picked up the Flight Case from my post office box on Christmas Eve. A very nice Christmas present. I took the dvd to work on Christmas Day and introduced some 30 somethings to Matt Finish.

Many thanks for putting this package together.

Graeme Tunks (ACT)

24th December 2009

Flight case arrived today, absolutely stoked! Great job all round. So happy to receive it for Christmas and I'm going to spend the night ploughing through the great memories.

Thanks again and enjoy the festive season.

All the best to you and yours.

Kind regards,

Darren McBain (SA)

Many thanks for all the positive reviews!