Everyone Is Here, the Finn Brothers' first album together in eight years, is due August 24th. The Finns' second outing as a duo began with a jam session in their native New Zealand. "Both of us had come off a cycle of two solo records, and we knew that together something special might happen," says Tim. "One of the first songs we came up with whilst jamming out on the West Coast of Auckland didn't make the album, but it was about our mother who passed on three years ago, and so we felt her presence . . . and it opened the floodgates."

Tim and younger brother Neil have made music together around the house and professionally since they were kids. Neil joined Tim's Split Enz in 1977, and Tim joined Neil's Crowded House more than a decade later.

"We perform for each other and against each other so the process is more dynamic and emotional," says Neil. "This makes for good music that is outgoing. Tim has a knack for titles and clear themes, whilst I have a tendency to take a lateral turn or two. Tim likes to do a song and then leave it alone. I tend to tinker and look at it from all sides. Between us, a good balance emerges."

The first song written for the album mirrored this approach with a "dark dramatic verse" from Tim and an "uplifting chorus" from Neil. "I think we bring out the best in each other," echoes Tim. "Sometimes after a certain amount of wary maneuvering."

While the first Finn Brothers album, 1995's Finn, was recorded in a scant four weeks, both brothers hailed the new LP's more meticulous approach. "This one is more fully rounded, more expansive and outgoing," says Neil. "We edited ourselves more rigorously."

"For a start, Matt Chamberlain [Tori Amos, the Wallflowers] is on the drums instead of me," says Tim. "Much as I love drumming, it's exciting to have a maestro in the house. This record stands up for the sound of people playing together in a room, as did Finn, but this time there were four or five of us, instead of two."

The Finns teamed with a host of producers on the album, including Tony Visconti (David Bowie), Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters), Bob Clearmountain (Paul McCartney) and long-time collaborator Mitchell Froom (Los Lobos).

"Each of them brought what we hoped they would to the songs," Tim says. "Mitchell with his clear-eyed responses to arrangements that serve the vocals, and his ability to balance us both out; Bob with his wide-screen vision and dedication to the emotion of the song; Adam with his ability to get us playing live and getting inside vocal performances; and Tony with his sheer musicality and talent with arrangements."

Tim and Neil plan to tour the U.S. this fall with a full band that will include bassist Tim Smith and, appropriately enough, twin brothers drummer Jeremy Stacey and guitarist/keyboardist Paul Stacey.

"Neil and I are looking forward to doing these songs with their full arrangements," Tim says. "We can also break it down at will, and maybe sing some old tunes acoustically."