"Tell Me What You Want" marks our second official insight into the machinations of the latest Finn family project, The Pajama Club. The song showcases a steadily seductive swagger, a relentlessly cool groove underpinning its allure from beginning to end. "Tell Me What You Want", to Neil’s credit, sails uncharted territory, barely grazing the heydays of the ‘Enz and Crowded House. Any such comparisons begin and end, perhaps, with Crowded House's single "Into Temptation", the song apparently sharing allusions to sexual promiscuity.

Ultimately, Finn’s thematic interest sets the scene for an intriguing juxtaposition. Fittingly - as with first single From A Friend To A Friend - this release re-establishes a critical band dynamic, with Neil Finn and wife Sharon partnered as vocalists. "Tell Me What You Want", however, explores the combination much more effectively than its predecessor, overseeing a kind of role play in the process.

Neil adopts a shy, assured disposition, commanding each verse with a beautifully hushed delivery. He exudes an insecure yet wholly desirous demeanor. “I have an itch I can’t scratch - I feel dumb every time I have to ask; it takes the magic away,” he confesses amidst a distinct calm. In stark contrast, Sharon Finn boasts complete and utter confidence in each chorus. “Tell me what you want, show me how to do it. Tell me what you need - I can do anything,” she encourages. Sharon takes the reigns to produce an effortlessly infectious chorus, the song's main event showcasing a razor sharp pop simplicity.

Though "Tell Me What You Want" will no doubt offer some intrigue for longtime Finn fans, there will inevitably be those who wish for a little more than its bare necessities. For a song of three and a half minutes, the song - a strictly calculated affair - never really takes flight, the Finns apparently content imprison the single within the confines of its first impressions. The song lumbers towards its conclusion with a predictable enough gait, which could hurt the longevity of its appeal.

"Tell Me What You Want" effectively illustrates the enormous potential of Neil Finn’s new project and will only re-ignite curiosity where the band’s long-awaited LP is concerned. Sure, the single appears stripped of any real complication, but then - realistically - all of Neil’s finest work and its charm came packaged with basic pop sensibilities. In that way, the new and exciting Pajama Club is fantastically familiar.

Review Score: 8/10

Photo by Johnny Au.