OK. It's time I faced the music. I call myself a fren, er, one of the frenz, but I really don't feel worthy of that hind "z". You see... I have never really explored the music of Split Enz. At the age of 15, "I Got You", was a sweet explosion of fruity chewing gum with a slightly sinister after taste. Later, when "Time And Tide" came out, I bought the LP and literally wore it out. Since then I have savoured every Finn-related release - CH, TF, NF, Finn Bros etc... but *shuffles feet sheepishly* I have never seriously explored the pre-new-wave catalogue of Split Enz. Who can help me? Where do I start? What should not be missed?

My story is similar to yours, Ross, except that I was 17. Now I have the back catalogue and enjoy most of it immensely.

It may be a good idea to start with Mental Notes, if only to realize the otherworldly shape of some of the early songs, the Finn/Judd, or simply the Phil Judd compositions. I find the sound (not necessarily the production quality) on some of these songs to be truly epic. I can hear why some people had compared them to Genesis at the time.

I have only recently "discovered" (and I say that despite owning the record for years) the song Maybe and simply can't turn it off inside of my head.

You should also look up some of the old video clips from this era on YouTube. I gained a better appreciation of Split Enz after seeing these, most of which I had never seen before.

quote:

Originally posted by Bogue:

You should also look up some of the old video clips from this era on YouTube. I gained a better appreciation of Split Enz after seeing these, most of which I had never seen before.

I agree...I was like a kid in a candy store when I discovered all the old Enz stuff on youtube! Have fun with your continuing enzucation, Ross - you will not be disappointed!

Hi Ross. You are not alone (I feel like I've just walked into a Split-Enz imposter support group). While "I Got You" made a lasting impression on a 14-yr-old stuck in a world of Detroit Rock City music, I didn't start getting into the Enz until I had exhausted all the CH, NF stuff. Still jumping around Tim's music now.

Jaffaman's excellent series Enzology, downloadable from Radio NZ is a brilliant introduction to their myth and music. If you haven't yet downloaded and listened, I highly recommend it.
www.radionz.co.nz/enzology

Thanks for the tips you guys.

Bogue, good thinkin', I'll adopt your idea as my official plan.

RB

Some months have gone by since I outed myself as an imposter. It's been a fun and curious process exploring the Enz early work with Jaffaman's excellent Enzology podcasts as a starting point.

It was a good idea to start with "Mental Notes". Other than "Time For A Change", I had not heard any one of those songs - and quite right Bogue - there is such an early Genesis sound to that stuff: Eddie's mellotron, Tim's vocals (very Gabriel-esque at the time), the shifting tempos and dynamics. I had no idea!

There is a lot to be discovered in that early stuff. The restless creativity and rising tensions in the band are all evident in one way or another.

It just struck me now that the quality of "unexpectedness" in this early Split Enz is something I love about Finn music in general... an inclination to not do things the ordinary way!

Hi Ross, glad to hear you're discovering the endless pleasures of the "z" in "Frenz." I must confess that I prefer *anything* in Phil Judd-era Enz to what came after; I wept when Phil walked the plank, and soured on all things Finn until I was felled by Together Alone.

Jaffaman's Enzology is indispensable for the full overview of pre-Neil Enz. But I agree with Bogue that "Mental Notes" is a good place to start. It is to the Enz catalogue what "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is to the Pink Floyd oeuvre -- a work of unrepeatable beauty and weirdness (and literally unrepeatable, as the rather less beautiful and weird "Second Thoughts" -- a re-recorded version of "Notes" -- makes clear).

For all the wonders of "Notes," I have a special fondness for the more folky Syd Barrett-meets-Marc Bolan-style that Judd showcased in the group's very earliest recordings. Many of these appear on the "Beginning of the Enz" rarity compilation album: of its tracks, "Split Ends" and "For You" still sound so fresh and MAD after all these years. And I can't get enough of the last Enz track Phil played on -- "Another Great Divide" -- whose edgy guitar sound indicates where the Enz might have gone had he stayed, and where the Suburban Reptiles and the Swingers *did* go with him in harness.

Watney Sideburns, I was just listening to part one of Enzology last night while on a long walk with my iPod, the episode which includes those two songs that you mentioned.

Wouldn't it have been a wonder if Phil had not had the problems that he did and was able to stay with the band? I can't help but think they would have come up with some amazing songs. Maybe it's time I checked out the Swingers and the Suburban Reptiles.

...and since the Swingers' " Counting the Beat" is now available on iTunes in Canada, I'd say it's well worth grabbing a copy and treating yourself (though 'Ayatollah' could probably be skipped...)

Time was, I would listen to Dizrhythmia all day, every day for weeks on end.

Sittin' on the veranda with my old girl Miranda.

quote:

Originally posted by Ross Breithaupt:
There is a lot to be discovered in that early stuff. The restless creativity and rising tensions in the band are all evident in one way or another.

It just struck me now that the quality of "unexpectedness" in this early Split Enz is something I love about Finn music in general... an inclination to not do things the ordinary way!

For another heavy dose of that quality of unexpectedness, I hope you'll next check out the Enz's earliest work on The Beginning of the Enz...

and THIS!

Some really nice posts on this thread. I must come back soon. Thank you, Ross, for sharing your discoveries as a growing fan...

Thanks guys.

I'm still taking all this early stuff in. It is, perhaps, a tribute to these Finn/Judd songs that I don't yet know quite what to say about them. I can feel them working on me though.

Nothing like starting at the beginning with Mental Notes as others have said (Beginning of the Enz was not their first album, just in case there's any confusion with the name) and following Enzology is also informative, though it might be worth just listening to the albums first without adding the weight of what transpired behind them. You'll always want to listen again when you listen to Enzology. I have to concur that Dizrhythmia is a great album, and Corroboree/Waiata is another oft-overlooked album, both should have some recognisable tunes as well as some that will be new to you.

Well, I declare this meeting of Imposters Anonymus open! I saw the Enz at Sydney Entrerainment centre, History Never Repeats tour. I was there completely on the strength of the hit singles, WOH was I blown away! I bought around 5 of their albums in rapid sucession. Dizrhythmia is my favouite of the moment.
Since then, I had flown to NZ to see Tim, but still not heard the 1st 3 Enz albums. It is only recently I remedied that situation and again, WOW! So great to hear the whole story!I particularly like the song,"Sweet Dreams." On 1st listen, I thought why the hell didn't Phil let Tim have that one?
Upon studying those wonderful passionate lyrics, I think I may have answered my own question.

Some random thoughts on the Finn/Judd songs:

Favourites are: Walking Down A Road (like both versions), Maybe is really fantastic, and Titus. I still haven't quite found a way to "appreciate" Phil Judd's voice, although the ambience of Under The Wheel is quite something. I also really like Late Last Night - the way it more directly links to their early Beatles, Kinks influences.

There was a seventies Canadian band, called 'Garfield' or 'The Garfield Band', whose vocalist sounded quite similar to Phil Judd. At the time I was listening to this band, on CFNY-FM, back when it was 'The Spirit of Radio' I was completely unaware of Split Enz. Years later, after hearing Mental Notes, Garfield's song Private Affair immediately came to mind even though I hadn't heard it since way back then.

Ross, you listened to CFNY-FM back then, didn't you? Do you remember that song? It would have been around 1977 or 1978, so maybe you were not into FM radio yet. It's just one of those little memories that's stuck with me.

Bogue, no I wasn't yet listening to FM radio at that time, although my older brothers were and that's how I knew about bands like Genesis and Max Webster and Klaatu. I don't remember Garfield at all, but I just found "Private Affair" on google and you're right! Weird!