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On the other side of the world, strange people live. You find them on a large island, with rather ambiguous customs: they dress like clowns and tear time apart.
It's from New Zealand that Split Enz come, what has been defined as the most underrated Rock Band of the century.
Of course, perhaps they were one of the few bands that fully embraced the concept of new wave in all its nuances: molding and disguising themselves in a musical and social landscape too averse to their slap-worthy faces.
Neither the teaspoon solo of Noel Cromble (a percussionist evidently tired of traditional instruments) nor all the great piano experience of E. Rayner sufficed; Tim Finn's talent and style were of little avail; Split Enz remaina band of ragtag losers.
In short, the kind of characters that if they weren't musicians, you might even find them almost likable; but clearly you hate and despise them for their flaying of the contexts and customs of the average rocker and the musical genre that "the rocker-med" embraced and defends with fanaticism (subject: the contexts and customs).
In 1976, the clowns took a plane to the Old Continent, to record an album that was already important to me. I could have reviewed the first album, "Mental Notes," to introduce the Splits to the (big?) public; but I believe we would have lost the tenor saxophone of Gillies, which was vitally important to warm the musical mask of this great band.
Moreover, I would emphasize the fact that the true clownery, the pantomime of themselves and their own shadows, reached its completion exactly with the second album: with "Second Thoughts," Split Enz were born.
Fascinated by progressive rock yet light, behind the makeup and absurd movements, they hid an overflowing ability to weave and intertwine time and rhythm of each song. Let's be clear, Split Enz are freelancers: harmony is only sketched out. No formal refinements or powerful riffs. We have a crazy guitar that continuously goes back and forth tonally, in a delirium of omnipotence; Finn's nasal voice bouncing with a very personal jester style; the saxophone to massacre the universe like a train. All of this supported by a precious early 20th-century ragtime piano, a marvel in its genre for versatility and expression. And it's precisely ragtime that is the strong point of the kiwis: exasperated tempo changes, a collage of movements, musical gestures and almost-rhythmic improvisations, dictated by perhaps very precise mental laws, perhaps totally attributed to chance.
And you know, I find the overall effect wonderful.
These New Zealanders, in constant search of faces on which to stamp a smile, have been able to dig into the deep recesses of the rawest and most childish rock, only to pull out of the hat the first of future wonders. The problem is that the genre is not liked, overall they are (sym)pathetic, and then, they seem like fags. And surely losers. Ugly, infected, and they can't play together, they make noise, they cause chaos, they are to be discarded, and they are really ugly ugly.
Ladies and gentlemen, be serious: if you're looking for great tragicomic rock (and do it without prejudices), Split Enz '75-79 is your answer. Along with Frank Zappa and 10cc, they changed a small piece of the rock rules: they introduced the "WEIRD" factor.
All this, already ten years before those flamboyant eighties; in which they were still on the scene along with Devo and Oingo Boingo.
I would say: if you think they are just strange kids, coming from the island of fools, with strange ideas, playing on their own like "the penis of your dog," and who accidentally stumbled upon the right notes, well, listen to "Stranger Than Fiction" (which describes them perfectly), then decide if you don't want to take music theory lessons from them.
Ah, and someone seems to have hidden a mandolin somewhere around here...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Late Last Night (04:04)
I saw you standing there at the bar
Your eyes were glazed with passion
A look of afar - A secret smile
I blew a few kisses
Said my name is Lyle
That love in her eyes (love in her eyes)
Heart to heart (heart to heart)
A tender goodbye (a tender goodbye)
Nothing could ever keep us apart
As you sipped your tequila
I knew I had to steal ya
Read like a book
Surprise that you took your time
Dig that rhyme
Gone, love took offence at the things I said
Good advice would be to go to bed
Rest my head, yeah
Catch 40 winks
While I dream about the things she said
Late last night, ooh yeah, late last night
She told me someone taught me everything I need to know, yeah
Last last night, late last night
She took my trembling hands and led me under the velvet sky
Rolling on the hill top playing Jack and Jill
Suddenly (suddenly) all was still, she was gone
She seemed so aloof
That's ninety per cent proof, with a lump in my throat
I grabbed my coat and ran, cornered again!
So I'll live for the moment and I'll take it as an omen
Gotta weakness for de women and de wine
Late last night, ooh yeah, late last night
She told me someone taught me everything I need to know, yeah
Late last night, ooh yeah, late last night
She told me someone taught me everything I need to know, yeah
Last last night, late late late late last night
She told me everything I know, know know...
03 Titus (03:16)
I found myself in silver dreams
I'm talking in my sleep to pawns & queens
Outspoken words, you know, they just don't mean the same thing
Somebody must be kiddin' me
Somebody must be lying to me
Oh please don't tell me
Which is red and which is black
When are you coming back to me, babe?
Oh when are you coming back to me, babe?
I saw myself in checkered lands
I even dreamt I was the knight in command
The bishop screamed: "Don't horse around boy!"
Somebody must be kiddin' me
Somebody must be lying to me
And please don't tell me
I'm losing my way
You promised me everything now, didn't you babe?
You promised me everything now, didn't you babe?
04 Lovey Dovey (03:08)
My house is sliding into the sea
Skies are grey, since you've been away
The chickens aren't laying eggs no more
It can only mean you left me for sure
But I still think of you when I'm alone
How can I ever repay you for what you do to me
I still think of you when I'm alone
How can I ever repay you for what you're doin' to me
La do dah la do dah dah la do dah
My trees are all turning brown
The sun won't shine, now you're no longer mine
The rats are crawlin' up me back
It can only mean you're never coming back
But I still, think of you when I'm alone
Oh how could I ever repay you for what you're doin' to me
And I still, think of you when I'm alone
Oh how could I ever repay you for what you're doin' to me
La do dah la do dah dah la do dah
Wooh!
My bed is leaning to one side
You know I can't sleep now that I've lost my pride
The flies are swarming in like bees
I even have to share my clothes with fleas
But I still, think of you when, I'm alone
How can I ever repay you for what you're doin' to me
And I still, think of you when, I'm alone
How can I ever repay you for what you're doin' to me
Right now!
La do dah la do dah dah la do dah
05 Sweet Dreams (05:07)
Cunning as a con-man, shrewd as a liar
I went weak in the knees, the first time I saw you
Deep inside, day to day ritual
Oh give it a try
Do what you will, look out now!
But I've seen it all before
It's nothing new to me
A living legend, like 15 million other, angels
Try as I do, I can never get through
I only got as far, as the back seat of my car
It's all very well to cry now
Yes it's all very well to lie now
Now I'm wasting my time, clutching at straws (yeah)
You know damn well, what's mine is yours
Rich man or poor, duchess or whore
I haven't got time for, either or
I can't get over it
Thank God the storms passed over
I'll settle down I guess
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Matovani, Martini and money
I fell for your etiquette
The first time we ever met
You really socked it to me
With your finger snap rhythym
Look out now, break-up
You've got it all figured out
Ten to one I lose
Drop your lovers noose and swing me
Cruelly deprived, I don't know how you've survived
Romantic theories of the pixies and fairies
Looking in retrospect seldom wrong but never correct
Emotions are aired like carpets out to dry
I can't get over it
Thank God the storms passed over
I'll settle down I guess
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams, sweet dreams, sweet dreams every once in a while
Well you wouldn't know me from a bar of soap
A part of the furniture, an ornament, a rocking chair
It's all very well to cry now
Sweet dreams every once in a while
06 Stranger Than Fiction (07:06)
Stranger than fiction
Larger than life
Full of shades and echoes
It's the story of my life
Just like a picture book
Daddy's gone away
Leaving Mummy in her room
With another one on the way
At nights I've heard her screaming
Through the coloured walls
Oh, please don't leave me alone
Please don't leave me alone
And even her friend the hippyman
With his tarot cards to play
Drowning in his sea of words
Why he never has much to say
And I've seen him standing by the river
Singing to the birds
Just like the mystic says
Be careful of what you say
Talking to himself he needs no one
To help him on his way
Do you?
At nights I've heard him screaming
Through the candle flame
Oh, please don't leave me alone
Please don't leave me alone
07 Time for a Change (04:06)
You act as though
You were a blind man who's crying
Crying `bout, all the virgins that are dying
In your habitual dreams
You know, seems you need more sleep
But like a parrot in a flaming tree
I know, it's pretty hard to see
And I'm beginning to wonder if it's time for a change
But still you try like a fat boy
Dancing Gershwin's blues
But you'd rather sit at home and watch the news
And I'm beginning to wonder if it's time for a change
I'm beginning to wonder if it's time for a change
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