Forenzics - new album

This looks amazing!

Very very exciting to see Tim, Eddie and Noel playing new music. The addition of Phil Manzanera is a very interesting part of this announcement; wonder if Nigel is OK?

When we eventually return to ‘normalcy’ It would be amazing to see a double bill of Forenzics and Crowded House.

This is exciting. It would have been great to have Mike Chunn on bass as well. It was interesting that Eddie mentioned in one of the Facebook comments that Phil Judd was invited to participate.

Personally, I would love to see the original Mental Notes lineup reunite (and throw Miles Golding and Geoff Chunn into the mix too) but I am resigned to the fact that it will likely never happen...

Im just pleased when any other the Enz make new music together...

Interestingly, Eddie pulled down the post from Facebook and Youtube, a few hours after setting up the Youtube channel. As anyone who has googled Forenzics has seen, there's a Sydney-based electronic band of the same name, so I assume that it was brought to their attention and they're regrouping to rebrand.

Saw the video before it got pulled. Absolutely love it. So great to see Tim back in action. And with Enzer's Eddie and Noel with Manzanera. As much as this line up feels like something new. For the sake of it getting the biggest audience I'd be cool if they called it Split Enz or just released it as a Tim solo/comeback album.

This isn't so much new music as it is a radical reworking of the arrangement of 'Walking Down A Road.' There's a Brian Eno quote in Mike Chunn's 'Stranger Than Fiction' (auto)biography where Eno listen to this song particular and focuses solely on a piano part of Eddie's, stating that this could be a song all unto itself. Perhaps this is the flicker that has set this new arrangement alight. Although I find the idea intriguing, I wonder at the point of it all.

A number of former Enz members live in Auckland and are conspicuous by their absence in the clip even though a number of them played in Eddie's Enzo 3. What will be the push for 'Walking' + any album that accompanies it apart from Eddie continually keeping the candle lit for Split Enz? No other band member brings the idea of Split Enz back as often as Eddie.The 40th anniversary of True Colours c/- Eddie is imminent which will need a healthy dose of publicity and goodwill, especially if the record company has already listed each vinyl album at an average of $55 (Aust.) each in 4 different  colour combinations. Eddie's projects in the past (such as The Conrays and The Eddie Rayner Project) disappeared before they really began; the Live, Alive Oh album released 3 years ago (and thus 9 years after the final tour) barely had a whisper of P.R. to give it recognition. These are small details, I know, but a new approach such as this (give or take getting the band's name correct)  needs good management indeed. Incidentally, does Split Enz actually own its own name anymore?

I sincerely hope that something good comes of 'Walking' even when it doesn't look good to see it pulled away from Eddie's page so quickly. I listened to Mental Notes and Second Thoughts again yesterday and they absolutely floored me; phenomenal music from such young musicians. I'm very glad that they re-recorded some of Mental Notes as tunes such as Titus and Time For A Change are superb. Wally's guitar has often been much-maligned in the Enz history but he plays some brilliant lines throughout the debut album even though the engineer didn't do Wally's sound any justice at all (he's brilliant on 'The Beginning of the Enz' as well; the solo on Sweet Talking Spoon song is very clever). The rhythm section of Crowther & Chunn is beyond words for me...I love Geoff Chunn's playing, but the Crowther/Chunn combination has something magical all unto itself. Rob Gillies is a rarity in being able to move from a being a brass player to a reeds player; I think that that is him x 4 playing in Late Last Night. Therefore, I wonder why these talents weren't featured within 'Walking' (as far as I know)? Any insights shared would be much appreciated.

....And on a completely different (mental) note, the next few days sees the 43rd anniversary since Nigel and Neil joined the band....

Jeremy Loder posted:

Saw the video before it got pulled. Absolutely love it. So great to see Tim back in action. And with Enzer's Eddie and Noel with Manzanera. As much as this line up feels like something new. For the sake of it getting the biggest audience I'd be cool if they called it Split Enz or just released it as a Tim solo/comeback album.

I wouldn’t object either if it came under the Split Enz banner.  It’s a perfectly valid lineup in my eyes (even without a bassist). 

I too enjoyed the video. I’m intrigued about the album. I wonder if all the songs are reworkings of early Enz songs. They have plenty of good material to play with and I love what they did with Walking Down the Road. Can’t wait to hear how this all came about... 

Eddie's put it back on his page.

I see it’s on YouTube now also. I’ve become a bit addicted to this song and it has caused me to revisit Walking Down The Road (Mental Notes) and Walking Down A Road (Second Thoughts/Mental Notes 2). 

For me, Walking Down The Road represents all that was genius with the early Enz. It’s great to see it pop up again in this new form. I hope it will prompt others to seek out the original(s) and that some will get to discover Mental Notes for the first time.

Hope that it will soon be released on streaming media. 

On YouTube where, please?  (Sorry to be a pain, but I no longer use FB) 

PS were there three ENZSO releases? I thought there were only two. 

Chris Camfield posted:

On YouTube where, please?  (Sorry to be a pain, but I no longer use FB) 

 

PS were there three ENZSO releases? I thought there were only two. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70jJTeu-06o is the YouTube link.

The third ENZO (as it not called ENZSO for some reason - maybe a different thing?) is a live recording done in the 2nd of November 2013 in St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland. As far as I can tell, it has Eddie as the only member of the Enz. They even do Edible Flowers. It's really great! As far as I can tell, it is only on Eddie's bandcamp: https://eddierayner.bandcamp.c...er-than-fiction-live

Wow! That is, just like others here said, exciting and interesting. Pineapple Head, thank you for both links. I'll have to check out Eddie's bandcamp later.

The Pineapple Head posted:

Chris Camfield posted:

On YouTube where, please?  (Sorry to be a pain, but I no longer use FB) 

 

PS were there three ENZSO releases? I thought there were only two. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70jJTeu-06o is the YouTube link.

The third ENZO (as it not called ENZSO for some reason - maybe a different thing?) is a live recording done in the 2nd of November 2013 in St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland. As far as I can tell, it has Eddie as the only member of the Enz. They even do Edible Flowers. It's really great! As far as I can tell, it is only on Eddie's bandcamp: https://eddierayner.bandcamp.c...er-than-fiction-live

Yeah... It is ENZO not ENZSO because no Symphony orchestra this time. It is not so much ENZSO3, but something a bit different again. Eddie called it a 15 piece dance band enzemble! It was a mix of strings, brass, drums, bass, guitar (and Eddie and his keys). It also had a segment with 5 early enzers (Eddie, Wally, both Chunns, and Emlyn) doing Mental Notes tracks along with the enzemble. Jesse Sheehan did the vocals on the Mental Notes songs and was the ideal choice (he was the perfect blend of Tim and Phil, and looked the part too!). Funnily enough a few years later Neil would produce his first LP. 

Michael Barker (who played drums on the Enz last NZ. tour) was on drums (and spoons) also. 

For those interested, here is the original thread:https://www.frenzforum.com/top...th-5-original-enzers

The recording on Eddie's BandCamp that The Pineapple Head posted above is well worth checking out.

Hey just wanted to say thanks for telling me about ENZO. Bandcamp is occasionally (once a month) having a day where they waive their share of the profits, and I bought the ENZO recording on May 1 and really really like it.

"Walking" gets me in a state of frenzy again and again... We had a go at it and tried to make out the lyrics.

Childish patter is heard no more
Papers lay strewn upon the lawn
Is that what you meant
When you said I should stay at home

Is that what you meant when
I left you on your own
I disappeared when the preaching began

Even though I do my best
Sometimes I get to thinking
Talking to the wind really don’t amount to much

Childish patter is heard no more
Papers lay strewn upon the lawn
Is that what you meant
When you said I should stay at home
I should stay at home

Somewhere in the shadows hiding
In the shadows

Shades are securely drawn
Magic place etched with roses
I drank the beauty
Walking down a road

Time stands still forever
No time to count the hours
An old man laughing
There’s nobody home

Is that what you meant when
I left you on your own
I disappeared when the preaching began

Even though I do my best
Sometimes I get to thinking
Talking to the wind really don’t amount to much

Shades are securely drawn
A magic place etched with roses
I drank the beauty
Walking down a road

Ooo, I like this better than the other!

Eddie co-hosted Sunday Night with Grant Walker. Featured new Forenzenics songs and a new recording of 'Out On The Street' by Space Waltz.

Thanks Jeremy.  2 more tracks off the Forenzics album.  Chances Are which has way more of the original (spellbound) than Eddie suggests - although maybe he’s referring to actual samples) and another with Tim singing in French which I cannot relate to any Me talk Notes track.  Perhaps not part of Forenzics?

The French track is "Premiere Fois" (meaning "The First Time"). Extremely catchy, with the melodic "backing" vocals by daughter Eliott in English (very nice) set against a low largely rhythmic spoken-word mumble in French by Tim which sounds sort of seedy or loungey, but hopefully is completely innocent. Grant Walker pronounced it as a future international hit!

Interesting that the title of one of the earlier Forenzics tracks "Strange Stars" also features as the last song of "Star Navigator" ("Under Strange Stars"). Were they similar tunes? - I can't remember.

I've been slow to listen to the whole show... "Premier Fois" is one thing but "Chances Are" had me dancing in my seat.

It helps that "Spellbound" is one of my favorite early Split Enz songs and those little bits of the song in "Chances Are" are just lovely.

If you listen to the fantastic interview Jaffaman mentioned (you beat me to it, Jaffa!) Eddie talks about how some of this material came to be, how he and Tim were frustrated and wanted to explore greater depths in some Enz songs ... something like that.

@mummakook posted:

you beat me to it, Jaffa!

I had an advantage, being in the studio with Eddie at the time of the broadcast

@Jaffaman posted:

I had an advantage, being in the studio with Eddie at the time of the broadcast

Wondered if that might have been the case

Jaffaman...what are the forensic tracks he played ?  I could only pick up one.  The French song didn’t seem related to a mental notes track.

Is there going to be an actual CD release? And if so, any mention as to when?

Forenzics tracks played were:
Premiere Fois
Chances Are

There's no release date yet. Can't remember if a CD release was mentioned but there probably will be one. Definitely vinyl and download, anyway. Doubt there'll be a cassette like there is for Dreamers Are Waiting.

thanks Jaffaman.  What do you think is the inspiration track on mental notes for Premier Fois?

I can't recall what Eddie said about it. Will have to listen to the chat again. Maybe inspired by lots of things. Perhaps not  every track on the album has direct ties to Mental Notes.

Having a listen to the broadcast, really enjoying it. Elliot-wow! I could listen to her all day! Hope she "comes around," as Eddie said and gets into music. Such a great voice.

I found the below snippet in this article about Origin Music signing up Eddie. https://themusicnetwork.com/ed...r-origin-music-deal/

I haven't seen anything else written anywhere about the release though. I presume it is the NZ Spring which starts next month. No doubt Warners will put some press out in due course...

"Warner Music is in spring issuing Shades And Echoes by The ForENZics, a project with Tim Finn, Noel Crombie, former Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera and the ensemble Double Life.

The album consists of songs fleshed out from brief ideas from Enz albums used as intros, outros and bridges, with fresh lyrics from Finn.

“It’s a pretty cool concept where you rip yourself off,” according to Rayner."

And later this month the Finn/Manzanera duo album.

There are three "videos" for Forenzics tracks online officially now.

Forenzics YT channel

Would you say that the lyrics to "Abandoned" are all new or is this referencing something unreleased or something I just don't recognize?

@Chris Camfield posted:

Would you say that the lyrics to "Abandoned" are all new or is this referencing something unreleased or something I just don't recognize?

The lyrics don't ring a bell... with the possible exception of "Maybe" also containing a reference to "our stately home".

Pretty sure this song is a reference to Room 129 at  Malmsbury Villa where the band started to form.  There are some vague musical references in Abandoned to the song 129 / Matinee Idyll

Exactly when is this album going to be released?