Phil Judd has released a new album – ‘Play it Strange’.
A signed CD can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp on with instant access to mp3 / FLAC downloads.
Brilliant album with contributions from early Enzers – Wally Wilkinson, Mike Chunn and Paul Emlyn Crowther.
Includes the legendary previously unrecorded song ‘Play it Strange’ from 1977.
The CD is also available for pre-order now via Phil's website - www.philjudd.com.
I got my copy (of the download) this morning and it's sounding really good - brighter and poppier than 'Love is a Moron', with a lot of XTC-ish vibes (tho more likely inspired by the stuff that inspired Andy Partridge in the first place, since I'm pretty sure Phil's said that he's not too aware of Andy's stuff).
And you can't beat that title track getting a decent outing at last!
Decided to cruise by tonight to find the latest Phil info... low and behold a new album less than 24 hours ago...
I give that a fairly high score out of 10. Fantastic news.
Having immediately downloaded the album and also ordered a signed '45, I'll post a detailed review in the coming days.
I can't wait to get acquainted with it.
Though Split Enz recorded their early albums before I was born, and I didn't hear those recordings until in my 20s, I will never forget the profound affect Phil's music has had on me...
Went to the site and listened all the way through during my lunch hour. Some pretty good stuff, some wasn't my cup of tea. But one HUGE quibble; since they were guesting already, why, why, WHY didn't he have Chunn, Crowther and Wilkinson on "Play it Strange"?!!!! What an incredible missed opportunity to have, in essence, a new Enz recording of a legendary "lost" track!
But one HUGE quibble; since they were guesting already, why, why, WHY didn't he have Chunn, Crowther and Wilkinson on "Play it Strange"?!!!! What an incredible missed opportunity to have, in essence, a new Enz recording of a legendary "lost" track!
If the other enz were going to play on an old / lost enz track, i think it would have been more appropriate to play on something from their era. 'Play it strange' is from the lost 77/78 era where phil rejoined the band that is the dizzrythmia to corrobore era line up
Just to note that I have published my Play It Strange review. It is an outstanding achievement (the album that is, not the review).
Play it Strange is released September 1 - signed CD's can be ordered via Bandcamp or Phil's website.
NZ music journalist Simon Sweetman's early review of the CD ...
"one of the most special albums of 2014. And on first listen I can already hear that magic. He continues to play it strange. He continues to exude that which no one else has. ... Welcome back Phil Judd."
Mine just arrived in the post! 
Got mine a week or so ago... just a remarkable, remarkable album...
And as is always the case, the new music has had me delving into the back-catalog... those songs off Mental Notes and Second Thoughts are still so rewarding... and have had Practical Jokers, Private Lives, Schnell and the recent albums going constantly...
Hard to top "Love is a Moron", but this goes close. Nice stuff.
