SPLIT ENZ

It is difficult to compare the brilliance, polish and precise rhythmic radio friendly sound of later Enz to their early efforts, but it is nonetheless an intriguing excursion into how this band developed from zany, unimbellished, brash prog to the crystal vocals and echoing synth of 'I Got You', 'Poor Boy' or '6 Months in a Leaky Boat' that are so familiar to Australian and New Zealand airwaves.

Clips such as Sweet Dreams, Lovey Dovey, Late Last Night, Bold As Brass and My Mistake show the early Enz with all their quirky, zaniness and colourful makeup and zoot suits - they effectively look like pantomine clowns on acid. I saw these costumes up close at the Powerhouse Museum some years back and it was a pleasure to visualise just how weird this band was - Australia and New Zealand was shocked into submission.

The more commercial Enz began with the much played number one single 'I Got You'. This was the first time I had noticed the band, having discarded them as bizarre forces of the lunatic fringe with their jittery 'I See Red' and 'My Mistake'. There was a more serious side to the band and Neil Finn entranced us with his vulnerable rendition of 'I Got You'. When Neil Finn jumped on board he effectively transformed the sound of Split Enz - the real drawcard of the band as it turns out over the next few years. Neil went solo and Crowded House became his band when Split Enz split up. Neil sings 'I Got You' with a sincerity unheard on earlier albums. It resonated a chord in the Oz/NZ musical industry and became a swansong of the band, played at every concert and still plays on the airwaves. The film clip to accompany it showed Neil almost separate from the band singing to a picture frame containing the other band members. In a sense that is what happened. Neil became the spokesperson and main vocalist after this effort. He was the main stay of the band although I always loved Tim's renditions, Neil sang rings around him in every sense. It was still great to hear the diverseness of the band from these two diverse singers. That is what made them so great.

Quintessential Split Enz included on this release include History Never Repeats, Dirty Creature, I See Red, I Got you, One Step Ahead, Pioneer/ Six Months in a Leaky Boat, Poor Boy, I Hope I Never, Message to My Girl and I Walk Away. The non concert clips feature bizarre imagery such as samurai swords that lob off Tim's head, weird boats emerging from the fog, animated dogs on leashes, beautiful women that eye off the camera at every whim and moments of transcendental beauty that compliment the music. The special features are terrific featuring rare clips and conversations about what the band encapsulated. Some of it is eye opening particualry how they act on stage in their early years - it was like a different band; the jumpy clowning of the 70s is unrecognizable from the 80s pop radio orientated clean cut boys of later years.

Overall the DVD captures all that was great and ordinary about the band. You may not like everything the band touched, a lot of it is not really progressive at all, but they were highly experimental and dramatic enough for the music industry to sit up and take notice.

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