Search - Split Enz :: Frenzy (Reis)

Give it a whirl! Remixed/remastered edition sounds marvelous

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 04/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't like this album when I first got it. On a lark I decided to upgrade to the remastered/remixed edition of the album with the bonus tracks. I don't know what was wrong with me before. This has become one of my favorite Split Enz albums. It sounds marvelous as well. Evidently the original mastertapes were missing and the ones used for previous editions sounded pretty bad so Enz member Eddie Rayner went back to the session tapes and remixed these/remastered them. They kick butt.



In addition to the classic "I See Red" we also get "Master Plan", "Famous People" and "Give It a Whirl" one of the first Neil Finn-Tim Finn tunes (we also get their other collaboration "Mind Over Matter" and Neil's "Carried Away" which I don't recall hearing before except years ago on a friend's vinyl version of "Frenzy"). Additional bonus tracks that are very good include "Semi-Detached" and "Horse to Water" (both written by Tim).



The first editions come packaged in a digipak with a lyric booklet. Eddie Rayner has remastered the album without compressing the heck out of it (for those who don't know the trend lately is to make these reissues loud at the expense of the dynamic range of the music often causing distortion)and hasn't messed with the overall sound of the album. Eddie has done a great job! Two minor complaints about this release (which came out to coincide with the band's Anniversary Aussie/NZ tour in 2006);1) Would it have hurt to include info on the making of the album including interviews with the band? 2)The lyrics to "I See Red" are incorrect on my edition and we don't get lyrics for the three bonus tracks.



Other than these minor complaints this is one terrific release. I must have been in love with the sound on "True Colours" too much to appreciate this minor masterpiece from Tim, Neil, Eddie and the other guys in Split Enz to appreicate this one the first time around. Give it a whirl!"