Mental Notes

Before they were known as new-wave popsmiths in their native New Zealand and abroad, Split Enz announced their arrival in 1975 via this curious piece of art-rock expressionism, replete with atmospheric breaks and backwards masking and pancake makeup and costumes. Phil Judd’s eccentric singing style was countered by Tim Finn’s more conventional tones. (Tim’s brother Neil would replace Phil in 1977, and away they went.) Yet for all the album’s innovative sojourns, “Time For a Change” is a flash of piano-based balladry that they would later perfect on hits like “Message to My Girl”. Four of the songs here were re-recorded with Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera for 1976’s <i>Second Thoughts</i>.