Customer Reviews

Extravagenza

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Contrary to the editorial review, there's only one "never before released" track on this album, and that's "Best Friend"... and even that may appear as a bonus track on either the Rear Enz or Oddz & Enz collectors' sets (which I've been unable to purchase, dammit!). Many of the other tracks which I believe the reviewer thinks are new actually appear on Beginning Of The Enz or Frenzy. I understand that these albums had different tracks in some markets, so maybe the reviewer hadn't previously heard the likes of "Split Ends", "Bold As Brass" or the frenetic "Give It A Whirl".

What really would have been nice to have included would be "Another Great Divide", which was only ever released as a single and on the Enz Of An Era retrospective. Will we ever get a proper release of the famous Rootin' Tootin' Luton studio sessions? Live performances of some of these crop up now and again on the frequent (but usually entry-by-invitation-only) reunion gigs.

Eddie Rayner's production is every bit as good as you'd expect from the composition/arrangements genius who was with the band almost from the very beginning, and who produced the fantastic ENZSO albums. As a keyboardist, Rayner rates up there with Brian Eno and Rick Wright, and his attention to the most minute detail is repeated in the performance and production of this album.

Writing this review from Oslo, Norway, I despair never having seen Split Enz in action. Most likely I never will either. This live CD is from their anniversary tour of 1993. They played live again in 2006, but alas, only in their own 'backyard'. I have seen Neil play before, at the Domain in Sydney in 2000 and once in Oslo before that. I had tickets to see The Finn Brothers, but just days before they were to arrive in Oslo, poor Paul Hester died.

Good thing then, that you can get CD's like this one.

From all I've read, Split Enz are reported to have been great on stage. You see small pieces of this on the DVD they released a few years back (Split Enz, 2002 - Containing the documentary 'Spellbound'), but mostly I like to just imagine it.

As for this CD, I'd like to say it's very good looking, the songs are as strong as ever, there are some nice liner notes as well, so I wouldn't want to be without it. But, the sound is at time a bit lacklustre. The vocals a bit muted and it takes a while to get going. If you would like to have a Split Enz live CD that really kicks it into gear, I would like to suggest that you get the double CD 'Living Enz' (1985), recorded during the bands official farewell tour (and a few from an earlier 1982 tour). Note, the sound might not be perfect on this either, but Split Enz isn't about that kind of perfection in my mind or ears.

Undoubtedly Split Enz was one of New Zealand's greatest rock bands. Extravagenza however, is a little bit of a let down. As Tim Finn says in the liner notes, he's glad none of their 70's performances were recorded, because you had to be there to understand the bands chemistry. Whether this is his acceptance that this isn't their greatest performance, well who knows?

The album mixes some classics with songs that you rarely hear (unless you visit your back catalogue regularly). I found the well known songs sounded a bit tired, and maybe a bit rushed. `Shark Attack' and `I Got You' both fail to spark any response, but my all time favourite `Message To My Girl' is brilliant. Along with `One Step Ahead' they sound as fresh as when they were first recorded.

What stands out most from this recording, is the enjoyment the band got from being on stage together. Their crowd interaction between songs and the jokes they make to each other during songs give it gloss. It's not the most amazing live album, but then it's not supposed to be. If you understand the band were more than music then you will enjoy this.