Additional information
Personnel: Philip Judd (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); Tim Finn (vocals, piano); Wally Wilkinson (guitar); Eddie Rayner (piano, electric piano, Clavinet, organ, Mellotron, synthesizer); Jonathan Michael Chunn (bass guitar); Emlyn Crowther (drums); Noel Crombie (percussion); Murray Ward (tapes). Audio Remasterers: Eddie Rayner; Adrian Stuckey. Recording information: Festival Records, Studio 24 (05/1975-06/1975); Ormond Hall, Reefer Cabaret, Melbourne, Australia (05/1975-06/1975); Festival Records, Studio 24 (12/30/1975); Ormond Hall, Reefer Cabaret, Melbourne, Australia (12/30/1975); Festival Records, Studio 24 (1975); Ormond Hall, Reefer Cabaret, Melbourne, Australia (1975). The first proper Split Enz album features the band at its eccentric best. Mental Notes is completely noncommercial art rock filled with ambitious arrangements and slightly disturbing themes courtesy of the Phil Judd and Tim Finn songwriting partnership. Finn's bittersweet crooning perfectly complements Judd's madman persona on tracks like "Stranger Than Fiction." Although the album would be repackaged, renamed, and re-recorded in years to come, the band would never again produce anything like it. ~ Chris Woodstra
