MENTAL NOTES

Mental Notes is such a great prog. album that I named my prog.rock radio programme in honour of it which aired in Windsor, Ontario, Canada from 1999-2005. Split Enz recorded one album like this, never to record another like it...although there were some hints retrospectively on 1982's Time And Tide. This album has aged quite well, actually - to the point where it's a bridge between Roxy Music and Marillion (lyrically). This pupp was born in 1975, however...way before Marillion. As mentioned, there's a hint of early Van Der Graaf Generator and the Genesis Foxtrot-era. Lyrics are generally dark in nature (Death...Glorious Death)...and the delivery is at times similar to Christian Descamps of ANGE(except in English). It pains me to put a finger on this one as far as influences go(I can only compare it to other bands...and not other Split Enz LPs), but this is pretty original in scope. Mellotron fans should expect a nice ride. This is a symphonic prog.rock masterpiece on par with Yes-Close To The Edge and Genesis- Selling England By The Pound. Highly recommended.