Forenzics

Last updated

Forenzics
Tim Finn with Split Enz.jpg
Tim Finn live with Split Enz in 2006
Background information
Also known asForENZics
Origin Auckland, New Zealand
Genres Art-rock
Years active2020–present
Labels Warner Music New Zealand
Members

Forenzics is a New Zealand musical project formed by Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner in 2020. It's a project that includes 'shades & echoes' of early Split Enz repertoire. The songs are combinations of new and re-imagined lyrics and music.

Contents

The 'guest' players on the recordings include former past member of Split Enz Noel Crombie. Phil Manzanera, who produced Split Enz's second album Second Thoughts is a featured guitarist on several songs. It also features Megan Washington. [1] Other players come via Eddie Rayner's instrumental ensemble Double Life - Mark Denison (saxes, clarinet, flute), Adrian Stuckey (guitars, bass) and Patrick Kuhtze (drums). Double Life had created a bunch of inspired instrumental 'jams' which Eddie sent to Tim to imagine lyrics and melodies. This resulted in half the albums repertoire resulting from the jams and the other half using 'shades & echoes' of early Split Enz songs and ideas. The name "Forenzics" is a play on the band's original name "Split Enz", a name they changed from "Split Ends" to represent New Zealand. The name and album name is to project the idea that they are using fragments from their past songs into their new ones.

History

Phil Manzanera said the project was instigated in 2020 when he found an old rehearsal tape of Split Enz: he digitalised it, thought it sounded "amazing" and emailed it to Tim Finn, the first re-engagement between the pair in years. This also later ignited another project between the two, releasing an album in August 2020 called Caught by the Heart.

In early 2020, the band spontaneously released its first single on YouTube (accompanied by a video) called "Walking", which was a reinvention of Split Enz's "Walking Down a Road" from the Split Enz album Mental Notes . Between then and early 2021, they released two more music videos inspired by Mental Notes songs: "Strange Stars" (inspired by "Under the Wheel") and "Abandoned" (inspired by "129/Matinee Idyll"). All of these songs are included in the 2022 debut album "Shades and Echoes".

"I sent Eddie a garage band [ sic ] sketch and loved how he developed it. We live in different parts of Auckland, different strands of the isthmus, and avoid traveling across town as much as possible. So we were summoning memories and working blind throughout." Tim Finn says.

Eddie Rayner handled the production of all the songs in his own home studio. The release of "Shades and Echoes" was postponed from 2021 to 2022 due to the delayed manufacturing and delivery of vinyl and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discography

This discography relates to releases by Forenzics. See Split Enz discography for other works by Forenzics.

Studio albums

TitleYearPeak chart positions
NZ
[2]
Shades and Echoes202226

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Chances Are"2021Shades and Echoes
"Premiere Fois"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Split Enz</span> New Zealand rock band

Split Enz were a New Zealand rock band formed in Auckland in 1972 by Tim Finn and Phil Judd. The band underwent many lineup changes, with sixteen members across their twelve year history. Originally started as a folk-oriented group with quirky art rock stylings, the band built a strong regional following, noted for their outlandish costumes, makeup and theatrical performances. After three singles, the band released their first album, Mental Notes, in 1975, which displayed strong progressive rock elements. The group's third album, 1977's Dizrythmia, was the first without Judd, with Tim Finn's brother Neil replacing him on guitar and eventually as co-lead vocalist and songwriter, after which the band came to embrace a more streamlined and pop-oriented approach and became pioneers of new wave. The band achieved worldwide indie stardom in the 1980s, with particular success in New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Finn</span> New Zealand musician and founder of Split Enz

Brian Timothy Finn is a New Zealand singer and musician. His musical career includes forming 1970s and 1980s New Zealand rock group Split Enz, a number of solo albums, temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Rayner</span> New Zealand musician

Anthony Edward Charles Rayner is a New Zealand musician who spent twelve years as a keyboardist in the band Split Enz. He has also played in the groups Orb, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers, The Angels in 1986-1987 and 801.

<i>Dizrythmia</i> 1977 studio album by Split Enz

Dizrythmia (1977) is the third studio album released by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz. It was the first Split Enz album without co-founding members Phil Judd and Mike Chunn. Neil Finn and Nigel Griggs, the first being the younger brother of band leader Tim Finn, replaced them respectively. Meanwhile, Nigel's old friend and former bandmate Malcolm Green took the place of Emlyn Crowther, who also left around this time. The album was released domestically by Mushroom Records, and overseas by Chrysalis Records.

<i>True Colours</i> (Split Enz album) 1980 studio album by Split Enz

True Colours is the sixth studio album released by New Zealand band Split Enz, and was their first major commercial success. Released on 21 January 1980, the album featured more pronounced contributions from co-lead singer and songwriter Neil Finn than previous releases. The album's New Zealand and Australian number 1 single, "I Got You", which also broke them internationally, is credited to him. The US release of the album featured "Shark Attack" and "I Got You" in reversed positions due to the latter's success on the single charts.

<i>Waiata</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Split Enz

Waiata is the seventh studio album by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz, released in March 1981. Its Australian release was titled Corroboree. Waiata is the Māori term for song and singing, while corroboree is an Aboriginal term. According to Noel Crombie the intention was to name the album using a word from the natives of every country it was released in. This did not go ahead and the only country to adopt this change was Australia. The rest of the world kept the New Zealand title Waiata.

<i>Second Thoughts</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Split Enz

Second Thoughts is the second studio album by New Zealand art rock band Split Enz. It was recorded in London with Roxy Music's guitarist Phil Manzanera producing the album.

<i>Frenzy</i> (Split Enz album) 1979 studio album by Split Enz

Frenzy is the fourth studio album by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz. Frenzy ventured even further beyond the band's art rock roots to more of a pop sound.

<i>Time and Tide</i> (Split Enz album) 1982 studio album by Split Enz

Time and Tide is the eighth album by the New Zealand new wave band Split Enz, released in April 1982. It topped the album charts in New Zealand and Australia.

<i>Conflicting Emotions</i> 1983 studio album by Split Enz

Conflicting Emotions is the ninth album by New Zealand band Split Enz.

<i>See Ya Round</i> 1984 studio album by Split Enz

See Ya 'Round is the tenth and final studio album by New Zealand's premier new wave band, Split Enz, and was released in 1984, following the departure of founding member Tim Finn, whose solo career had officially taken off the year before. Remaining songwriter Neil Finn, claiming to be a little daunted by the prospect of leading his older brother's band, subsequently announced that this would be the final Split Enz studio recording. Since he only had an EP's worth of material ready, the record was filled out by lightweight, experimental contributions from each of the other band members. In interviews, Neil has revealed that the original EP was to have been the first five tracks on the album.

Philip Raymond Judd is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers.

<i>Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes</i> Compilation album by Split Enz

The Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes is a collection of demos made by New Zealand band Split Enz in 1978. During their 2006 tour of Australia it was announced that these recordings would finally be released as an official album after lengthy pressure from the fan club Frenz of the Enz.

ENZSO was an orchestral project started by former Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner. It combines the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with contemporary pop singers to perform Split Enz songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History Never Repeats</span> 1981 single by Split Enz

"History Never Repeats" is a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from their seventh studio album, Waiata. The song remains one of their most popular. It was also used as the title of two compilation albums by the band.

<i>Spellbound</i> (Split Enz album) 1997 compilation album by Split Enz

Spellbound, very often subtitled on the cover as "The Very Best Of Split Enz", is a 1997 compilation album by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Apparently intended to be the final word on Split Enz compilations, it is the band's most comprehensive career survey. Featured amongst the album's 39 tracks are all the hits, live favourites, choice album tracks and a few rarities, all selected by members of the band.

<i>History Never Repeats – The Best of Split Enz</i> 1987 greatest hits album by Split Enz

History Never Repeats – The Best of Split Enz is a compilation of hits by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Initially released in the US in 1987, then in New Zealand and Australia in 1989, the album has been through many variations and reissues over the years.

Enz of an Era was a compilation by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Released to mark the band's 10th anniversary, and composed of tracks selected by members of the band, the album was released in New Zealand and Australia only. The album was followed up by two "Enz Of An Era" 10th anniversary concerts in early 1983.

<i>The Living Enz</i> 1985 live album by Split Enz

The Living Enz was the first live album released by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Primarily recorded in Melbourne, Australia during the band's 1984 Enz with a Bang farewell tour, it also includes some material from the Auckland shows of that tour, plus recordings from the band's 1982 Time and Tide tour.

<i>The Conversation</i> (Tim Finn album) 2008 studio album by Tim Finn

The Conversation is the eighth studio album by New Zealand singer/songwriter Tim Finn. It was recorded in April and May 2008, and released in New Zealand on 24 November 2008. The album features collaborations with former Split Enz members Eddie Rayner and Miles Golding, along with Tim's guitarist Brett Adams. The album's working title was Echo Chamber. The album is produced by Ethan Allen, known for his work with famed producer Daniel Lanois. Capitol/EMI released a run of The Conversation CDs with a back cover that incorrectly notes the copyright year as 2006. The album was recorded and released in 2008.

References

  1. "SPLIT ENZ MEMBERS EDDIE RAYNER & TIM FINN ANNOUNCE DEBUT RECORD FOR NEW BAND, FORENZICS". warnermusic.com.au. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  2. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.