Mr. Phudd & His Novelty Act - Phil Judd

For nearly 35 years, Phil Judd has been one of music's best kept secrets with an amazing body of work that may not be prolific, but is certainly inspiring (and influential). As one of the founders of Split Enz (along with Tim Finn), Judd led the band through some of the most eclectic and astounding recordings of the '70s. With so much of their original sound stemming from his imagination, his departure towards the end of the '70s cast doubt upon their future (although they streamlined their sound and became hugely successful with Tim's younger brother, Neil Finn joining soon after Judd's split from the Enz). Judd has resurfaced from time to time since, with the Swingers in the early '80s and Schnell Fenster in the late '80s, plus a 1983 solo album sandwiched between band stints, but apart from soundtrack work, little has been heard of Phil Judd in the pop/rock world since the second Fenster album 15 years ago. Encouraged by longtime fan Neil Finn, Judd began working on a new solo album in the early part of the new millennium, finally unveiling Mr. Phudd and His Novelty Act at the tail end of 2005. From the opening strums of "Falling Off a Cloud" to the final notes of "Idol Eyes," Judd has taken his music career full-circle, creating a series of songs that embraces every aspect of his past while standing firmly in the present, eyes towards the future. Melodies bounce off the walls, guitars twist, turn and stutter, mandolins float in and out of the mix and Judd's off-kilter lyrics reveal a wounded man who is battered by life's curveballs, but remains optimistic and witty throughout. Not as immediate as the Swingers' pop approach, though not as complex as early Enz recordings, Phudd's charm lies in the way Judd can re-create his brilliant past without ever revisiting it. "Falling Off a Cloud," originally a Schnell Fenster demo, has more charm and melody than most full albums do, and sounds like a huge hit waiting to happen. "Soulmate" sounds like Schnell Fenster covering a track from Judd's 1983 solo album, Private Lives, blindfolded! "Girl I've Never Met," an ode to internet dating, is musically absorbing and lyrically sad and humorous at the same time. "Eyes in the Back of My Head" swirls around with Beatlesque guitar riffs colliding with crunchy Zeppelin-like power chords (and a snazzy melody, too). "No-One's Best Man" is the sound of early Split Enz being beaten up by modern rock radio (with both sides winning). Saving the best for last, "Idol Eyes," a rant against the Australian/American Idol phenomena, is one of the best pieces of music he has put together and is both commercially viable and uniquely his own. It'd be unfair to say that this is a stunning return to form since he's never really lost it in the first place. He remains one of the most original talents in the music business. Not bad for a guy in his fifties! ~ Steve "Spaz" Schnee, All Music Guide