Schnell-Fenster, The Sound Of Trees (1988)

My brother returned with a copy of this. His high school art teacher instructed him to listen to this. His high school art teacher had been Phil Judd’s high school art teacher – and he felt a connection of sorts; something in my brother’s art work that reminded him of Phil’s. Anyway, we knew Phil Judd from his Split Enz work. The whole family were fans of his music. This also prompted my mum to tell us that she went to school with Phil Judd. After sharing the tape with my brother, making a copy, I then found the album in a chuck-out bin (on tape). And eventually on CD – it was hard to find. I’ve loved this album from when I first heard it. It really seemed to me that Judd had created a flipside to Crowded House – you could see, logically, how the two bands had come from Split Enz. That was my understanding then, anyway. Just a couple of years ago I found (finally) a copy of The Sound Of Trees on vinyl – it was always on my list, something I looked for whenever I browsed. Found a copy in Sydney, brand new – in fact, sealed, with the stamp “Demonstration Copy”. Some reviewer clearly couldn’t be bothered. Nice to get hold of this though – it’s been a big part of my life. And a big part of my fascination with the music of Phil Judd. Of course I got to interview Phil, a couple of years ago. He told me how much he hated the entire experience of working in/with Schnell-Fenster. He felt the albums were disasters and that it was a very unhappy time. Just exactly what you want to hear when discussing your favourite albums, right? He still has the original painting that forms the cover artwork – and is tempted to sell it. I’m of course tempted to buy it. But owning the record is the sensible/realistic option at my current stage of life.

Sample Track: Whisper

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown