Ergo Phizmiz - Eleven Songs

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 2 / 12 / 2012

Label: Care in the Community Recordings
Format: CD

intro

Offbeat and eccentric, but riveting second album from UK-based musician, producer and filmmaker, Ergo Phizmiz

The opening track 'Lafcadio' shows Ergo Phizmiz in fine style, and in perfect idiosyncratic harmony. Prepare to find him moving on from his previous off-kilter freeform mania though. Eleven only counts as a very small number, if one takes into consideration Ergo Phizmiz's repertoire so far. Only his second full-length album, 'Eleven Songs' already looks back at his cabaret-esque past and strips down his previously held quirky and idiosyncratic appeal. The deadpan fun, however, continues on 'The Rock Song of J. Alfred Pruflove' with its merry-go-round melody. The music on this album no longer, however, relies on an ironic lounge touch, nor on cheap thrift store sample fun, as perhaps was the case in the past. Yet these 'Eleven Songs' prove of sharp wit and most of them come with a unique twist. This results for example in jolly sarcasm on 'Ophelia' with its invitation to "electrocute you on the wire" and "(if you want) to try premeditated suicide, then I will tuck you in your leafy bed." Postmen and milkmen ought to learn how to whistle 'Ophelia'. Under mysterious circumstances, the voice of Ergo Phizmiz has become very reminiscent of Robert Lloyd of the Nightingales, especially on 'Celandine', and from this moment on, the album gains from its mood changes. It is topical to the spot on 'The Penguin' which serves as a pamphlet against gun trade, but these 'Eleven Songs' eventually start to make sense. Beneath that tarnish of pop music symbolism lies a layer of riff raff and zigzag skiffle. Ergo Phizmiz provides a very Godley & Creme moment on 'I Don't Believe'. Near-angelic voices challenge The Beach Boys, yet 'I Don't Believe' also links him to Jonah Lewie and Max Tundra. Notwithstanding, the 'Eleven Songs' build together a very stubborn album. In flawless manner the album continues, Ergo Phizmiz having paved his way. 'Fingerwings' would have been the highlight on the dearly missed Mixing It radio show. The ditty 'Space Dane' could be a tribute to the great Aavikko from Finland. As the album draws to a close, 'Bernard and the Genie' mellows the mood, almost as if Christmas has gone. The album's epilogue of 'Absolution' briskly returns to the rudimentary ethics that give this album such a tremendous twang.

Track Listing:-

1 Lafcadio
2 The Devil in the Belfry
3 Celandine
4 The Rock Song of J. Afred Pruflove
5 I Don't Got
6 The Penguin
7 Fingerwings
8 Space Dance
9 Ophelia
10 Bernard and the Genie
11 Absolution

Band Links:-

https://ergophizmizmusic.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/ergophizmiz
https://www.instagram.com/ergophizmizplc

Label Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/careinthecommunityrecordings
http://www.careinthe.com/
https://twitter.com/careinthecom
http://www.last.fm/label/care+in+the+community+recordings
https://www.youtube.com/user/careinthecommunityAV