Ergo Phizmiz - Nose Points In Different Directions

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 24 / 2 / 2007

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Review

One-man army, or rather orchestra, Ergo Phizmiz is one of the unsung heroes of internet musicianship that has heavy roots in the ubu.com website. He has given away many of his projects, such as reworkings of tracks from the Velvet Underground, and similarly recordings to labels such as the the V/VM Records collective and People Like Us. I have, however, this itchy feeling that Ergo Phizmiz has not dared to include a few of his most provocative, although not controversial, tracks on this commercial release. As a follower of Ergo's works, I feel that on this compilation the point to the music has got lost somewhere down the line. Maybe it's just because copyright organisations have sent out lawyers who have failed to see the fun in and the pun to this kind of music. This 'Nose' compilation knows no flaws as it's more of an anthology than anything else. Which doesn't change the fact that Ergo Phizmiz, who is Ergo Phizmiz in real life it seems and who claims to be English and 27 years of age, has released some of the most original music in recent years. This compilation features his campy takes of samples from BBC Radio 3's now discontinued 'Mixing It' programme. It has documentary voice-overs that build on from the duo from that programme who comment on his music with hilarious results. I wouldn't be surprised if Ergo found his version of the 1840's megahit 'Blaue Donau (Blue Danube)' whilst sampling Tiroler soft porn movies recorded in the 1970's. In all cases, the Ergo Phizmiz spectrum has explored all boundaries of the media and audio universe. If you're into clever campy and corny crap, you'll love 'Nose' and if you're not Ergo Phizmiz is the one who may change your opinion. 'Chop Sue Me' is the track closest in style to Ergo's drastic methods with music. Little pest that he is, he has used Nero Wave Editor to record glitches you will know from damaged compact discs in the silent bits of the closing tracks. He is not shy of using all means available to reach disorientation. Sometimes the search for those means is the most entertaining or interesting thing to listen to, while at other times the final result with all the wacky bits with his banjo, piano or laptop or otherwise is what will catch your ears. This genius is hard to ignore.

Track Listing:-

1 Pangolin
2 Gently Bently Beneath The Waby Wabes
3 SymphonieVum
4 Daruckatekarte
5 Going On A Picnic
6 Rock Me With Your Love
7 Feel Yr Dzeez
8 Fuck The Free World
9 Aubers Vespers Farnaby Absalom Mix
10 The BBC Have Their Say
11 Valse For Lydia
12 Chop Sue Me
13 The Sunday Bells
14 Fitcher

Band Links:-

http://ergophizmiz.blogspot.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/ergophizmiz