#spizz

SPIZZENERGI

"Where's Captain Kirk? / Amnesia"

(7". Rough Trade. 1979) [GB]

Athletico Spizz 80 “Do A Runner” 1980. Prog-punk? Jazz-punk? Futuristic new wave, punky power pop for sure from Athletico Spizz, formerly known as Spizzoil, then Spizzenergi and later as The Spizzles, Spizz Orbit...you get the idea. Do A Runner went to #27 in the UK, likely propelled by their (non-album) hit single “Where’s Captain Kirk?” from 1979 (when they went by Spizzenergi). It’s a really odd yet compelling album. It’s snotty like the Buzzcocks, electronic sciencey like Gary Numan/Tubeway Army or Devo and just out-there like Pere Ubu. For a modern day comparison, I keep thinking of King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard for sheer stretched-out weirdness. I don’t know that I can pick a top track but the lead track “Touched” is kinda great for its ability to mash up goth and prog, for snottiness I like “Red and Black” and for an example of just plain weird, go with “New Species.”