I have been know on occasion to denounce Mr Spazz as a complete incompetent when it comes to his personal hygiene. However, when music is mentioned, he sits in a field of his own (due to talent as well as the smell). This latest serving of sounds and odours comes in the form of an album called 'Creatures Of Distinction'.
Mr Spazz is that rare creature in this business, a musician WHO DOESN'T WANT A RECORD DEAL. Why you may ask?
Who cares. I have a copy and that's enough.
This recording I suppose, can be loosely classed as a concept album but it would be better to say that this is a collection of material with a theme. That theme is animals (no lofty intellectual designs with the title and its music thank god). His stuff lurches from style to style with almost random intent, sometimes wonderfully beautiful (Saltaire) other times plainly absurd (Dogheater) Spazz never lets you relax for a minute. The tunes twist and turn, charging in one direction then another, always inviting you in with an irresistible hookline before slapping you in the face with a completely different yet equally sexy melody. This is an artist that likes to present you with two personalities, the first is unerringly in control and accurate to the point of obsession, the second is dark and flawed like a ill fitting door that hides behind it a secret room where the family's deformed relative lives.
However (and this is where the real genius lies), just when you think that he's taking things too seriously and threatening to disappear up his own creative arse, he immediately takes the piss out of himself. It's like watching Einstein prove the theory of Relativity while making farting noises with his hand in his armpit.
Could it be any better. I doubt it.