Predominantly known for their ace independent (pre Indie) chart hit, "Where's Captain Kirk?" (1979) and as "the band who change their name every year", SPIZZ and cohorts - under various noms de guerres like SPIZZ OIL, SPIZZ ENERGI, ATHLETICO SPIZZ 80, THE SPIZZLES, SPIZZ ORBIT, SPIZZMAS etc - have been/ are one of those cool margin-inhabiting UK outfits whose appeal has rightly outlasted mere novelty status.
Although actually still liable to pop up with new material and the odd re-union, SPIZZ were creatively active on a regular basis between 1978-1982. However, two tracks from 1996's "Spizz Not Dead Shock" make the cut here. These are a daft, thrashed-up cover of KRAFTWERK'S "The Model" and SPIZZ'S football song of devotion, "The Sun Never Sets On Aston Villa" and - astonishingly - both are highlights in this auspicious company.
Back in the day, though, SPIZZ and co released a series of wayward, idiosyncratic and frequently superb singles. The SPIZZ OIL singles from 1978 feature just SPIZZ and guitarist PETE PETROL giving it some BILLY BRAGG-style barre chords. "6000 Crazy and "Cold City" are absurdly basic, but strangely alluring. By 1979, SPIZZ had commandeered bassist JIM SOLAR, keyboard player MARK COALFIELD, guitarist DAVE SCOTT and drummer BRIAN B. BENZINE. This line-up recorded the immortal "Where's Captain Kirk?" with its' cracking theme-tune aping keyboard bit and ace sci-fi fascination, plus the menacing disco-pulse "Soldier Soldier" (with PETROL on guitar) and the spunked-up versh of ROXY MUSIC'S "Virginia Plain". The fact that SPIZZ sings it like his balls are in a vice is purely a bonus.
Meanwhile, I'd forgotten just how great the band's final Rough Trade single, the tempestuous "No Room" was and that the band's A&M period - mostly their ATHLETICO SPIZZ 80 phase - saw them cross over into the Proper charts with their debut album "Do A Runner" making the Top 10. This compilation features a great smattering of such material with the single "Central Park" - echoing, spiteful guitars beating up SPIZZ'S Lydon-esque whine - and a terrific 1980 John Peel BBC session, including a more distant mysterious version of "Hot Deserts" and an updated full band version of SPIZZ OIL'S stark, robotic "Red And Black."
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I was less familiar with the SPIZZ ENERGI 2 incarnation from 1982 and I have reservations about the future shock, overwrought "Mega City 3". although the 9 to 5 drudgery-smashing "Work" is a drum-heavy delight and the tribal feel of "Jungle Fever" suits SPIZZ'S rainforest commentary perfectly. And no, he's not trying to do a STING, in case you were worried.
Full marks must also go to the inclusion of "...Captain Kirk's" sequel, the smart B-side "Spock's Missing" and "..Kirk"s own B-side, the militaristic psycho anthem "Amnesia", although personally I feel the omission of anything from the 1981 SPIZZLES line up ("Risk" especially is stunning) is a disappointing oversight.
Whether or not you'll take to SPIZZ largely depends on whether you can get to grips with his maniacal yelp of a voice, but once you've aligned your head and got inside the park the rides are never less than exhilarating. Well done again to Cherry Red for setting up the sideshows and unlocking the gates. (8/10)
("THE VERY BEST OF SPIZZ" also features live enhanced footage of "Where's Captain Kirk?" playable on MAC and PC computers. For more info: www.spizzcom.co.uk)
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