Schlammpeitziger

Jo Zimmermann's Schlammpeitziger project has been a unique fixture on Cologne's electronic scene since the early '90s. When he first began the project, Zimmermann's simple, unassuming music was constructed almost entirely using the factory presets of his trusty Casio CZ-230S keyboard, with spare use of samples and a drum machine added for seasoning. Always present on his records are Zimmermann's wry sense of humor and fondness for wordplay. The word "schlammpeitziger" is a slight modification of the German name for a species of mud-dwelling fish, and many of Schlammpeitziger's lengthy titles use similar linguistic trickery. With his unashamedly retro sound sources and flair for naïve melody, Schlammpeitziger incorporates the textures of early German electronic pioneers like <a href="spotify:artist:0dmPX6ovclgOy8WWJaFEUU">Kraftwerk</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5mNY0NPszdalbrb4ITO3M8">Cluster</a> into a distinctly lo-fi, indie pop context.

The first Schlammpeitziger recordings were compiled on the Erdrauchharnschleck cassette in 1993 by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Entenpfuhl%22">Entenpfuhl</a>, a label founded by Frank Dommert (later of <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gefriem%22">Gefriem</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sonig%22">Sonig</a>). A remixed and remastered version of Erdrauchharnschleck eventually surfaced on vinyl. After the eminently tongue-twisting but seldom heard Freundlichbaracudamelodieliedgut appeared in 1997, 1998's more upbeat Spacerockmountainrutschquatier brought Schlammpeitziger a wider audience. Fijnewas Afpompen, a collaborative LP with <a href="spotify:artist:2jm769wifVItyqZyOXH7mP">F.X. Randomiz</a> as <a href="spotify:artist:5aW6HLXNcj4mow7ikD2GNL">Holosud</a>, appeared in 1998, and Zimmermann returned to his solo project with the further refined Augenwischwaldmoppgeflöte in 2000. The exceptional compilation Collected Simplesongs of My Temporary Past, which contained selected tracks from all of his full-length releases along with some odds and ends, appeared on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Domino%22">Domino</a> in 2001.

Schlammpeitziger officially moved to <a href="spotify:artist:4ZgIWfyg9BkcqnJJ2xVR3f">Mouse on Mars</a>' <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sonig%22">Sonig</a> imprint in 2003 for the full-length Everything Without All Inclusive, which was followed by a remix EP in 2004. The typically upbeat Schwingstelle für Rauschabzug appeared in 2008, followed by Vorausschauende Bebauung three years later. Schlammpeitziger moved to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Pingipung%22">Pingipung</a> for the 2014 album What's Fruit?, as well as its accompanying remix EP. The project returned in 2018 with 11th album Damenbartblick auf Pregnant Hill, this time on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bureau+B%22">Bureau B</a>. ~ Mark Richardson, Rovi