Spizzles (the) - Spikey Dream Flowers

Name: The Spizzles
Album: Spikey Dream Flowers
Year: 1981
Style: New Wave, Post Punk
Similar Bands: XTC, Gang Of Four, Dead Milkmen, Martha & the Muffins, Futureheads
"One-Word" Review: Angular Jaunty Transitional Punk
Based Out Of: London UK
Label: A&M

 Cover, Record

Back, Record

Spikey Dream Flowers (1981)

1. Brainwashing Time 4:37
2. Five Year Mission (featuring 'The Return of Spock') 2:17
3. Dangers of Living 3:32
4. Robot Holiday 2:27
5. Soldier, Soldier (featuring theme from 'Spikey Dream Flowers') 3:47 /
6. Downtown 3:00
7. Risk 3:34
8. Central Park 4:22
9. Melancholy 2:40
10. Scared 4:00

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Dave Woods - Producer
• Spizz (Kenneth Spiers) - Vox (Spizz 77, Spizzoil, Spizzenergi, Athletico Spizz 80, Spizzenergi 2, SpizzOrwell, Spizzsexual, Spizzvision, Spizzmas, Spizz and the Astronauties, Heaven 17, Wild Mutation)
• Jim Solar (James Little) - Bass, Synth (Athletico Spizz 80, Spizzenergi, Panorama, London Cowboys, Pink Industry, Repetition, 
• C.P. Snare (Clive Parker) - Drums (Big Country, Members, Athletico Spizz 80, Marshall Star, Scary Thieves, John Moore & the Expressway)
• Lu (Robert David Edmons)- Guitar, Piano (Damned, Edge/Belvederes, Shriekback, 3 Mustaphas 3, Kirsty MacColl, Mekons, Public Image, billy Bragg, Tuvan throat singers Yat-Kha, Laurie Anderson, Waterboys, Athletico Spizz 80, Jane Aire, Les Triaboliques, Paz3, Crash Baptists, Unlaunched Orch. Jon Langford, Blabbermouth, Carl Marsh, Howard Werth)
• Wally Brill - Engineer
• Ken - Asst Engineer
• Tim - Asst Engineer
• Corinne - Asst Engineer
• Simon - Asst Engineer
• Frank De luna - Mastering
• Marv Bornstein - Mastering
• Jos - Driving & Equiptment
• Michael Ross - Art Direction
• Simon & Barbara - Design
• Paul Cox - Photography
• Ginge - Photography

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them. But the cover looks looming, dark, and artsy, so i'm guessing this is going to be some damaged art pop. Back photo looks like typical new wavers like Duran Duran or OMD

Album Review: The band used to have an itinerary where they'd change names every year, the Spizzles being their fourth incarnation out of five years. Their second name, Spizzenergi produced the most popular song of their existence, "Where's Captain Kirk" in 1979, which helped them become the first band to top the newly formed UK Indie chart in 1980. "Five Year Mission" on this album works as the third in a trilogy ("Spock's Missing" was in 1980). The song Soldier Soldier was rerecorded (and smoothed over) as it was initially released as a Spizzenergi track in '79. The songs are all really great examples of post-punk, with melodic vocals, bouncy bass with angular tempo changes and hooks.

Stand Out Track: Five Year Mission, Robot Holiday

Links:
Wiki
Discography
Rate Your Music
Facebook