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
Kraftwerk and
Cluster into a distinctly lo-fi, indie pop context.
The first
Schlammpeitziger recordings were compiled on the Erdrauchharnschleck cassette in 1993 by Entenpfuhl, a label founded by Frank Dommert (later of Gefriem and Sonig). 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
F.X. Randomiz as
Holosud, 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 Domino in 2001.
Schlammpeitziger officially moved to
Mouse on Mars' Sonig 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 Pingipung 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 Bureau B. ~ Mark Richardson