LUMPTHZ was the seventh official release from Phÿcus, released to coincide with Phÿcus’ 6th anniversary.
Like its predecessor, “SLUDGE”, “LUMPTHZ” was available free to anyone who sent us a blank 90-minute cassette and return postage. A handful of people took us up on the offer.
The material on this cassette comes from a variety of sources, including compilation appearances, live shows, demos and jams. The title comes from a word that William Davidson used that did not really have any meaning. Cover art by Sherri Higgins.
In February 1994 Brian & William were invited to accompany Monty Cantsin on an excursion to the UK. The pros of this was we got to spend a week doing art with Monty. This was also the cons. After spending a few days in London, where William and Brian accompanied Monty on various art actions, the crew ended up in Brighton, performing at a festival called “The Violence of the Imagination”, which featured all manner of extreme performance art. It was a blast! We knew we would have to step it up a bit to be in theme, so this performance had a bit of self-mutilation and the burning of a scrap of wrapping paper – a nod to Monty’s “Ideal Gift” campaign, where he would leave blood paintings on the walls of galleries.
Phÿcus cleared the room, of course, with the exception of one heckler, who the organizer of the event, Roger, told to “Fuck off”. We also met Simon Dywer, author of the Rapid Eye anthologies, who bought us a pint and declared us “the new Throbbing Gristle”, which is saying a lot considering we were in the city that Genesis currently called home.
The sound guy made it to the top three stupidest soundmen we ever had to deal with. One track from this show made it to “LUMPTHZ”, the other two are included as bonus cuts.
The “Lumpthz” Sessions were performed and recorded by Brian Damage, Bill Satan, Scott Righteous, Art Damage at Surgical Transmissions, Toronto, Mar. 30/93. Includes "Bad Art Lumpthz" "Death Lumpthz" "Lumpthz Parts 1 - 3" "Lumpthz Parts 4 - 6" "Destruction of the Lumpthz" "Suspicious Lumpthz" and "Psyco-Lumpthzelic".
“Ding Dong Deluxe” was the unfortunate title of an interesting compilation of musical works of 20 seconds or less. Phÿcus submitted six and were surprised that all six were accepted.
The Original Liner Notes (additional notes in parentheses):
ABOUT “LUMPTHZ”
This tape was released on March 15, 1994 to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the founding of Phÿcus. It is the follow-up to “SLUDGE”, released on our 5th anniversary.
Since then, much has happened: Bill Abominog moved back to Cape Breton and Bill Satan and Neil Wiernik became “regular” contributors, influencing the Phÿcus sound more in the experimental vein.
Also, Bill S. and Brian managed to get themselves invited to perform at a live art festival in the UK called “The Violence Of The Imagination”. It was a laugh.
And, on a disappointing note, our CD, “Brainmower”, has still not come out. Our record label, DOVe of Toronto, went bankrupt – a few times – and is now releasing only techno.
Meanwhile, material continues to build up for our second CD, tentatively entitled “Sonderkommando Now”.
For the latest in Phÿcus info write us at:
Terra Vox
CP 845, Succ “C”
Montreal, QC, Canada
H2L 4L6
“LUMPTHZ” and “SLUDGE” are both available free to anyone who sends us a blank 90 minute cassette and return postage. Home tapers unite!
Side One:
01 Missing Foundation (LUMPTHZ)
Demo for “Sonderkommando Now”.
02 Povercide (LUMPTHZ)
From the compilation tape “Anathemata”, released by Disembraining Songs of Toronto. (This track was inspired by “Bread Not Circuses, which was a popular social justice movement at the time. The kick drum is a sample of fireworks, and the crashing snare sound is a jar of pennies. The arrangement was clearly inspired by Kapital-era Laibach.)
03 Cigarette Butt (LUMPTHZ)
*
04 Lumpthz Pt 1 – 3 (LUMPTHZ)
05 Lumpthz Pt 4 – 6 (LUMPTHZ)
Thee Line-up is : Scott Righteous, Art Damage, Bill Satan and Brian Damage.
06 Mental States (LUMPTHZ)
Demo for “Sonderkommando Now”.
07 Get On The Drugs (LUMPTHZ)
Thee Line-up : Todd Hunde (samples), Bill Satan (guitar), Brian Damage (voice). Phÿcus supports the legalization of most things.
08 Bronchitis (LUMPTHZ)
*
09 La Claire Fontaine (LUMPTHZ)
Thee Line-up : Bill Satan (guitar), Brian Damage (analogue), Maxime C. (voice).
Side Two:
10 Yo Momma (LUMPTHZ)
Our version of ABBA’s “Does Your Mother Know” featuring the vocal stylings of Bill Abominog and Maxime C. Featured on the compilation cassette “Ode To Oxide” on Ka-Ka cassettes, Toronto.
11 Veins – A Brainless Megamusical (LUMPTHZ)
The music is constructed from samples of Monty Cantsin, with lyrics taken from his “Book Of Neoism”. (The “Book Of Neoism” was a collection of writings by Monty, and a prelude to a larger, never published, work called “Phone Book”. Parts of the “Book Of Neoism” were used in the booklet for Monty’s “Noise Bible” CD. This track was part of a series called “Six Minutes of Neoism” that ran on Brian’s radio program, “The Late Nite Atrocity Exhibition” on CKUT-FM.)
12 Tibetan Monks Buckle Up For Safety (LUMPTHZ)
*
13 Endorphinate – UK Akshun (LUMPTHZ)
Recorded live at “The Violence Of The Imagination” Festival, Brighton, UK, Feb. 94. Thee Line-up : Bill Satan (guitar), Brian Damage (voice. Moog).
14 Steve Reich’s Not Dead (LUMPTHZ)
* Edited from it’s original 23 minute length.
15 No (More!) Pain (LUMPTHZ)
Recorded live at Praxis, Montreal, 9/9/93. Thee Line-up :Neil Wiernik (tapes), Todd Hunde (analogue), Thierry Uber-Gauthier (guitar0, and Brian Damage (samples, voice).
16 Steve Reich’s Final Moments (LUMPTHZ)
*
17 Jahs Ov Trance (LUMPTHZ)
A techno-trance piece. We’ll do anything for a laugh.
18 Terror On Tape (LUMPTHZ)
* Composed of excerpts from an Art Damage piece of the same name.
19 Jahs Of Death (LUMPTHZ)
Todd’s suitably strange remix of Jahs Ov Trance.
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY:
Thierry Uber-Gauthier (trans-cerebral excursion facilitator on “Get On The Drugs”) and Laibach (taped horns on “La Claire Fontaine”). Additional thanks to LQ and Taimi who played live but did not appear on this tape.
* Recorded for “Ding Dong Deluxe”, a CD Compilation of soundpieces 20 seconds in length, or under.
Bonus Tracks:
20 CKUT Funding Drive 5 (LUMPTHZ)
Promo for the CKUT funding drive, 1994.
21 Bad Art Lumpthz (LUMPTHZ)
22 Death Lumpthz (LUMPTHZ)
23 Destruction of the Lumpthz (LUMPTHZ)
24 Destruction of the Lumpthz II (LUMPTHZ)
25 Psycho-lumpelic (LUMPTHZ)
Same line-up as Lumpthz Pt 1 – 3 and Lumpthz Pt 4 – 6.
26 No (More!) Pain – UK Akshun (LUMPTHZ)
27 Missing Foundation – UK Akshun (LUMPTHZ)
Also recorded live at “The Violence Of The Imagination” Festival.
credits
released March 15, 1994
Brian Damage – Roland S-550 Sampler and Sequencer, Casio CZ-1000, Moog MG-1, Vocals (01, 02, 06, 09, 10,11, 12, 16, 18, 20)
Phÿcus was a Canadian industrial / experimental band that existed from 1988 to 2000. Phÿcus transformed from the traditional
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