THIS WEEK: ERGO SCHMIDT

Ergo Schmidt is a musician based in the West Country.

One song is all it takes sometimes. Ergo’s ‘Touche’ was that song. Submitted to our dropbox,selected for our Listening Post and voted by the lovely FOTN readers into the Fresh Faves – all within the space of a few days. It was like a young unheard-of whippersnapper appearing out of nowhere and going straight into the England football team and dazzling everybody with his skills at the World Cup Finals.

Ok,it may seem like I have gone a little insane in the membrane as I am not comparing FOTN with with that there global machine of World Football-that would be crazier than grabbing a flying cow in a tornado-but what I am saying one song is all it takes to show the world you have promise and fine potential and Ergo has that in spades,really like his music.

Our own midfield maestro Chris Chadwick described Touche as “Lo-fi beats and a deliciously laconic vocal delivery combine to create something unique on this melancholy number from Devon based solo artist Ergo Schmidt. Whilst the simple piano chords and acoustic guitar chords are reminiscent of classic songwriters, James Taylor or Carole King, the understated vocals and drum loop give ‘Touche’ a contemporary twist, bringing to the mind the likes Menomena and Hot Chip“.

There is something going on here that cries out-Let me hear more of this stuff!

Ok,I hear you ask-so you have wet our whistle Johnno now tell us more about Ergo Schmidt.
Well the man himself says Ergo Schmidt is the musical workings of a Devonian man living in the folds of a green valley. His latest recording will be released in early 2014, recorded over five days in September 2013 with producer Ben Hampson (Alessi’s Ark, Wood Pecker Wooliams, Sweet Williams). A U.K tour will support this release.

Ergo Schmidt resided in Brighton for several years, making music with the bands Longtomb and Violent Delilah. He returned to his native Westcountry in 2012, to prune apple trees, raise pigs and play his piano in peace.Now that sounds very idilic indeed.
I can’t wait to hear what he does next,luck with the pigs & the apple trees Ergo and keep us posted on your wonderful music.

Soundcloud

1. What are you up to at the moment?
About to go and feed three hungry pigs, six sheep and a cat.

2. Favourite childhood memory?
Running about the woods with my friends, pretending to shoot each other.

3. Hero?
I have the upmost respect for Neil Young, who has seemingly always made music on his own terms. And Simon Fairlie, without doubt the smartest dairy farmer in Dorset.

4. Villain?
The entire Tory cabinet. And their scumbag friends.

5. What/who makes you laugh?
Jeremy Hardy, Simon Munnery, the entire Tory cabinet – actually, they make me weep rather than laugh.

6. Describe what you do?
Prune trees, eat apples, feed pigs, eat more apples, make cider, feed sheep, eat apples, play the piano, chop wood, plant trees, strum a guitar.

7. Who’s hair would you like to have for just one day?
Julian Sayarer.

8. Best musical experience to date?
Couldn’t possibly pick a best, so I’ll just say that fugazi at the Lemongrove in Exeter 2002 was a bonafide barnstormer.

9. What artist inspires you?
Anyone that comes along and makes me think “balls, I want to be doing THAT”.

10. What does Fresh On The Net mean to you?
A pure and honest medium for musicians to test their wares, a great service, nice job.