Cardiacs: Classic or Dud?

That said, what I've heard of "Archive Cardiacs" is painful in the extreme ("A must for all collectors of toneless drivel" according to the bands own sampler CD), so destroy that. Search the two minutes and thirteen seconds of perfection that is "To go off and things". At the very least it scared Radio 1's Simon Mayo, so that should count for something.

Eamonn - im having a bad week - but looking forward to saturday's party !

Its true, Cardiacs are the least pompous band on the planet. They may be the most emotional... try listening to them more than once, you may notice that part of it. They are just plain unique, so don't come with a blueprint for listening - everyone gets something diffent out of them, hence such a wide range of gig goers

There's an album just out of quieter moments called 'Cardiacs And Affectionate Friends', with various solo stuff from Bic (Levitation), William D Drake and the Sea Nymphs... Of course Cardiacs are classic, someone described them recently as 'the finest band to walk the face of the earth' (which was nice)

He doesn't care that they sound like a riot in a fairground.

They supported Blur at their big Mile End Indiefest, as I recall. Damian Allbran always sites them as a major influence, although you never know with Blurboy whether it's just something he says to prove his uniqueness. The only other band to really take Cardiac-worship into the mainstream were Ultrasound, and for all their freaky- outsider posturing they were never quite as interesting (Whatever happened to Tiny?)

Popular rumour has it that one editor banned them from the NME. I'd love that to be true, although I've seen the printed review of "Heaven Born" so it seems unlikely.

Anyway, you do know about 'Cardiacs Greatest Hits' just out? - lots of nicely remastered tracks and a soaring new one.

they change my life constantly. no one today can touch them.

to be muttered in the same breath as the smiths, dexys, detroit techno, etc etc

Classic, Classic, CLASSIC

There's a Rock Sounds mention this week (thanks to Sean Organ), and a couple or articles in The Organ 'zine - www.organart.com

Always check out WWW.CARDIACS.COM for info!

I've had the Greatest Hits on constant play since I got it. What an album! I've only had Guns, Sing to God and the Sampler up till now, so most of the old stuff is new to me. Affectionate Friends ain't bad either.

xini

BTW if you get the chance go see Bill Drake, he has an album forthcoming, and there's a CD-single out produced by Tim Smith (Cardiacs).

A fan!

Result!

DL... If you've just heard 'Guns', wait till you hear 'A Little Man And A House And The Whole World Window'... give us an email if you have difficulty getting stuff.

08/12/04: London - Astoria
09/12/04: Manchester - MDH (Uni)
10/12/04: Glasgow - Garage
11/12/04: Sheffield - Leadmill
13/12/04: Cambridge - Junction
14/12/04: Bristol - Anson Rooms
15/12/04: Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall

Did anyone see them at the Astoria on 12th Nov? What happened?

Say WHAT? What a fuckin' double-bill!!!!!

I expect indifference followed by swift irritation followed speedily by violence.

For you lucky bastards that live in London, Cardiacs will be playing TWO SPECIAL SECRET CONCERTS at The Bull and Gate in Kentish Town, London on the 21st and 22nd of December.

Take some time to appreciate the lyrical genius of the man... A song about an insect landing on a TV screen and falling in love with Lassie (who was a he-dog). A song about when you used to play with your food on the plate because it was too scary. All with random letters inserted into words ("indside") and resurrection of beautiful archaic terms like "phiz" and "foundling". And utterly no respect for the rules of metre. You could write a doctoral thesis on it.

It shouldn't be about whether you boo or hurrah Cardiacs, by the way. Just take it as a fact that Cardiacs are a truly independent musical/lyrical universe in itself. For that is undeniable fact.

Let's fly hawks around your house :-)

The Astoria gig last December was, I think, my 20th and I’m looking forward to the next 20. A new album would be nice though – Guns was SEVEN years ago! And I wonder when these promised DVDs will come out…?

One more thing - my girlfriend’s sister is one of the uninitiated and wants to hear what Cardiacs sound like – is there one song I could play her which will get them across? I was thinking ‘Fiery Gun Hand’.

Tim Smith is on tour supporting Ginger And The Sonic Circus at the moment. I was dead keen to go to the london date, except tickets are something like £15 plus booking fee and considering I have no interest in seeing the headline act, it would be a bit of a waste of money. Sigh.

Seven years is just silly. I wonder how many times they've recorded/scrapped the new album now? I imagine it's like Lee Mavers and The La's - they just keep redoing it over and over again and are never satisfied with the result.

http://download.yousendit.com/DE7C8DC44EE79F97

http://download.yousendit.com/FCD2053C3B705000

If you're not up for that, one of those two songs features in this peerless live recording (aka religious experience): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpEe0ztq2ck

except for two things:

1) their albums are impossible to find at a reasonable price.

2) they are one of the greatest live bands of all time, but they never play outside of london. that was fine when I lived there, but nowadays it's a fucking disgrace.

but another point in their favour is that they gave the ridiculously talented kavus torabi a home once the monsoon bassoon prematurely ceased to be.

http://www.zatcb.co.uk/Links/Cardiacs.gif

http://www.studioxix.com/archive/SS_Cardiacs_design2.gif

No album news but this is something at least:

"Cardiacs will play the songs YOU love live in session on
MARC RILEY'S ROCKET SCIENCE RADIO SHOW on BBC 6 MUSIC from 7pm.
Thursday 28th June 2007.

YOU will stand by YOUR radio.
YOU will press up YOUR vile ear to the tinny-sounding speaker.
YOUR heart will erupt and YOUR guts will swirl.
Like the angry sea, like all biblical storm.
YOUR big eyes might POP OUT OF YOUR HEAD.

THE ALPHABET BUSINESS CONCERN guarantees this."

I heard the above session which consisted of three songs from "On Land And In The Sea", so nothing to get too excited about. But there's always this:

CARDIACS ON TOUR NOVEMBER 2007

MON 12 BRIGHTON THE OLD MARKET
TUE 13 OXFORD ZODIAC
WED 14 BRISTOL THEKLA SOCIAL
THU 15 NOTTINGHAM RESCUE ROOMS
FRI 16 LONDON ASTORIA
MON 19 SHEFFIELD BOARDWALK
TUE 20 STOKE ON TRENT THE SUGARMILL
WED 21 MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3
THU 22 PORTSMOUTH WEDGEWOOD ROOMS

I met Tim Smith at the first Authority gig! I could only blab about how STG and Guns were two of my favouritest albums. Didn't have the courage to ask about new recordings. This news, however, is excellent! I may have to catch them before it's too late.

I'm honestly astounded by the lack of Cardiacs awareness on ILX. People, this. Is. As. Good. As. It. Gets.

I could only blab about how STG and Guns were two of my favouritest albums

Ha ha - Gotta wonder how many times he's had THAT conversation. If you've got a choice, try to see them in the biggest venue - they know how to rise to the occasion. The Astoria gig will be a sell-out for sure.

How are Authority?

Authority were consistently blinding, with a couple of absolute stormers ('The Catalyst' and 'Southway' (I think that was the title). More straightforwardly 'rock' than TMB, their interplay (with two guitars, bass and drums) was mesmerising and at times near-unfathomable, but their riffs often deceptively simple and their grasp of dynamic build excellent. I await their debut album with great interest!

I also spoke with Kavus Torabi, and that conversation was far more profitable. We bonded over Battles' "Atlas" which happened to be playing over the PA (me: "This is my single of the year, brilliant, isn't it?" him: "Yeah, me too!") and discussed his band (and Cardiacs) for a brief while. (I lie when I say I only blabbed to TS, however; I also mentioned the bands we'd seen and agreed that they were superb.)

Shall I book an Astoria ticket soonish, then?

Whoops, wrong login!

That's better.

Shall I book an Astoria ticket soonish, then?

If two hours of intensity in the company of lots of portly weirdos sounds exciting then yes, get your ticket sooner than later. I haven't seen them in a long time but apparently it's become a tradition to have "friends and relations" popping up on stage to assist in the fabulous spectacle during these London gigs. Unfortunately I think the last time I saw them was in a wretched little pub in Edinburgh with only about 50 people in the audience. Not quite as stately as I would have liked.

INDESCRIBABLY MIGHTY NEW SINGLE

wondrous...I actually tuned into 6music for the first time ever last week just to hear that song's first play. tis the business.

however, not all in cardiacs land is pleasing me. I've moaned tediously to everybody in earshot about this, so I might as well moan about it here too:

NO SCOTTISH DATE ON CARDIACS TOUR. ARSE.

Oops, that'll teach me to refresh before starting a new thread. Oh well.

I hope this doesn't get overlooked amongst the Radiohead hysteria.

Sorry I'm arriving rather late to this party, intimate affair though it is. Thanks for linking to the song. This arrived just on time - much more waiting and I'd have given up hope on any new material ever materialising.

Dunno what else to say other than.. Welcome Back!

it is a magnificent clarion call, now we await the carnival

Speaking of arriving late... Every time I see this thread I'm reminded, bitterly, of my regrettable forgetfulness -- I never remember wot's that one Cardiacs CD I've got is called, nor wot's the title of that Tim Smith solo thingy on the same shelf. Or when did I listen to them properly.

It's going to be good, I have no doubt about that. Obviously the album will be a varied affair but judging from Ditzy Scene they are charging pell-mell into the storms of intensity that they've been getting into over the last few years. I mean, that double live CD from a couple of years back is the heaviest thing they've done EVER.

There's a Tim Smith solo album is call "Extra Special Oceanland World". Is that the one? 6/10 at best.

I'm so happy that the real, proper Cardiacs are finally releasing something. All these side projects/production jobs/guest things etc are so unsatisfying in comparison. Other than the Silver Ginger 5 album which was ace, they just leave you wishing there was a proper Cardiacs album coming. Now there is.

Why does ILM not go gaga for this band? Seriously? I blame ignorance. I beg of you, all who stumble upon this thread, at least say you've
heard some.

Oh, and to continue the plugging, Cardiacs' #1 fan in the music biz is the main songwriter of this lot.

*goes checks*

Um yeh, that's the solo T-Smith, yes.
And my Cardiacs is the 1995 Sampler on Alphabet...

<i>There's a Tim Smith solo album is call "Extra Special Oceanland World". Is that the one? 6/10 at best.</i>

Ooh, I can't agree there. I think the Smith solo is grate. You've got jump-around power pop like "Rat Mice Lice Time", but also some of Tim's saddest, fragilest ditties like "Savour" and "Bug From Heaven". Plus an excellent homage to Duran Duran. What's not to love? The production is a bit wonky in places, but then it was recorded on an eight-track.

One thing I've never been able to determine when it was actually recorded. Mr Smith has claimed at various times that it was done either in a week in 1989, between 1989-90 or from 1989-95. I'm sure he does this on purpose.

I should really go and listen to it again - it's been a while.

Any thoughts as to all the line-up changes they have had over the years. This current line-up with the choir and so on seems so different from before. Getting into Magma territory. I guess it's principally to boost the live experience - fabulous spectacle and all that.

My random thoughts:

A major change occured when Dominic Luckman was replaced by Bob Leith on the drums. Dominic played in this playful way and was very percussive while Bob is a rock drummer that can sometimes make me think of the likes of Neal Peart.

I really liked Christian Hayes as the extra guitarist. Although I'm not sure which songs on Heaven Born and Ever Bright he played on, the Mares Nest cd/video is friggin' awesome. Seems like he revitalised the band at the time.

I'm still not that comfortable with the pre-recorded keyboards at live gigs. It would be weird to see William D Drake back in the band, but why don't they just hire someone to play them? What's Rick Wakeman doing?

I think the argument was that if they hired another keyboard player they wouldn't be able to afford to keep them on during the band's lengthy periods of inactivity. But in the end that excuse doesn't really wash, as I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who'd be willing to do it just for the love of it. Sometimes I wish they would just bite the bullet and get a new guy in.

Buds And Spawn is rapidly shooting up my Cardiacs top 10. What an astounding piece of music. Still some work to do before 'Dirty Boy' and 'Dog-Like Sparky' are displaced, mind.

PEOPLE, IF THERE IS ONE BAND IN THE WORLD YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO ME ABOUT, IT IS CARDIACS.

ya, buds and spawn and the safety bowl but then THE EVERSO CLOSELY GUARDED LINE
all one after another like that
it's just ridiculous
everyone should listen to cardiacs. but they're not for everyone. sometimes i wonder what the hell is wrong with me for liking such bizarre music, but then mostly i wonder what the hell is wrong with everyone else for not.

Dog Like Sparky is an amazing track, I've never grown tired of it. Why? Amazingly catchy and fun, but still interesting, and how's this for a reason. I like dogs!

Hey, ILM Cardiacs peeps. Maybe you know this already, but a couple of new fancy-looking vids of the band rehersing for their forthcoming tour have been put onto Youtube for our viewing pleasure. And very wonderful they are too.

As Cold As Can Be In An English Sea
Jibber and Twitch

I did know that already, in fact! For all those that can't get down to the Astoria on the 16th, I'll have a drink for you... :D

sometimes, every now and then, I wish I lived in the uk

i'm expecting their greatest hits in the mail any day now. anyone want to tell me what it's like?

"...they sound like a pit-head brass band attempting to play full-steam punk rock in a gale." - NME

sometimes, every now and then, I wish I lived in the uk
Yeah, me too. Still I'm stoked that at least L0uis is going to see them. He'll give us a full report I'm sure.

i'm expecting their greatest hits in the mail any day now. anyone want to tell me what it's like? -- kamerad

anyone called kamerad wanna tell what it's like? any day now? :)

not nice, t**t

i'm all about the packaging. the back has four of the same mollusks ween used

After last night's astonishing show at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, they have a new fan. (Well, actually they have three new fans; we were all completely blown away.) I asked the nice lady on the merch stall for a good place to start - and after prolonged rummaging, she selected On Land And In The Sea for me. They definitely played its closing track, the epic "The Everso Closely Guarded Line".

So, the keyboards are pre-recorded? We were wondering about that all night. I kept trying to spot a hidden keyboardist. It would have fitted with the overall mystique.

I have also never seen a more discplined mosh-pit! They knew when to start, they knew when to stop, they knew when to start again, they knew when to stand stock still with their arms raised. I mean, this stuff is TRICKY. I like trying to work out complex time signatures, and I got nowhere...

I am more than a little stunned that it has taken me 30 years to stumble across this lot, but I'm glad I got there in the end. (And how come that the songs which they wrote when they were 16 - of which they played three or four - are the most complicated of the lot?)

For all who are attending tonight's Astoria show, all I can say is: you lucky, LUCKY people.

*feels lucky*

I've never been more psyched for a show, and I may not ever be. Glad you enjoyed them. Like I say, they're popular music's best-kept secret, and if everyone on ILM had heard or seen them I think they'd be absolutely canonical here. I see sentences such as "I am more than a little stunned that it has taken me 30 years to stumble across this lot" and I nod, knowingly.

OLAITS is a good starting-off point, but take my word for it: although the actual music may get less 'weird' and digressive the later you go, the songs, the level of beauty, the compositional complexity, all improve IMO. OLAITS has a few stunners; "Buds And Spawn" is still one of the best things they've ever done (with TECGL not far behind), but if you love this band, PLEASE get hold of "Sing To God" and "Guns". They will knock you flat.

Anyone else here going to the Astoria? Thought not. :(

if everyone on ILM had heard or seen them I think they'd be absolutely canonical here

Drop it Louis, we've heard them, we don't like them, get over it

You're all WRONG then! I like to think I'm tolerant of other people's musical opinions, but NOT THIS! Besides, I think you're winding me up. What Cardiacs have you heard?

That "As Cold As Can Be In An English Sea" number is pretty great & rocking! W/o wanting to come over all muso, it's a rare pleasure to see a band that can play for shit.

(x-post, I'm sure Tom has heard plenty of cardiacs in his time? He's an oldfart like me!)

Listen, I used to have a friend who was always trying to get me in to them until I had to say, "Don't you get it, I DON'T LIKE THEM!!!!"

To explain myself, the reason I read this thread is because Dr C's "Repulsively dud. Idiotic prog-wacky for the lower sixth." comment amused me so much

...but it's one of the most flat-out misguided, incorrect, prejudiced comments on all of ILM! I guess you're right in that it's the sort of comment you'll remember. I certainly do.

i think it's a hilarious comment and i love the cardiacs. although for me they went off the boil from 'heaven born...' onwards

I'm still a bit stunned that they were able to play such trashy, full-tilt, rhythmically complex music while still keeping perfect synch with a backing tape.

If I were being bitchy (but oh-so-affectionately so), I'd say the front row resembled, from right to left: Uncle Fester on an Orange Lodge march, Michael Douglas in Falling Down, and Simon Amstell through a distorted lens. Behind them, the two backing singers stayed motionless and expressionless throughout, in matching floral pinnies, occasionally getting up to bash the raised drums that were positioned on either side of the drum kit.

There was a nice little coup de theatre at the end involving miniature glowsticks.

When you say the front row, do you mean the band or the audience?

You can have that one, Tom. :D

OK, I just realised it's Dr. C's birthday. Sorry Dr.C! I guess we can't all have the same tastes! Just that I'm seeing this band for the first time ever tonight and I'm bouncing around the room in anticipation!

xpost: Oh, you've never seen such a... mature moshpit.

Oh, their Oxford show was ace. Slightly disappointed that the Gasman was not actually live onstage, but had recorded a set in advance to go out over the PA; not disappointed at him personally, as he said it's a painstaking process and his gear is too temperamental, which is fair enough, and I guess it might have been a bit of a bad match for some of the more hairy metal-looking members of the audience, but this exclusive new Gasman wheezed quietly away unannounced between bands when obviously everyone just wanted to talk loudly and buy shirts and go to the bar. And the Whores were... not my thing, at all.

But Cardiacs themselves - awesome. Fiery Gun Hand! To Go Off And Things! Oh my eyes it's an epic Dirty Boy and they really do hold that note (tag-teamed I guess)!

Uh, yeah. Good night out. And nice to see Kavus effortlessly gliding through all these insane high-speed stop-start bits and bugging his eyes at the daft lyrics, seeing as I miss the Monsoon Bassoon something fierce.

PS I think "repulsive idiot prog-wacky for the lower sixth" is pretty much correct and I love them. Though it took me a while - when I was actually a little above lower sixth age a friend enthused about them at length and lent me many of their albums, to which my reaction was mostly "??". Three years later I got one of the tracks in my head and had to hear it again, bought the sampler, and ended up buying as much as I could get my hands on. (Which wasn't that much, as half of it was out of print, but some of those were for sale at the gig so I guess it isn't now? I couldn't buy any or I'd have missed my taxi.)

Oh my eyes it's an epic Dirty Boy and they really do hold that note (tag-teamed I guess)!

Ah, I was down the front and watching them like a hawk during that one. Yes, tag-teamed - but the pauses for breath were v.short and subtly done.

Who are the Cardiacs? They sound good!

:D

ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUCCCCKKKKK !

unreal

THAT'S THE WAY WE AAAAALLLLLLL GO

(what way? multi-gender, multi-age, no-holds-barred mosh violence, that's what. as it was my initiation, i could be found flinging and flung at the centre of it all.)

this is making me happy and depressed.

happy because cardiacs love is spreading like a rash.

sad because I missed the whole tour.

bah.

I just ordered a copy of Sing To God pts 1 & 2. It'd better be good.

took yr time :D

i have a feeling a certain someone might be getting it in the neck if s0uthall disapproves

I like the Cardiacs, but does anyone else find their fans a bit creepy, in a new age religious cult kinda way?

This impression is easy to get given the fervour of the more hardcore fans, but when you've talked to them (as I have), they're very nice and knowledgeable, on the whole. "Creepy" not so much, "lethal" is more accurate, at least in the moshpit.

N1ck, if you like StG, then the next one you should get is "Guns", which I regard as possibly even better, certainly more consistent, and a candidate for my all-time favourite album. Early Cardiacs is a different but no lesser beast; "A Little Man And A House And The Whole World Window" is fairly brilliant from start to finish, and I suspect might be your favourite.

Fuck me this is insane.

:D

The constant snare whack at that (those) tempo(s) is a bit much. I'm not sure what I think yet, but it's definitely insane.

Prefer LFK, innit.

haha

i prefer cardiacs ;-)

I like the Cardiacs, but does anyone else find their fans a bit creepy, in a new age religious cult kinda way?

Being a Cardiacs fan is like joining a cult, though. Albeit a non-evil one.

I've been through my embarrassing fan-worship period when I used to attempt to convert every soul I met to the cause, usually with little success. These days I try to be a little more circumspect about it, as I've realised this is the kind of music you can't force people to like - they'll either get it on their own or not at all.

STG definitely is mixed a bit too trebly. My ears are normally ringing by the time it gets to "Bellyeye".

I got Heaven born... for like three dollars yesterday at Roadrunner in MNPLS. This is... nuts. Kinda neat. I like it a lot more than I was expecting to.

It's easily their finest, if you ask me. After that, they just upped the "we're completely bonkers" quotient, but not necessarily in a listenable way.

Sing To God 1+2 is alright. Some songs I really like (Fiery Gun hand!) but a lot of it is just too BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA for me these days. Probably ever. Relentless. I can see why Louis likes them.

Lurks buddy, let me hear it some time.

I can't tell how much of their wacky shtick is of that condescending "WE'RE SOO CRAZY AND YOU CAN'T TAKE HOW EXTREMELY OUT THERE AND IN YOUR FACE WE ARE" variety yet, and how much of it is just some goofy dudes having a laugh. That's gonna be the deciding factor, I guess. So far so good, though.

I doubt Cardiacs are putting on much of a 'we're soo crazy' concept, because they've been doing it for about 30 years, and it's not like they've got a huge marketshare to uphold. My bet is they really do have bizarre senses of humor, and dig the shit out of insane chord progressions and song structures. My personal fave is Sing to God pt 2, but judging by their single from last year, they're only getting more dense -- kind of awesome to see a band keep pushing their sound forward, even when it's not really something my ears can take all the time.

Yeah, I hope that's how I feel eventually, 'cause I really like this so far. This would have probably been one of my all time favorite bands if I'd heard them in high school. There's still time, i guess.

Time for a bump. And a C. St3phens progress report. (Yeah, I sent him all their albums.)

Tim Smith apparently suffered a heart-attack a few weeks ago. :(

All autumn gigs cancelled and the release of "LSD" has been delayed once again.

Get well soon.

It's easily their finest, if you ask me. After that, they just upped the "we're completely bonkers" quotient, but not necessarily in a listenable way.

-- Alex in NYC, Sunday, 20 April 2008 23:35 (2 months ago) Link

nooooo it's all about a little man and a house and the whole world window (and earlier stuff). i know this comment makes me sound like indie fuxor but it's true

but anyway i hope tim gets well soon.

Is it true that he's a lot iller than the ABC are making out?

I hope not.

most recent update from organ:

And thing you most want to know about is how is Tim Smith doing and what’s happening with CARDIACS. Well there isn’t that much to add to previous statements, Tim is slowly recovering and we’re all just giving him the time space and privacy he and his family still need. They (and we) thank everyone who’s been asking, leaving messages on the various forums, on My Space pages and such, as soon as there’s any fresh news we’ll let you all know here but don’t be expecting anything for a while yet, situation is still a long way from good. The Cardiacs singles that were due out here on ORG are still on hold, I read somewhere that we had sent some promos of a new single out to radio, we haven’t, when and if there is news, we’ll put it up here and on the Organ forum. If we’re honest then the things that have happened to Tim and Cardiacs have kind of knocked the wind out of our sails here in terms of releasing new things by anyone or anything, our minds haven’t really been focused on releasing new bands and records and such. It was a pleasure to play that magical SEA NYMPHS session on our radio show at Resonance FM last weekend though, first time I’ve been able to just sit and listen to a Cardiacs thing and just enjoy the treasure for ages, we really should see about releasing that session....

all digits still crossed here. I keep meaning to send the smith family a note of good vibes. perhaps the video footage of my tiny baby girl getting giddily excited by 'loosefish scrapegrace'...start 'em young, I say.

listening to possibly far too much cardiacs at the moment. coming to the conclusion that 'will bleed amen' may just be their finest, most intensely focused tune.

and "guns" their most intensely focused, arguably finest album altho i'm not gonna decide on that last point coz tbh this is "best album ever" shit imo, too big for me to call

p.s. what is this "far too much"

i.e. most of my listening for the past few days has been of that stripe, which therefore means I'm developing cardiacs tunnel vision. some may see this as a bad thing.

No, I know what "most of my listening for the past few days has been of that stripe" is, happens to me quite a lot. I was merely passing comment on your moral judgement. :D

I was pre-empting the judgement of others, really...

dammit look at me now i'm listening to it all, all again. how could you.

Since the accident Tim Smith’s body has become his enemy. He is in a great deal of pain and is experiencing difficulty with the finer points of control with regard to his extremities so obviously perfected prior to the unhappy event, but Tim Smith, his family and those so called friends, (with whom he keeps counsel), all assert that his mind, however, has been sharpened by the episode. THE ALPHABET BUSINESS CONCERN can confirm that no part of YOUR favourite pop star’s intellect or personality has been found to be absent WHATSOEVER.

So where does that leave CARDIACS and where does that leave YOU?

At this point Tim Smith can neither sing nor play his guitar. THE ALPHABET BUSINESS CONCERN, in keeping with its enviable reputation as THE REALISTIC CONCERN, can state that it is extremely unlikely that CARDIACS will perform live for the foreseeable future. THIS IS NOT, IT MUST BE NOTED, THE END OF CARDIACS. YOU must once again be patient before events can reveal themselves as foodstuffs for YOUR greedy little mouths.

Yeah, these were the rumours, now confirmed. Poor guy. Looks like we won't be seeing them live again. And it's 10 years since the last album. They only hope is that they have tons of stuff archived which may come out. I get the impression that they have been fairly comprehensive about recording and filming live shows etc and there really ought to be some studio stuff, radio sessions etc in the can that will maybe see the light of day.

That proposed DVD of them rehearsing the Garage Concerts never appeared, did it?

I had heard this was the talk too. Great shame. I shall treasure my one concert experience forever.

Their 6th major studio album is apparently more or less in the can, and when Tim's health is slightly improved, it could see the light of day. To ask for more from a band that has already given us more than enough would be unreasonable, but should it emerge, I would be the first to celebrate.

Bearing in mind that the afflicted soul is my single most revered cultural icon of all time (pretty much), this is something of an effort to type.

If Cardiacs never play live again, others must follow their lead. Whether or not I'm in such a band (I hope to be) is irrelevant; all that matters is that the flame is kept alive.

That they were able to produce the (full) text of that announcement in a style entirely consistent with the previous missives from the Alphabet Business Concern surely gives some hope. But really, fucking hell, what a thing to have to write and it's clear that Tim has had a horrific time. I loved Cardiacs from being a callow youth, it must be 18 years now, and all I can really say is that regardless of their future as a band I hope he can make as full a recovery as possible.

Always were a band for the resounding sadness cloaked by stiff upper lip and mischievous twinkle

As a lover of Cardiacs and an admirer of Tim's great and sadly unrecognised talents (outside of the so called pond)
It makes me sick to my stomach that the guy almost dies and is physically buggered for the forseeable future and yet we
still get hit with these stupid ABC/Your Loyalty Demands style bullshit missives, who writes this fucking shit?

I dunno, I think maintaining the house style of ABC announcements is more of a KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON thing than trying to be flippant. They make it abundantly clear how serious things are.

I'm with Bill on this one. But high emotions are understandable, nay, mandatory.

Maybe you are right, I do feel though that they should have dropped the ABC whimsy
years ago, I find the bulletins enormously tiresome to read.

Absolutely convinced that the cosmos is playing some beastly tricks on us all today. Both Swells' final published copy and now this ABC release have formed some sort of teleological mesh from which the King of Pop could not escape.

I mean, look at it from my perspective. Press-release at long last details and discusses the cardiac arrest of my own personal King of Pop. Great, acerbic arbiter of Pop passes on, leaving a King of Pop quotation as his final legacy, his final judgement. The trinity is completed later on. Weird day.

I believe it's Jim Smith who usually writes the ABC announcements (just as he did the YOUsletters back in the pre-internet days). I can't imagine it was easy for him either, so it's hardly suprising it's taken a year for this one to emerge.

The band have always maintained the ABC facade no matter what the circumstances, so I think dropping it now would almost be sign of defeat, which is why I'm glad they haven't done it.

Anyway, if you want more sober coverage of the situation, The Organ pretty much have that in hand.

CARDIACS: A STATEMENT FROM US: One year ago this week, Tim Smith of Cardiacs had a very serious heart attack and stroke, it happened at a my Bloody Valentine concert in London. Cardiacs are, were and will always be out musical fuel. We haven't said much about what happened here at ORG Records, in line with the wishes of Tim's family and Cardiacs family. Today, Cardiacs, via The Alphabet Business Concern have made a statement, so today we shall say a little, there isn't a day that goes by without someone asking us for news.

The band explain the situation in their statement. At the time of Tim's illness we were heavily in to the final plans for new Cardiacs singles here at ORG ahead of the new album. Tim was more animated and excited than ever about Cardiacs music and the new material, we were making plans on almost a daily basis - but the recordings for the single were never quite fnished and all the plans remain just conversations and e.mails between Tim and us. Now we're proud of every single record we've ever reelased on ORG, but nothing really mattered to us as much as releasing Cardiacs music does, Cardiacs have always been our real reason, our real love, our passion. Since the events of last year we've not really felt that desire to put out records, like we've said before, we never have released mere 'product', music matters to us, people matter to us, bands matter to us. Tim's recovery is still a long way off, who knows what's going to happen and who knows if we'll ever release that Cardiacs material or indeed feel like doing anything more with ORG. Maybe we will release that new Cardiacs single one day, maybe we'll release other things on ORG, for now, all we really want is for our friend Tim to recover...

Yeah I read that one as well, and immediately wanted to punch Kevin Shields ;)

You're bang OTM about the ABC missives.

pretty much puts things into perspective when ABC release a statement about Tim's condition a just few hours before Michael Jackson died of seemingly a very similar incident.

Yeah I read that one as well, and immediately wanted to punch Kevin Shields ;)

i thought that too (just a split second after thinking, i bet it happened during 'you made me realise'.

get well soon timmy!

Hadn't spotted this on YT before, the info suggests that a dvd of these rehearsals will be coming out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhuQWKwbqY

the video is a couple of years old... and unfortunately, no hint of a DVD release soon....

O: Dirty Boy >>> Two Bites Of Cherry >>> Spell With A Shell >>> A Little Man And A House >>> Eden On The Air >>> The Alphabet Business Concern
C: Will Bleed Amen >>> Wireless >>> The Everso Closely Guarded Line >>> The Whole World Window >>> Snakes A-Sleeping >>> Foundling

Have pledged that I'm not starting the much-considered albums poll until a) LSD comes out or b) it is confirmed that there will be no further albums

STG not the best album shocka

Guns =/> STG = On Land And In The Sea > ALMAHATWW >>>> HBAEB where ALMAHATWW = any other album you could care to name, just about

god i miss you, come back Tim Smith & Cardiacs!!!!!!!

Nasty Tim, holding back Jim with his silly illness. WE WANT JIM WE WANT JIM WE WANT JIM

In all seriousness, I think there'll be a major announcement concerning future releases within a couple of months. But I'm not impatient; I've spent my Cardiacs time of late realising that once you get over the opening track which smells funny, and 'March' which is a teensy smidgen less than perfect, HBAEB is basically as good as the other albums. It's like discovering one of the greatest albums ever written for the first time! And I'd only heard it the 30 or so times before.

I know what it is.

As for HBAEB, it was the first Cardiacs album I heard, it's not my favourite but it has my straight-up two favourite songs March and Helen & Heaven.

HBAEB was one of the first for me, too. love the opening track and 'she hides behind the shed', but do find the rest a bit straightforward in cardiacs terms.

So we all completely disagree! Ha! IMO 'She Is Hiding Behind The Shed', 'Anything I Can't Eat', 'Bodysbad', 'Core', 'Day Is Gone' and 'Snakes A-Sleeping' are massive, and the rest is pretty damn good, opening track aside ('March' is great but I keep getting the feeling it could be greater, given other Cardiacs songs)...the album's a LITTLE bit simpler and grungier than their other works but that doesn't make it bad. Admittedly I listen to the others more (with maybe the exception of the first album which I consider to be on a level SLIGHTLY below perfection, probably because it has 'Is This The Life' and 'Victory Egg' on it)

MaresNest, you can't say that without popping over a cheeky PM now :P

Okay. The Alphabet Business Concern (the song).

Let's not analyse the lyrics in order to demonstrate anything. This is my version of the truth. Besides the lyrics are all but inpenetrable anyway.

Here's my take. The Cardiacs in 1991 were apparently in a pretty fractured state. In August 1990 there was the triumphant Maresnest gig - the highpoint of their best line-up to date. But by the time HBAEB came out they had lost half the members, had difficulties distributing their records due to Rough Trade's distro collapsing, they were in debt and were pretty quiet for about 18 months. Newsletters weren't coming out, they didn't play much and nothing was released. We didn't know what the hell was going on.

When they returned they were a four-piece, playing a lot smaller venues (though thankfully travelling to Scotland for a change). Interest in them had dwindled somewhat, compared with the great hopes that resulted from their various triumphs/continual growth in the 80s. Now for the first time things were scaled back. They looked old for the first time. The gimmicks, costumes, effects, confetti and all the slapstick stuff was discarded. The musically civilizing influences of Sarah's sax, WDD's keyboards and Tim Quy's fairly subtle percussion was gone, replaced with a much fiercer sound.

At the start of the show, they would play "The Alphabet Business Concern", standing in a line at the front of the stage. just the four of them motionless, staring at the audience for four minutes while this relentless, thudding dirge oppressed the room.

The Alphabet Business Concern (the song) is not, as is sometimes mentioned "a hymn about their record company". In the context of the song, The Alphabet Business Concern (the organisation) is the Cardiacs Family, which includes band members past and present, roadies, wives, children, whatever, and most importantly (as they say) YOU.

What was this saying? It was saying "look, we are still here". It was saying "you are still here, we can see you", "we're all together again" "listen, we're still making extreme music", "our music is as powerful and overwhelming as ever" and "get ready because in five minutes Cardiacs will fucking blow you away and there's no gimmicks this time, just loud, insane music".

This huge statement made, they put on their instruments and played a 90 minute set that was louder, faster, more muscular and more exhausting than anything they had done before.

It was an impressive piece of theatre. In some ways it plays the same role as an opener to this album - a statement of existence and continuation, a promise of no compromises and more surprises in the face of some radical changes to the band. The legacy of that however is that there is a brutally ugly piece of music that opens this excellent album.

Whatever. It would not be the same album without it. I think we can all agree on that. Besides, some people love it.

That is an impressive and beautifully-written defence! In that context, it makes perfect sense. The counterblast of affirmation. It's certainly uncompromising. And yeah, they did become even more breakneck as a 4-piece (and then remained just as breakneck even when they expanded again in the latter days). I know some people love it. I'm not one of them, and it irritates me when that song and ITTL are heralded as their most notable tracks by mainstream magazines, because they're by FAR the worst tracks on any of the 5 main albums (IMO). But as a statement 'fuck you, we are Cardiacs', it's utterly singular. Just like Ulver refusing to play any of their more accessible tracks in their first ever UK gig, it's a move which indicates fierce individuality and self-rigour.

I don't know how I'd begin HBAEB otherwise. It's the kind of album where every track feels like a middle-order scorcher. Except Snakes A-Sleeping which is a fucking ENORMOUS closer.

FTR

(there be dragons)

Hail majestic corporate light
Heaven born and ever bright
How our spirit like the waves
As the breath of thine awakes
And now the night of weeping shall be
The morn of song
Ah! We are those whose thunder shakes the skies
The thin spun life

Home of fadeless splendour
Of flowers that bear no thorn
Here may the blind and hungry come
And light and food receive
Here mighty springs of consolation rise
To cheer the fainting mind
And re-creation find

So overcome thy fear
And burst into sudden blaze
Come blind fury with abhorred shears
And slit the thin spun life
Ah! Sobbing with their human sort of wail
Thy justice fear

Walk in shadow, walk in dread
Loosefish walk as like one dead
One drop in a winter sea
No more to rise forever
Anything down there about your souls
Will smash the sun alight
Ah! Yield week in, weak out from morn to night
Feelers from across the sea
Come crawling over thee

One drop in a winter sea
No more to rise forever
One drop in a winter sea
No more to rise forever
Come blind fury with abhorred shears
And slit the thin spun life
Ah! Sobbing with their human sort of wail
The thin spun life
We are those whose thunder shakes the skies
Whose eyes this atom globe surveys
Thy justice fear
Hooray!

That kinda makes the song 5x better, cheers!

Okay, I am willing to play this game of improving HBAEB. Nothing simpler.

Side One

Joining The Plankton
She is Hiding Behind the Shed
March
Goodbye Grace
Anything I Can't Eat
Helen and Heaven

Side two

Ideal
Core
Bodysbad
For Good and All
Snakes-a-Sleeping

Joining the Plankton 12" EP (formely Day is Gone 12")

1a Joining the Plankton
1b No Bright Side
1c Day is Gone
2a Joining the Plankton (Terry Farley remix)
2b Core (Danny Saber edit)
2c The Alphabet Business Concern (Sea Nymphs version)

Limited edition one sided 7" picture disc in a clear sleeve only available at gigs/mail order:

a: The Alphabet Business Concern (Home of Fadeless Spledour)

Aw! I like Day Is Gone! Never heard JTP or Ideal though. If there was one Cardiacs album I'd really fine-tune, it's the debut. The rest is more or less OK.

The challenge of a single-album STG might hurt my head though

(by 'debut' I mean 'major debut, released as a record etc')

'No Bright Side' is great, not heard that in ages - someone did me a CD-R of b-sides, must dig that out...

I think all the songs on the Day Is Gone 12" are great (Joining the Plankton, Ideal, No Bright Side) except for the title track. Day is Gone is okay but I think it's the weakest of the tracks on side 2 and I wanted to make room for Ideal. They seem to have a tendency to make poor choices for singles. Joining The Plankton is a big commercial sounding number somewhere in the same ballpark as Manhoo and would add some appeal to the beginning of the album which, under the regular tracklisting seems to take a long time to get going.

It would be too exhausting to try to condense STG in one album. Did you ever get hold of the Special Garage Concerts?

"No Bright side" is excellent, I agree. The 1st cardiacs disc I bought was the CD single of "Day is Gone", and NBS is the nest thing on it, easily.

I didn't, although as they're on iTunes I might indulge in a little Xmas present to myself. The studio albums plus Ditzy Scene are for me THE pinnacle of recorded sound, and I think that's where they fly furthest (unless you're actually AT a gig), but I'll definitely check it out.

I'm gonna give this STG single-album thing a go. Watch me.

Oh Man. You're going to flip your lid when you hear those live concerts. It's really fast and heavy and doesn't particularly have a "live" sound except when you hear the audience singing along very occasionally. And of course many of these songs were previously just curiosities. These albums turn them all into really essential tracks.

Ah nice. Well, I'm excited to hear them! Will report back here when I do. Cardiacs always did fast and heavy rather well.

I assume you've watched the "rehearsal" footage of "As Cold As Can Be.." and "Gibber & Twitch" on youtube. It sounds exactly like that except there's over 30 tracks. It may take you about a year to wrap your brain around it.

Hahaha, yeah ok. I hope there's LOADS OF SWEARING! And Jim getting abused. I wrapped my brain around STG quicker than you thought I would, mind :P

Ha-ha. I did say that, didn't I? On some levels SGC is even more monolithic that Sing To God, perhaps because every single track is a very heavy riffathon. There's not a lot of light except for the occasional break between songs. Jim-baiting and swearing is minimal too.

1) Dirty Boy
2) Eat It Up Worms Hero
3) Dog-Like Sparky
4) Flap Off You Beak
5) Quiet As A Mouse
6) Fiery Gun Hand
7) Insect Hoofs On Lassie
8) Wireless
9) Fairy Mary Mag
10) Odd Even
11) Bellyeye
12) No Gold
13) Nurses Whispering Verses
14) Foundling

68 minutes! Perfectly manageable. Manhoo released as EP with the Bell songs, Angleworm Angel and Red Fire. Fine, A Horses Tail can come too. As can Billion. Oh all right, and Eden On The Air. I'm such a pushover.

The great thing about my new sequencing is that a) it highlights the piece of songwriting wonder that is 'Flap Off You Beak' and b) brings Fairy Mary Mag and Odd Even together for extra harpsichord solo deja-vu fun. Oh, and Quiet As A Mouse into Fiery Gun Hand is yoga flame.

I wouldn't change that much but sorry, you can't take Manhoo out of this album. That's not right. Also A Horse's Tail is unremovable. OTOH I can easily do without Wireless. I'm pretty indifferent towards Foundling too, but it works as a closer.

1) Dirty Boy
2) Eat It Up Worms Hero
3) Dog-Like Sparky
4) Flap Off You Beak
5) Odd Even
6) Fiery Gun Hand
7) Insect Hoofs On Lassie
8) Manhoo
9) Fairy Mary Mag
10) A Horses Tail
11) Bellyeye
12) No Gold
13) Nurses Whispering Verses
14) Foundling

I'm pretty indifferent towards Foundling too, but it works as a closer.

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. It's not the best song, and apart from the celestial synths in the middle-eight there's nothing out-and-out fabulous about it, but there's a homely, closerish vibe to it that none of the other tracks really nail.

Aw, I'm an Odd Even fan, especially as a companion piece to FMM. Used to actually not like AHT but now I do. It versus Odd Even is probably the toughest sticking-point here. (God, so many Cardiacs polls I've somehow resisted starting! I think it might be a bit sacrilegious tho)

As for Wireless vs Manhoo, well, I think a companion EP would require a strong and catchy track that didn't necessarily fit in with the album, being as it is 'their Britpop song'. Manhoo is that song. Plus, it's SLIGHTLY inferior to most of the other songs IMO (albeit with a ridiculously high prevailing standard). Wireless gets me every time (that tacked piano!!). It's one of the great non-cover covers. (Lauft... is sheer magic, and this does it justice while providing a lovely Cardiacsy spin)

wait, is that common knowledge? wireless is a "cover" of faust? every non-cardiacs familiar person I play that song for instantly loves it

haha yeah it's quite a blatant lift! common knowledge among cardiacs fans i've spoken to here for sure. iirc phill jupitus played 'wireless' on his show, proclaiming it as 'beautiful'...think it might be quite a good gateway drug choice. i normally hit 'em with 'dog-like sparky' which sorts the sheep from the goats pretty nicely. actually most people really dig D-LS. my mum inclusive.

I have been listening to this band a lot over the last week. I got hold of a copy of On Land and In The Sea which is totally brilliant all the way through.

It's strange hearing full albums by them as I've just had that Sampler compilation for years which is all I thought I needed but now I'm kinda becoming obsessed with trying to find all their albums.

don't bother; they're boring

I can't imagine any of their albums are boring.

they're not. he lies. with his face.

they're the most boringest band that ever existed and you are wasting your time and God's trying to listen to their albums

god has an infinite amount of time at its disposal. it won't mind.

Pretends it's Jesus

anyway Kitchen Person I sincerely hope that whoever you are you never hear another note of Cardiacs, because they are the worst and most boring band of all time, and their albums hold numbers one to three and then like 6 and 8 in my worst albums ever ranking. the album I would definitely not get next is Sing To God, and I wouldn't touch Guns with your brother's. neither A Little Man... nor Heaven Born... have any sort of musical worth. this band is a dead loss. avoid.

Please please tell me you have all those albums you mentioned and you will sell/give them to me. They are really hard to get and I just want to hear how bad they are for myself.

Sing to God is the at the very top of my wishlist right now.

I strongly dissuade you from using the ILX email function or sending your address to moc.liamg @ reggaj.siuol, because if you subsequently received a consignment of burned CDs, that would be terrible both for you and anybody you chose to inflict your abysmal gleanings upon

That's very sweet but actually my brother is a massive fan and has most of their albums, I'm sure he would copy them for me.

I'm actually one of those strange people that still wants real copies of albums so if you or anyone has a spare copy of Sing to God (1 & 2) they want to get rid of then I would be interested for sure!

You're a lucky man; the very idea of a spare copy of STG is slightly laughable, given how treasured they are (by imbeciles). As someone who has never possessed proper physical copies of Cardiacs albums either, I am grateful they are so hard to find, and would like absolutely nothing to do with anyone who has spares to sell.

there's been talk of rereleases for a while now... hopefully they'll come to pass this year.

otherwise, you're talking maybe 80 quid for a second-hand copy of STG on CD. which is obviously nuts.

I would very much like some rereleases as I don't have real copies of most of the 80s stuff. They had CDs I thought were well out-of-print for sale when I saw them a couple of years ago, but the merch desk was moving verrrrry slowly and I had to leave if I wanted any way of getting home. Which is probably as well for my bank balance because otherwise I could have spent way too much in one go.

By sheer chance (ie. I bought it when it was in the shops for about a week in the 90s) I have a nigh-on-pristine CD of the original Rough Trade issue of Heaven Born & Ever Bright. Does this command good loot still?

On Amazon.co.uk Sing to God is 70 pounds, Heaven Born is up for around 35.

I'm actually selling my CD copy of On Land & In the Sea on there as I found the vinyl which will do for me. I would directly swap it for a copy of Sing to God if anyone was interested?

I've asked about them in several record shops and the people that have heard of them have pretty much said they never get their records in.

I have a CD single from "Sing to God", I wonder what it goes for (can't remember title) also, 35 quid for "Heaven Born", eh? Hmmm... I got that one as well.

If it's Manhoo thats about 15.

Yes I realise I've got quite obsessed with them now as I can tell you all the exact prices of their records without looking at Amazon.

A gig I'm going to has one of the supports listed as 'Bad Black Dots featuring Jon Poole of the Cardiacs' - anyone know anything about this? Any good? Google search didn't come up with much.

no idea but he defected to wildhearts and has been with them for quite a long time! his cardiacs ties were cut some way back. damn good guitarist tho

Ach, oh dear. I loathed the Wildhearts. Never mind, then.

we just don't know which side of jon poole will turn up! it's so tense!

i rather rate some but not all wildhearts - fishing for luckies is a masterpiece imo, and they DID name a song on their last album 'tim smith' but i can understand how one might dislike extended prog-pop-metal workouts

It's nothing against the principle, it's the actuality I dislike.

fair enough, there's better music from the extended cardiacs family

I have nothing to add, except to mention that cardiacs are godlike and I listen to them every single day.

I wonder if there's any Brighton bands Jon Poole hasn't played in at some point? The guy does get around.

Marc Riley mentioned something a little while back about some kind of Cardiacs get-together in the near future, he wasn't very specific though. It'd be nice it was something along the lines of the other bandmembers minus Tim getting together to bang some tunes out, but who knows. Autumn seems a little sadder every year without the traditional London shindig to look forward to. I even miss going to the Astoria, for god's sake.

I have heard rumblings about something exciting happening later this year...

It'd be nice it was something along the lines of the other bandmembers minus Tim getting together to bang some tunes out

would not be able to go to this

Prob not this year.

no, i mean i would not be able to go to it emotionally, it would be bad karma and unfun

Agreed. Also, what is the nature of these rumblings? New material? I could see a little boxset of live stuff being okay. Although they've had what, four live albums so there's not a lot that hasn't been covered already. Radio sessions, b-sides etc are all out there. Demos I could live without. Unless they have secretly been hoarding completed tracks?

well they did pretty much complete a whole new album

Unreleased material? God, where to start? There's the "LSD" album, which was apparently finished bar the final mix. Then there's the Garage Rehearsals DVD, the Maresnest DVD, that Astoria show they filmed back in 2005, loads of stuff that was mentioned over the years. Not to mention the second Sea Nymphs album, etc etc.

Of that, the only stuff that really gets me excited is the LSD album. I've watched and listened to Maresnest about a million times (and I was at the show). I've seriously burned out on it now. The Garage live album is brilliant but the music itself is where the genius lies - pictures are not much of an enhancement. Not mad for the Sea Nymphs. I like them okay but I know it's not going to blow my mind. I apologise for my lack of ABC-spirit about all that.

Anyway, tell me what you know about LSD? I'm completely in the dark here.

LSD is the only one I'm really holding out for, but like I say I'd be happy with this band if they didn't release another note. Happy-ish, at any rate. Decent run.

xpost!!!

I befriended a musician (singer lass from a band called Spiritwo) who's mad keen about Cardiacs, and claims to have visited Tim Smith and heard some unmixed tracks off LSD - affirmed that they're mindblowing, awesome etc - then mere weeks later our poor dude stood a bit too near the amps during You Made Me Realise :(

(every legend needs embellishing)

Why stop there? Can the rumour at least say that it's a double album too?

I'd be happy with a cracking good hour-long single, tbh. Or even a 45-minute one like Guns which is still one of their most spectacular achievements

If you've stumbled on this thread for no reason, don't come back until the music stops -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zvCKKw_DQk&feature=PlayList&p=FFE33A2F7A065655&index=0&playnext=1

Ahh, I still think the rehearsal film would've been amazing, based on the tantalising clips that were released. I liked the fact it was all part of the same elaborate meta-gag as the "diary" that was posted on the band website(shame they didn't bother updating it after 2005).

I could happily put up with a whole disc of this kind of nonsense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AC8Z9uGe0A

dammit um erm ok well the entire Sing To God album is on a Youtube playlist - connect the dots - play all -

http://www.you tube.com/watch?v=3zvCKKw_DQk&feature=PlayList&p=FFE33A2F7A065655&index=0&playnext=1

Acoleutic, are you yet on-board with the fact that Come Back Clammy Lammy is awesome?

YES TOTALLY

if I ever dissed that song, it is a 5/4 time romp through all that is joyful about music, horrendous about war and amazing about cardiacs

Ha-ha. Somewhere upthread you said something vaguely non-commital about it and that has always bothered me.

Guns and OLAITS are their most flawless records, STG their most incredible, HBAEB their rockingest and ALM... their cutest

...but the first three are the desert-island ones for me (given a top 10)

Guns doesn't have a single moment that drops beneath awesome, but CBCL is probably one of the best 5 songs

argh I'm posting about Cardiacs again! coals to Newcastle

'will bleed amen' is the killer on guns for me. I love the whole album but that track just floors me every time.

Wait, what do you consider to be their first album? I usually think of The Seaside as their first, even though it was really their third. And Big Ship as their second. Toy World and The Obvious Identiy I don't really need, and rarely listen to, especially now all those songs are redone in fine fashion on the Garage Concerts. Big Ship is cool though.

^^^YES, that's top 2 or 3 along with Jitterbug and Spell With A Shell and Signs

um

maths, eh

xpost

I consider their first albums to be things I haven't heard, which I ought to change but feel weirdly unmotivated to, mostly because I have this baseless suspicion they're not as good as the albums-proper (which aren't the albums-proper, but seem that way)

Basically there was this long gestation period where they became the greatest band ever, then they released ALM.

Now thinking I should at least hear The Seaside, even if their journey away from still-very-awesome Tarred And Feathered twee-freaky-circus music into serious compositional brilliance is to my taste

I mean, R.E.S. kinda marks the moment where twee-freaky-circus music JUST GOT REAL

RES was on the Seaside too. There's some great stuff on The Seaside, (To Go Off And Things! Its A Lovely Day!) and the production is pretty good. I totally caned it back in the day but it pales compared to A Little Man. That material sounds so awesome on the Garage Concerts though. It's totally obvious that it's not so much the compositions that's at fault, so much as the way it's played and the production. Fuck, 2005 version of RES on that album kills all other previous versions. Hard to believe it, but it's true.

ok what I am sensing here is a need to acquire the Garage concerts - you're not the only one to tell me this

"Will Bleed Amen" is a great ending track, but always a bit disappointing live I felt. I think I would say "Signs" is my killer. The way it just builds and builds in the final chorus - gets me every time.

The Seaside should definitely be heard, but try and find a download of the cassette version if possible, as the CD reissue was short of four tracks and "Dinner Time" should really be included.

Cardiacs did songs that built, built and then fucking flew better than anyone - opening tracks of Guns and OLAITS especially start at quite a lick and then just accelerate and soar and jesus christ (that's a verb, I think) until all is ecstatic in the purest sense

Signs does this too, but into an ectasy of torment rather than euphoria - Cardiacs knew light AND dark, the sweeties

Yes my friend. Yes you do need to acquire the Garage concerts. Everyone needs this album. It's got a horrible title, a bad cover and the concept behind it sounds pretty lame. I grant you all of that. But it's a couple of dozen awesome Cardiacs songs you don't know yet, plus a handful you do know, performed with ferocious intensity.

It's like one of those Zappa albums where it's live with tons of overdubs so you barely register the liveness except here and there or when there's a distant cheers at the end of the song. They should've packaged it like Zappa did- without all the "LIVE IN CONCERT! - US DOING OUR ANCIENT MATERIAL YOU DON'T REALLY CARE FOR". The marketing of the album really sucked. The contents are great.

My favourite, play-it-three-times-in-a-row-almost-every-time song on Guns is "Sleep All Eyes Open". Especially the last bit. I can never work out how the hell they do what they are doing without fucking up. After that it's Clammy Lammy, then all the rest.

oh look, the Garage concerts are on iTunes

Sleep All Eyes Open is amazing but for some reason it's the one song that never gets stuck in my head *rechecks* oh wait no it does, sometimes. The bit starting at 1.45 especially. Another slow-builder! Mixes minor and major chords in a quite ridiculously good way

God, the synths in Clammy Lammy...and when the bass drops as the sax piles in...and the key-changes...

Arghh, now I want to hear the weird extended dirge bit at the end of "Jitterbug" again. Fuck it, I'm just going to have to put the whole album now, aren't I?

I'm cueing this up to listen to this on my walk home. Havin' an old fashioned Guns parteee!

it'd be nice if it wasn't just us folks having the love-in time after time but i'm not gonna complain :D

hang on why is Is This The Life playing, killitkillit - damn with Eating In Bed instead of that song ALM would've been something

(the reason it's playing or rather was playing is that I listened to Wind And Rains Is Cold, marvelled at how ska can be done so goddamn well, and headed for In A City Lining which also takes ska by the short 'uns and shakes it into something transcendent)

the garage concerts are indeed great.

can I just mention that I have the seaside on cassette? OH YES. much as the production on this album is very thin and ropey (prob. not helped by the format), it features TO GO OFF AND THINGS in its first incarnation and is therefore beyond criticism.

have frugged to that song live - can't remember for the life of me what it sounds like, but it is intense

my favourite *REALLY* early Cardiacs song is the Stonehenge recording of their introduction/farewell fanfare - one keyboard playing the most beautiful hymn, band hold hands and sing -

Holding these things in my hands, and I
End up singing everything

...it's the only manifesto they or anyone has ever needed

xp it sounds a bit like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N3RZqcYxXY

I've got Mares Nest live already! But yeah :D

Holy fuck those interview snippets! Sarah's description of what happens when you die is one of the scariest things I've ever heard a musician say!

And oh yeah, THAT'S what it sounds like. FRUGGGGGG

lol his hair

Alternatively, it could sound like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YtFI6AAZ4U

FRRRRRUGGGGG

newer version is of course tighter + louder but then this is a band who released the ditzy scene ep a mere 30 years into their existence

'To Go Off...' was the start of it all for me. Ten years ago, my bandmates at the time were huge Cardiacs fans, and one of handed me a copy of Mare's Nest. Being a huge Monsoon Bassoon fan, I'd heard OF Cardiacs, but never actually heard them, as bizarre as that sounds.

"this is OK," I thought. "not bad. nothing special. don't really see what the fuss is about. oo, hang on. I like this fast one."

AND THUS A SEED WAS PLANTED THAT BECAME A FAIRLY SIZEABLE WILLOW.

my face is on fire

^^^drunk posting to the cardiacs thread = behaviour that should be encouraged imo

if you can cure my hiccups then by all means inform me of the brilliance of this band alternatively I can sit here hiccupping my fucking head off

if you play this song very loudly, and dance to it, then you will not have hiccups any more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLoe4DGT3hk

haha it's just struck me, even while sober, how fiery gun hand must sound like literally the greatest thing ever while drunk

at the moment it's all blah blah the clean who cares about them we just saw Broken Bones they're so old

I have:
Guns
A Little Man..
On Land and in the Sea
Sing to God pts 1 + 2

One of the best bands I've ever heard, of course. What else do I need to hear, from their whole catalogue, or from side-projects/Cardiacs family? Acoulethic?

Haha, I'm not the one to ask (re: Cardiacs, we'll get to the family later)! Because I'd basically name everything you have there + the Ditzy Scene single. As a few posters intimate upthread, the Garage Concerts (available on iTunes) are totally worth getting hold of, and I'll be giving them a proper listen in the immediate future.

As for the family, well

um

Unknown, vaguely Cardiacsy prog-pop that only MaresNest and I actually like

The Sea Nymphs
Tim Smith's Extra Special OceanLandWorld
The Monsoon Bassoon
The Shrubbies
Bill Drake Solo
Stars In Battledress

For starters anyway.

Excellente! Thanks, if only I wasn't on ratio watch..

Katherine In a Cupboard
Ring
Zag ANd The Coloured Beads
Ad Nauseum
KnifeWorld
Ablemesh
Levitation
Lake Of Puppies
Sleepy People
North Sea Radio Orchestra
Mikrokosmos
Buntychunks
Mad Uncle Jane
Hayestack
Brain Of Morbius

Send me a PM Davek and I'll post you over some bits.

yeah even I haven't heard most of those - the ones I have heard tend to be the ones that didn't originate as Cardiacs side-projects, mostly because I have a slight suspicion of side-projects

everyone assures me that The Sea Nymphs are great though so yeah I need to get hold

The Monsoon Bassoon and Stars In Battledress are of course awesome, the former more so, although the latter have some stellar moments (as it were)

oh look some more bands - have only heard Zag & TCB (GREAT TRULY GREAT live) and Levitation (groovy psych-prog-shoegaze)

Sea Nymphs albums are truly great, like mind fuckingly great.

ah, ok

i guess there's not much chance of me disagreeing either, is there

None more up your alley LJ. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbxzUhk7R5c

i dunno to be truly up my alley it needs a bit of mindmelting distortion or grandstanding darkness here and there ;)

ooh ok let's give this a go

(and by 'distortion' i mean 'sonic fuckery', at which point it becomes a serious statement and not a joke)

wow @ the piano in the midsection

this seems to be music of small treasures, falling somehow together in an organic and bizarre way

Katherine In a Cupboard
Ring
Zag ANd The Coloured Beads
Ad Nauseum
KnifeWorld
Ablemesh
Levitation
Lake Of Puppies
Sleepy People
North Sea Radio Orchestra
Mikrokosmos
Buntychunks
Mad Uncle Jane
Hayestack
Brain Of Morbius

Ha, that's basically everyone even vaguely connected to the band, isn't it? I think you'd struggle to find material from most of these, particularly Katherine In A Cupboard, who only had one song ever officially released on a compilation.

Add these ones to the list:
Stars In Battledress, aka the brothers Larcombe, who produced one incredible album of psychedelic whimsy-pop and have been rather quiet since
Ponce - possibly the most obscure of all the Cardiacs family bands - lasted the duration of one fantastic single, "Runny".
Arch Garrison - North Sea Radio minus the Orchestra.
The Trudy - One of the few bands from the early-eighties Richmond scene to've been around as long as Cardiacs(the band their original drummer left to join, in fact).

Then there's Mr & Mrs Smith and Drake - the prototype Sea Nymphs, basically their psych-folk album recorded on four-track.

Oops, now I see Stars In Battledress have already been mentioned. Carry on.

Let's not forget the fantastic Silver Ginger Five. The album Black Leather Mojo is two or three Wildheart, Jon Poole on bass PLUS William D Drake on keyboards and is produced by Tim Smith. Doesn't sound anything like Cardiacs though. More like a Cheap Trick/Slade vibe and it rocks.

i nearly bought that from an HMV once but chose something else

then it was gone

regrets, i've had a few

It's always been difficult to find. It was one of the most expensive CDs I ever bought. Originally it was a Japanese import which sat in the Virgin Megastore untouched because of it's nearly $100 price tag. Eventually it got reduced to half price and I took the plunge. What a relief when it turned out to be good.

wdve been 12 quid, right there

Then there's The Trudy. Formed by early Cardiacs defectors, they are still around and recorded some stuff pretty recently with Tim Smith at the controls. The songs in question are on their myspace page.

btw am listening to the Garage RES right now...

...much punkier than the 80's version! Cardiacs are a band who got punkier and yet more epic at the same time

Theres a third version of RES? I much prefer the version on The Seaside to the Little Man one. I think it's because I've watched the video so many times.

The Seaside is the latest one i managed to find at a decent price (is 20 pounds decent?) RES followed by To Go Off and Things, I can't think of many better ways to end an album.

Would say it doesn't quite have the same miraculous momentum of the ALM version (and hey, I DID vote for it in the ALM poll), but it's a darn good live rendering. Little is lost, and it's a fresh perspective.

RES into Whole World Window is pretty damn spectacular. My favourite end to any Cardiacs album is actually Snakes A-Sleeping, because much as Will Bleed Amen is amazing and Secret Like Swans lovely, they need to be indexed as separate tracks, dammit

Haha, The Obvious Identity is straight-up punk! And really good straight-up punk at that. Nice.

(Obviously The Everso Closely Guarded Line is right up there with S A-S, but I prefer the latter for some reason)

Versions of RES:

The Seaside (both versions)
A Little Man and A House And The Whole World Window
Nighttracks (Janice Long session that came out on vinyl)
Mares Nest Live CD
Special Garage Concerts

And there's a video for it on the Seaside Treats thing, which if memory serves is slightly different to the version on The Seaside.

btw I'm still annoyed 'Is This The Life' won the ALM poll. all 4 people who voted for it, I reckon, have heard VERY little other Cardiacs, let alone the whole album

oh hey a cardiacs thread

a little man and a house and the whole world window is probably one of my favorite albums ever. however!, i can't get any of their other albums to click in that same way for me. i'm still trying though, i'm willing to give them as many chances as it takes...

INFINITY TIMES A BILLION CHANCES

Then there's The Trudy. Formed by early Cardiacs defectors, they are still around and recorded some stuff pretty recently with Tim Smith at the controls. The songs in question are on their myspace page.

"Lost Summer Of Love" is one of the great overlooked singles of the last few years, I reckon. Must get around to buying their CD, actually...

my wee girl went nuts to 'tarred and feathered' this morning. this makes me a happy dad.

Some details are coming to light about the forthcoming Cardiacs gathering...Looks like it's going to be a full-on benefit gig for Tim, with special guest vocalists and bands to be announced! And it'll be at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the 25th of September.

am sooooooo gonna be there

same

toldja!

and yes, I'll be there too. a friend of mine is playing this. should be ace!

Patton's on board, so I've heard

I 'eard that rumour. most exciting.

So I managed to track down a copy of Sing to God, it's amazingly consistent for a double album. Dirty Boy is just incredible it might just edge out RES as my favourite song of theirs. I remember my brother having the Bellyeye single and playing it to death, I think the B-side No Gold was the first song I really like of theirs.

My collection now consists of...
A Little Man & a House
Cardiacs Live
On Land & In the Sea
The Seaside
Sing to God (Parts 1 & 2)

All great albums, I think Songs For Ships & Irons is next on my list.

good, innit?

funny how virtually everyone latches onto 'dirty boy' as the obvious STG highlight.

don't get me wrong, I like it lots in its monolithic way, but for me it's nowhere near the same level as 'fiery gun hand', 'a horse's tail', 'eat it up worms hero', 'bell clinks', etc. I guess I like cardiacs best when they're as fast and hard and wiggly as possible.

It's that last two minutes that really make Dirty Boy amazing, It's really intense and sounds like it could just keep on going.

All the ones you mentioned are great too. I like how it has a big mix of all the different Cardiacs styles like the fast and wiggly (great way of putting it) but then there's some of their biggest pop moments too like Manhoo or Odd Even.

It might be my favourite album I've heard of theirs so far.

I acquired recently all the albums I didn't have, so The Obvious Identity, Toy World, The Seaside, Songs For Ships And Irons and the Sea Nymphs album will be 'chewn' through (as it were)!

Actually, I've already had at the Sea Nymphs several times, because it's amazing. Lilly White's Party especially.

Kitchen Person, you will love Guns, but you shouldn't ignore Heaven Born And Ever Bright.

Yeah get Guns and the Ditzy Scene single.

Oh yeah, get the Ditzy Scene single if you can! It's quite hard to, but do try! Scarcely has a 30 year-old band sounded so vital...

It's even hard to do online...scarce on the most comprehensive torrent sites.

I've actually lost my copy with a change of computer so if someone wants to be CHARITABLE

xpost sorry dude I've only heard it from Youtube streams.

Also, I'm back into The Fall. Slates and Hex did the trick.

BOOM

one of us etc

Where next in the 'moulding him in my image' quest...VdGG?

gimme time, I gotta write on Eliot + Swift + Toni Morrison this holiday.

snob + joeks bruv + emancipation

I acquired recently all the albums I didn't have, so The Obvious Identity, Toy World, The Seaside, Songs For Ships And Irons and the Sea Nymphs album will be 'chewn' through (as it were)!

Actually, I've already had at the Sea Nymphs several times, because it's amazing. Lilly White's Party especially.

Kitchen Person, you will love Guns, but you shouldn't ignore Heaven Born And Ever Bright.

― forgive me fada (acoleuthic), Friday, April 9, 2010 1:09 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

How did you manage to track all those down? I'm actually pretty fed up of searching for their stuff, I do at least 3 Ebay searches a day.

Heaven Born & Ever Bright, Guns and Song's For Ships & irons are the ones on my list to get. The Sea Nymphs album is just about impossible to get but I would love to own that one day.

They were acquired through stealth, and having a brother who has a d3m0n01d account

Are there any places that you'd recommend trying to find their albums apart from the usual Amazon, Ebay, Netsounds? I sometimes look at their website in hope they will have their albums back in stock but I know it's a long shot.

I guess I should be grateful I have managed to find as many as I have.

Well, if you're not averse to itunes, the entire back catalogue is on there. Sadly, that's pretty much the only way the band are going to see any revenue at this point.

The Spratley's Japs album is amazing too!

Gah, looks like the benefit is off. One or more of the "big names" can't make it, so it's all fallen apart. Should've known it was too good to be true.

wait, what? that's no reason to call a Cardiacs benefit off! Who's in charge? I know some "big names" that would be more than happy to benefit Tim Smith and the Cardiacs!

^^^get this guy and Max Tundra involved IMO

noooooooo!

X-Post I'd be interested to know who.

http://thequietus.com/articles/04192-why-a-heart-attack-must-not-arrest-the-cardiacs

^^^great article!!

The Sea Nymphs album is rapidly, rapidly attaining godlike status with me. It's possibly as good as HBAEB, maybe even better

Have you the Spratleys Japs record?

I really need to start exploring these offshoots... all I have is the 'affectionate friends' comp.

SJ is practically STG Disc 3, you want it!

Sea Nymphs is

um

I don't know how lovely

but THIS, truly, is the album which if everyone in the world heard, they would love. Of that I am certain. There's absolutely nothing that could put anyone off except his voice and we're all grown-ups who can overlook voices, right?

If I were to re-run that 90s poll, this album would be getting points. From me.

Astounding.

I must hear Spratley's Japs.

I love it when a plan etc.....

It's so frustrating that there's a whole load of Sea Nymphs material which is the equal(if not better) of that album that has never seen the light of day, except for on live bootlegs and that one Peel Session. Enough for at least two more albums, apparently.

Apart from that, there's only the early cassette album Mr & Mrs Smith & Mr Drake, which is rather more lo-fi, but has a kind of eerie timelessness about it that the later more polished stuff lacks.

would say the SN album is nothing if not completely timeless tbh

This has just reminded me that I have a decent rip of the SN peel session on a DAT tape of all things, I must dig that out.

http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2010/03/spratleys-japs-hazel-cd-ep-1999-uk.html

So 'Pony' is still in stock? Might get me a copy...

(btw I bumped the Cardiacsy thread for Knifeworld earlier. Some decent bass on that album) ;-)

Oh hey, I noticed, to be honest it was so damn long ago (maybe 6 years or more) that I recorded anything for Kavus I can't honestly remember what I did, I know it was only a few tracks, maybe 3 or 4. I didn't think he'd even use any of it because at the time, the tracks were pretty skeletal. So the decent bass is most likely Craig or Kavus :)

Oh wait so that album's been in the making for a while? He did all that Authority stuff even after beginning Knifeworld?

Yep, it's his magnificent octopus

except he says there's another one out soon as well, maybe it's a two-part octopus

'Me To The Future Of You' is his Dirty Boy, though; that's pretty much beyond any doubt

Out soon...

so glad I didn't use all 25 nominations for the 05-09 poll, just sayin'

More on this soon, but

'Fanny' by Spratley's Japs is one of the best songs ever

Kavus has confirmed in a podcast interview that Cardiacs won't be playing live again. Not really a surprise given the apparent seriousness of Tim's condition, but still sad to hear it nonetheless. He did also mention the benefit album will probably be out by the end of the year.

ah well. tim's got a better excuse than andy partridge i guess

still hoping tim recovers, and recovers sufficiently to finish mixing LSD - but more that he recovers, really

More on this soon, but

'Fanny' by Spratley's Japs is one of the best songs ever

― always changing, always the same (acoleuthic), Saturday, 5 June 2010 03:24 (2 months ago)

loverocksunanthem

possibly my favourite song now

it's just too much, too good. it's what my head looks like on the inside.

cannot begin to convey how it makes me feel, and how it aligns with my best feelings

Info on the tribute album here, available for pre-order : http://www.thegenepool.co.uk/items/597.htm

Andy Partridge!

The blurb say Tim is still in hospital over two years since his stroke :-(

WE WILL PRAISE HIM

I'm really interested to hear which song Ultrasound cover, I recently got a copy of The Sea Nymphs album which I remember their lead singer Tiny praising in the NME back in the day.

aargh i want to preorder but don't know what my address will be when this ships! what a lame conundrum

+ i don't trust my building's office to forward anything to me after i move because i've brought them previous tennant's mail before and the girl at the office there threw it out in front of me!

Got it today, psyched!

It's not on Gracenote yet, boo!

Any word on Tim's condition? It's been such a long time...just realized that Guns is going to be 12 years old :()

Well sadly, he's still in an extremely dependant state. The record they were working on before Tim's attack (LSD) will likely remain unreleased because his vocals had yet to be added.

Did you know about this frogbs?

http://www.thegenepool.co.uk/items/597.htm

It's pretty great in the main and all proceeds go directly to Tim.

I'm working w/Moe Staiano (ex Sleepytime Gorilla Museum percussionist) on a Tim Smith benefit in San Francisco for May. Several bands who want to cover Cardiacs will play (and if your band is in the bay and wants to play, let me know)

sometimes, every now and then, I wish I lived in the uk america

― Dominique, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 02:55 (3 years ago)

also I need to get my mitts on that album - my bank account has been empty since I got my ticket to NZ so as soon as I'm next paid that thing is en route chez moi. refuse point-blank to d/l it without paying.

Although if you could titillate me with some descriptions, MN... :P

Wow MaresNest really is our source on the ground...but it's still very sad to hear of his state of course.

Supposedly Tundra covers Will Bleed Amen. Prepare yr ears :p

that is the single thing I am most looking forward to tbh

DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-BAB-BA-BA-DAH-DUH-DUH

I think those Duhs match up with the Will Bleed Amen riff...maybe..possibly...

Loved a lot of 2010 music, but this makes the '10 ILM poll look just feeble.

ah man I am trying to imagine an alternate ILX reality where Guns is released in our messageboard's lifetime, and its subsequent appearance in the year-end poll

hell, Sing To God

Well for one, The North Sea Radio Orchestra do a version of March which is one of my favourites and NSRO are beyond awesome.

And here is a mild derail to prove it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR6axzyFX-k

44 Cardiacs - Sing To God (Parts 1 and 2) 348 points, 7 votes, 6 first-place votes

ooooooh! will listen now :) p.s. on that 'discoveries of 2010' thread I concur w/ you about P-Model

Oh yes, thanks fot that frogbs and for taking the time to answer!

Lex (not having any past knowledge): ooh who're this Cardaics band? (Lex would phrase it better than that)

But they're our little secret, and that's better than horrid ubiquity.

The comp is pretty excellent throughout, the only clunker is Jullianne Regan's phoned in version of a Sea Nymphs track.

Additionally there was a bonus cd of even more covers that might still be available too, or may be a download only thing, but it's pretty high standard.

Lex attempting to listen to Cardiacs would be the best thing ever, especially if we started him on The Sea Nymphs and he declared it awesome, wanting to know more...

...then, BAM, The Duck And Roger The Horse. KO.

I don't think it'd be horrid if Cardiacs were ubiquitous, but they're not going to achieve such a thing (at the moment, I think they have a very bright critical future however). I proselytise them whenever possible! It is nice to have a posse of people as passionate about them as I am. Hence my projected votes-breakdown :P

The bonus CD opens with Silvery <3 and I intend to get hold of it too!

xpI wanna hear Radiohead in triple-guitar mode tear through Signs (and I don't even like Radiohead these days).

Or The-Dream cover 'Eden in the Air', with harmonised auto-tuned backup!

ah man, now I really could post all night

Well sadly, he's still in an extremely dependant state. The record they were working on before Tim's attack (LSD) will likely remain unreleased because his vocals had yet to be added.

Did you know about this frogbs?

http://www.thegenepool.co.uk/items/597.htm

It's pretty great in the main and all proceeds go directly to Tim.

Yeah. I bought it; haven't heard whether its very good or not (I honestly cannot imagine how you cover this band) but I haven't bought any other Cardiacs discs because I haven't found any 'official' release (as they generally fetch > $100 on amazon and ebay), so its the least I could do. I've dealt with the death of some of my musical heroes (Klaus Dinger especially stung) but the thought of Tim Smith being incapacitated is just killing me.

If ilx ever did a year end poll for 1995, Sing to God would have to be #1; it's my pick for best album of all-time

Eden In The Air given a psych-RnB makeover would be INSANE

frogbs, we do not appear to have met much, and yet we are curiously in agreement on a number of important topics!

A few of the covers from the comp are on YouTube.

Oh and has anyone seen these guys? Gilliam.

An Israeli band playing really great, faintly Klezmerish versions of Cardiacs songs gawd bless 'em.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exVrxNuMeOE

p.s. on that 'discoveries of 2010' thread I concur w/ you about P-Model

i really ought to start a thread for them...

xp hehheh. Saying that, one important element of being into Cardiacs (+parts of the family) for me was being quite measured in my listening; not burning myself out on the frenzied amazingness. They are too intense or concentration-dependent to burn out on - your brain says 'enough' - unlike XTC who I'm on a huge break from. But that's just me..

I remember we've had some discussion like this before, with you favouring this continued exposure..for me, they are a treat, like a bottle of champagne.

NSRO were lovely, MORE MORE MORE (I'll have a little snuffle around) and now yeah that cover calls...

btw, THE MAGIC OF POLLZ FREEFORM 1990's ALTERNATIVE ALBUM POLL - THE RECKONING (TOP TEN COUNTING DOWN NOW)

Cardiacs are a kinda go-to for me - I rarely go 2 or 3 days without a fix. Recently I've been mad discovering other shit. Hasn't stopped me, of course. Complete listens-through are a rare and delightful treat, of course :)

frogbs, we do not appear to have met much, and yet we are curiously in agreement on a number of important topics!

StG your #1 all time too?? That album was like my destiny. I discovered Cardiacs by accident!! Someone sent me a tune and I completely forgot about it, but listened to "Captain Lou Albano's History of Music" (love this tune) and next up was "Cardiacs - In a City Lining". I think like 3 minutes in I had this feeling of, whoaaaa, this is going to be one of your new favorite bands. After hearing the first two albums and reading all about StG I had a strong feeling that it could become my favorite album of all time. I remember giving it that first listen, getting to "Dirty Boy" and cranking it up so loud it made my ears ring for a good half hour after.

Big <3in in this thread! Dirty Boy is one of the few pieces of music that makes me actually feel *faint*. It's so overpowering, nothing can follow it. It absorbs (most) rock music.

Oh, I knew StG was going to be my favourite album ever before I heard it. This didn't even remotely prepare me for how good it actually is, of course. I discovered them (well, I'd seen their name in some Oceansize liner notes and thought nothing of it) here: Forgotten 90's alternative rock masterpieces WANTED

^^^third post, as if 'everything' had been waiting for me to start the thread

This RES cover is doooope!

Have previously described 'Dirty Boy' as my favourite song ever. Have since downgraded it to 'joint first' alongside 'Moon In June' by Soft Machine and 'Fanny' by Cardiacs-in-all-but-name Spratley's Japs.

Also, this is freaking immense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pf-bLAppC4

If we were to poll StG I'd probably vote Flap Off You Beak, however, for being joy itself

oh my word they do All His Geese Are Swans oh my word

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sq0nTW6RpE

^^^have already heard that, dude's a Cardiacs forum regular. and yeah it's absolutely incredible, last 3 minutes especially

covering Dirty Boy on an acoustic guitar I mean hell Mahler on a piccolo but it WORKS

Dirty Boy is one of the few pieces of music that makes me actually feel *faint*. It's so overpowering, nothing can follow it. It absorbs (most) rock music.

I totally get this. I almost wish they made it the last song on the album (no disrespect to "Foundling" which is also great); you can't really follow it up with anything.

Oh, I knew StG was going to be my favourite album ever before I heard it. This didn't even remotely prepare me for how good it actually is, of course.

Had to have a glance at the tracklist again - can't believe how many top quality tunes there are on this thing. Stuff like "Bellyeye", "Horse's Tail", "Insect Hoofs on Lassie", "Bell Clinks", "Red Fire", "Foundling"...none of those even make up my top 5 on this album but they would be highlights on practically any other album.

I almost wish they made it the last song on the album (no disrespect to "Foundling" which is also great); you can't really follow it up with anything

I make it the opening track on every Cardiacs compilation I've ever created. Instead of ending everything (the universe, time, life etc), for me it comes outta the gate saying 'there's other music, then there's this, if you liked that here's some more awesome stuff'. I generally follow it up with Anything I Can't Eat which is so delirious it really doesn't care if it's following up The Almighty itself :D

and yeah, 'Billion' is a perfect, unassuming follow-up. So like Tim Smith to pull that kinda move - and so fitting too :)

As I've said elsewhere on this thread, Foundling is one of the comparatively weakest tracks, but it's also the only one that absolutely, definitively sounds like a closer, so it's a perfect fit for me. Although my favourite Cardiacs closer is still Snakes-A-Sleeping, my fucking god...

I have gone through phases of calling OLAITS and Guns joint #1 album evah, btw. Right now I think it goes StG, Pony, Guns, OLAITS. Then all other music ever made.

Dirty Boy IS however either opening or closing track. It cannot possibly be anything else. The same thing, from two perspectives. :)

The quality of both tribute CDs is really high thankfully, only a couple of duff tracks to my ears. I really love The Gasman's glitch-pop reworking of Gloomy News, and Knifeworld doing The Stench Of Honey is splendid.

Anyway, don't know if I should be sharing this link, but here's a handful of tracks that didn't make either disc, including a splendidly ramshackle version of The Duck & Roger The Horse.
http://www.genepoolrecords.com/TIMSMITH/

Ooooh! Who by?

Steven Evens & The Gilchrist Family Band - Duck & Roger
Local Girls - Odd Even
Ham Legion - Dead Mouse

thanks :)

Have previously described 'Dirty Boy' as my favourite song ever. Have since downgraded it to 'joint first' alongside 'Moon In June' by Soft Machine and 'Fanny' by Cardiacs-in-all-but-name Spratley's Japs.

― acoleuthic, Thursday, February 3, 2011 10:50 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

finally heard the spratleys japs album for the first time today. just beautiful. and 'fanny' was certainly one highlight among many.

I've always believed STG to be my favourite cardiacs album, but I'm obsessively thrashing ALMAAHATHWW on a daily basis here... the latter half of 'breakfast line' has wrapped itself around my brain like a serpent made of glass. or something.

This is my current Cardiacs CD-80, btw -

Dirty Boy 8:55
Anything I Can't Eat 3:25
Dog-Like Sparky 4:54
Fiery Gun Hand 5:13
The Duck And Roger The Horse 3:57
Fanny 6:23
Jitterbug (junior is a) 7:31
Two Bites Of Cherry 3:20
Come Back Clammy Lammy 4:07
Flap Off You Beak 3:45
Buds And Spawn 6:46
Core 2:32
R.E.S. 5:16
Signs 4:26
Snakes-A-Sleeping 8:25

(78:46)

ALM... is awesome but for me it's just the beginning. There's a STRONG case for replacing Fiery Gun Hand with In A City Lining in my CD-80 but I just...can't do it. You're right that the album is superb, almost from start to finish (I can't really get with Is This The Life - I'm Eating In Bed forever!) and that its sheer heart is something wondrous to behold.

Pony is next-level music. I'm convinced his 'shadow band' were a group of wandering angels. 'Oh' and 'Flash The Sea...' and 'Vine' especially are brainblowers, but yeah 'Fanny' is *perfection*

these dudes did 'like a g6' rite

Only track I'd definitely find a way to add is "All Spectacular"; its pure magic

This thread is good for reminding me to check out Spratley's Japs...I don't remember what the Cardiacs connection is exactly but I hear them mentioned a lot whenever they pop up...

My list:

1. StG
2. On Land/A Little Man (tie...can't figure out which is better)
3. Guns
4. Songs for Ships & Irons
5. Heaven Born & Ever Bright - could be higher but I don't like the mastering; there is just no bass level at all...songs are great though

There was a piece about Tim in yesterday's Guardian, but I should warn you it's quite upsetting to read. Poor, poor guy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/feb/03/cardiacs-tim-smith-stroke-tribute-album

This thread is good for reminding me to check out Spratley's Japs...I don't remember what the Cardiacs connection is exactly but I hear them mentioned a lot whenever they pop up...

Made concurrently with Guns. Comprises Tim and his girlfriend Joanne Spratley and some of their mates and a broken-down mellotron in the New Forest. Is *fucking amazing*, slightly different vibe to Cardiacs (more...rootsy? Nah, that's not it. More mossy) but obviously the same songwriter.

Thanks for that piece, will read now...

is it bad that my first reaction is 'haaaa, J Spratley is now dating Bic Hayes'? oh you bedhopping psychpoppers...

The thing about Spratleys was, if you believe the rumours, the band was just Jo & Tim, the others didn't really exist! It really was inspired by a malfunctioning mellotron, though.

Cheers for the Guardian piece...about to read now.

(but yeah, horrible that this shit can happen to anyone.)

That is my new favourite musical rumour. Makes the album all the sweeter if so. A secret shared by a couple. A whispered murmur of affection in sky-vaulting, earthy space-pop. <3

I like to think they found some fauns in the New Forest and got them playing drums and guitar tho

Did any of you guys see the 08 Roundhouse shows? I was there on the Friday (can't quite recall) and it was certainly some kind of London Experimental Rock ground zero.

am gonna guess that Chrome Hoof did their thang

wasn't there, wish I had been

You Made Me Realise - beyond any legend you've heard.

Support was a pretty shrug set from Sonic Boom.

I like the fact that Tim Smith experienced that in his last minutes of full sentience, horrible as what happened subsequently was

(am not talking about Sonic Boom, haha)

REALLY wish I'd been there now. Kevin Shields in his own quiet (lol) way is a dude who can be spoken of in the same breath as our Tim :P

otm, I like to believe that Dirty Boy harnesses some of its dense, elemental power from Loveless.

I can't really respond to the horrible aftermath...it's just one of these unexplainably tragic things. And I remember you met him (do I remember this right?)

You do! We exchanged a few brief and affectionate words. Yeah, alright, I was completely overcome. He's probably used to it. :)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/feb/03/cardiacs-tim-smith-stroke-tribute-album

It doesn't look like his condition is good...I don't know anything about strokes, but is it possible he may never recover from this?

Yeah, I was listening to an interview with Kavus Torabi recently(ish) and what K said sounded pretty bleak too :(

I haven't bought any other Cardiacs discs because I haven't found any 'official' release (as they generally fetch > $100 on amazon and ebay),

I am super-glad I got to see Cardiacs now, my one and only Cardiacs gig on their first set of dates outside London for many years and now looking all too likely to be their last, but my one regret of the evening is that the merch desk had many copies of CDs I thought were out of print (also t-shirts) and such a massive, chatty merch queue I had to give up and get my public transport home - I have some of them but owning most of the 80s stuff is a distant, crazy dream

To my shame I preordered the tribute CD and haven't yet made it to the bonus disc despite it having the lovely Gasman on, so this thread is a good reminder to put that on

I remember planning with an online buddy seriously planning to fly out to the UK with the sole purpose of seeing them; I really wanted to do it but ultimately decided it wasn't worth it. I regret that now.

Live recording gone up on D1m3ad0z3n, one I've never heard before, Whitelands College '85 and it's a soundboard too!

Gorgeous cover of "Stoneage Dinosaurs" on the tribute CD. And per comments upthread, the standard is generally really high - special love for the Max Tundra track too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPszC-lYHT4

A little disappointed in SW doing the Cardiacs song that's most like a Porcupine Tree or No-Man song, considering his wherewithal he could have attempted a more interesting track, it is good tho'

I think quite a lot of the choices are pretty safe tbh. Not many people taking on the really out-there stuff. Can't grouse though, they're still covering great music, plus I need to actually hear it!

xp this gig upthread is pretty good LJ, want it?

yah totes, send it my way! :)

Sent you a dropbox link, will stick it in there for you sometime later on.

cooool ty

Also I chanced across this blog, pretty good related selection.http://hidingbehindtheshed.blogspot.com/2010/07/cardiacs-radio-sessions.html

I'm oddly excited for this though tribute albums are usually awful. The last one I listened to was a tribute to ELP and the band(s) covering them were way over their head, muffing pretty much all the tricky parts and completely losing everything that was ever good about the music. Somehow I can picture a Cardiacs one going the exact same way. On the other hand actually attempting to cover one of their tunes has got to be a labor of love considering it'll only get heard by part of an already small pool of fans. I heard someone try to cover "Fiery Gun Hand" and it was pretty bad though in his defense he really seemed to give it everything; you really have to like, train in order to play like that.

I think quite a lot of the choices are pretty safe tbh.

true, but there is a very good reason for this. many cardiacs tunes are beyond the capability of mere mortals. the compilation is still fantastic though.

probably not news to anyone, but I found this blog last night with some great radio sessions for download:

http://hidingbehindtheshed.blogspot.com/search/label/Cardiacs

and, apropos of nothing, I'm obsessed with this clip at the moment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-g1R3hOUeY

hey guys guess what I came across on my web traversings the other day? http://hidingbehindtheshed.blogspot.com/2010/07/cardiacs-radio-sessions.html

;-)

I saw that tour. That riff indeed slew it. BTW I can now get the tribute CD so watch this space...

agh, how'd I miss that? never mind.

you know the original, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjJ1B-Bii_c

not until now!

man alive!

seek also the boredoms remix of this tune.

that was pretty cosmic

ok got loads of work to do :/ but will follow this up :) boredoms remix sounds juicy

where do you find the boredoms remix??? i mean this is practically a boredoms tune as it is

didn't know that about tim smith. my grandad had a stroke, and the correct physiotherapy and treatment makes all the difference. hope he can get the help he needs :(

LJ, concert uploading for ya

Thanks!

BTW, have heard both NSRO albums now. They're *lovely*. 'Mimnermus In Church' is especially wondrous

The Arch Garrison record is on Spotify I found out today.

Finally got the tribute album; in general I agree that it's probably one of the best tribute albums I've ever heard (which is a hell of a backhanded compliment) and I'm actually pretty thankful that the artists generally focused on the simpler stuff. The Max Tundra remix/cover was really good. Actually the tribute basically just made me want to listen to the originals more. I actually got a little emotional when the line "I don't really want to go into work tomorrow/the boss will tell me off for leaving early yesterday" came on I got a little emotional (no idea why it was on THAT line, but whatever). Get well soon Timmy!!

I noticed last night that the tribute CD has lines of tiny text encircling the inner and outer rims of the CD label which seem to be personal messages from the bands involved. I felt quite choked up reading these in particular:

Beauty + Bravery + Integrity x Soul = Bewitching, Enchanting Genius

*we are so lucky*

*so dear is our lad, so much joy does he bring*

browsing a second-hand shop today, discovered, licked and acquired 'On Land and in the Sea' on vinyl.

JOY.

:-)

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/217362_10150172247381827_603271826_6657703_4919196_n.jpg

Seeing that and then seeing your post from eight years when you first hear them = the sense of time and discovery!

whoa, ilm as scrapbook of my life!

Wish I could be there...

I've had a picture of Tim as my FB profile pic for a while now and can't bring myself to change it. I always believed that the internet era would finally allow the Cardiacs to break through. People like me would have never heard of them otherwise.

btw, I started a running "cardiacs" countdown on facebook, and if anyone here is interested in penning a blurb of your fave tim smith/cardiacs tune, I'd love to run it as we lead up to the show.

Ned reads Cardiacs threads, whodathunkit?

Wish I could be there too and wish something like this would happen in London.

Dominique, might you record the evening?

possibly! was talking to my mobile studio friend about it, so hopefully we can make happen

Would like to hear it if you do, definitely.

yo
post the link to the fb page

righto!

There's also this Tim Smith benefit happening on May 7th in Portsmouth, UK :

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192378400798658

Anyone got "The Rising Of The Lights" then? My copy turned up today. It's good! I wish I hadn't downloaded a load of live bootlegs back in '09 though, as it means I've lost some of the novelty of hearing these songs "fresh". Given that some of these tracks date back to when Bill was still in Cardiacs/Sea Nymphs, it's probably the closest we're going to get to new Cardiacs material for a while.

There's new North Sea Radio Orchestra imminent also.

New NSRO is the best yet!

gettin into Tim Smith's solo album, it's pretty damn great!! especially the last track.

^^^^I need to get this in its entirety, the songs on Youtube are fucking amazing

Speaking of which, I have a gift for you all, if you haven't heard it before. I would give this song 100 out of 100 and a big kiss. I wish there were entire schools of music based around exploring the mysteries of its method, rather than just William D Drake and Craig Fortnam and a few others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBdJDG0abUY

now if that don't stop yr day where it stands...

Kavus responded to a thread on a different board in which someone asked if Timmy's condition had improved:

Same as it has been for a few years, sadly. No signs of improvement but, heroically, he is very content and at peace with himself.

I cannot re-state enough that his mind is very much his own and as it has always been. He just no longer has the use of a body that will do any of the things you and I take for granted.

He is regularly around music and friends which is where he has always been the most happy.

As remarkable and inspiring a man as Tim was before the tragic events of 2008 so he is proving to be afterwards too.

His optimism, light and beautiful energy are still dazzling.

Tim receives many letters and testimonials from fans and admirers. I always pass on well wishes and love from everyone when we see each other.

Ironically, or perhaps as a result of his tragic accident (everyone loves a story, I suppose) interest in Cardiacs' music is at an all time high.

Cardiacs get played fairly regularly on BBC 6Music, many very well written pieces have been published and there has been a swathe of incredible cover versions appearing.

After years of being ignored, treated with derision and mocked it seems like the wider world is finally starting to realise what a musical visionary Tim really is.

To be fair, the last couple of years the band was active we did notice a massive sea change in concert attendances, interest and critical reception (even after the damning and cruel treatment they meted out in the 90's, the NME were referring to us as 'indie legends' which made Tim laugh), so who knows what would have happened had things carried on.

It's not worth thinking about though, it is what it is. Dwelling on stuff like that is the road to madness....

(someone asked if he ever considered doing a Cardiacs tribute tour)

Actually this and similar-ish plans have been suggested by a few people over the last four years or so.

One idea that we actually seriously looked into was a big gig with all of the last version of the band plus Jon Poole on second guitar, bringing on special guest singers from friends/fans for one or two songs including Mike Patton, Damon Albarn plus a load of the usual suspects closer to home (Claire Lemon, Sharron Fortnam, Ginger, Mike Vennart etc) Realistically this just proved to be a MASSIVE headache. We hashed over details for weeks, even reserved a night at the Royal Festival Hall, planned on showing films/ videos and having bands in the foyer etc. etc.

The logistics were just too much for folks like us. It would have been a massive undertaking that we just did not have the funding or resources to properly undertake. Given that the thing was meant as a fundraiser we realised that the whole event would cost far more than it could really raise. Let's remember: Tim and Cardiacs, actual visionary and the blazing music aside, are still very much a cult thing.

That's how we happened upon the idea of the tribute album. Again, that almost broke the core 'team' of Bic, Jo Spratley, me and Mark Cawthra. It was far, far more work and temper-fraying stress than we had expected. And thank God it was because the results turned out wonderfully and we managed to raise a fairly substantial sum for Tim from the proceeds.

So in terms of touring a 'version' of Cardiacs I don't think it would be right for a number of reasons. Mainly that Cardiacs really is all about Tim. The band has always consisted of his closest friends, people who 'get' and share his vision and obviously musically capable but, nonetheless, when you're onstage performing that stuff, whether he'd admit it or not, HE is the star of the show. It's his vision. His music.

It's not only the 'I'm not worthy' thing. I'm not going to be falsely modest, I felt very worthy being guitarist in the band and felt it was completely right to join. I also feel completely at home fronting Knifeworld, which is my music, but to take on that role, that persona...I couldn't do it. Nor could I try to shoehorn my own vibe into it. I know something like that can work with, say, The Magic Band, but as much as I love the music of Captain Beefheart/ Don Van Vliet, and I mean this most sincerely, he ain't no Tim Smith!

I think, no matter how good it was, it would always be a second rate version.
There's something that would be too difficult for me, and I suspect many of the band, emotionally about doing it too. Cardiacs was so much more than a band. For most of my adult life it, and the people in the wider circle around it, had been a family and a way of life..Hell, a way of BEING. It's been really hard just trying to move on and try to piece together a 'career' with Tim being inactive. Revisiting that without him may well break my heart.

Realistically, I just don't think the funding is available to expect a potential touring band to put aside six months of their lives to get this stuff up to snuff and tour it. And believe me, having done that for a few years this is as long as it takes, and that was with the advantage of having Alphabet HQ to live/record/rehearse and work in, which we no longer have. Funnily enough, we all have day jobs/ other groups/ families/ rent/ mortgages etc. There never was any money around Cardiacs. It really all was done for love.

Regarding the reissue of the albums:

Believe me, EVERYONE in and around the band would dearly love this to happen. I'm sure it will eventually but having spent a great deal of time going through the Dickensian legal labyrinth in which Alphabet is tied up I have walked away, as many others have, a weakened man. It will happen, it HAS to but please let me state that it's not us sitting on our hands, doing nothing that is preventing it.

In the meantime I can say that there will be a Songbook 2 of the tribute album. I have my hands completely tied up with recording the new Knifeworld album, rehearsing with Guapo, and a special exciting secret release for the label (Believers Roast) but once I have a shred of spare time the cogs will start to turn on this. We can promise some very interesting contributors!