Cardiacs: Classic or Dud?

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.