Cardiacs: Classic or Dud?

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