Sadly this great band was off my radar and I've only found out about them recently. It's also poignant because of the death of it's leader Tim Smith last year. He was a super mad musical genius who taught himself how to score music as a teenager.
Cardiacs music is just insane, crazy, exciting and sometimes completely bonkers..but played with incredible precision and energy. It is completely unique.
Someone wrote that there are more ideas in a single Cardiacs song than most artists have in a lifetime.. and they're not wrong.
Hold onto you hats... there are more changes to tempo and style in these songs than is almost humanly possible... and all these were scored by Tim.. Jaw dropping..
Visiting Hours
Jibber and Twitch
R.E.S
Tarred and Feathered.. This one is truly insane.. and was the one that hooked me.
(pronounced: equal-sequel) "I suffered for my art.. now it's your turn"
Comments
"Who you listening to?"
"Cardiacs"
"Oh, those that nearly gave me an anxiety attack in the car when you made me carry on listening to it?"
"Yeah"
Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim!
I defy you to remain unmoved by Jim's little smile.
ex-member Jon Poole is current bassist for one of my very favourite bands, prog rockers Lifesigns.
I believe he also played bass in Dr Hook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMKC_Hd_Zw
Random Jon Poole has done a few interviews recently (ish
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_imQDC4eUOjuBBRl2mBwA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyQgllCIpqY
https://rozaliftwave.bandcamp.com/
Strangely compelling to listen to if not a little exhausting.
I remember seeing Tarred And Feathered on The Word (?) and once seen you can never quite forget it.
Got to admire them for following their muse like that. It's the sound of unemployment but admirable nonetheless.
Example below. Includes rather glorious trumpet outro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVf6yXCgY4g
Some of it is just beyond me, but the stuff I can follow is awfully good. They even did crowd-pleasing pop once...