Cardiacs and related

Andy Carne : Lead vocal
Daniel Chudley-Le Corre: Electric bass guitar, vocal
James Larcombe : Melodeon, hurdy-gurdy, harmonium, vocal
Richard Larcombe: Guitar, vocal, harmonium
Sarah Measures: Vocal, flute
Kavus Torabi: Acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, percussion, vocal
Paul Westwood: Hammered dulcimer, harmonium, vocal

"Nautical all-stars Admirals Hard release their debut album Upon A Painted Ocean on Believers Roast. The 7-piece ensemble features members of b

"Arch Garrison are
Craig Fortnam (North Sea Radio Orchestra) – guitars, vocals, percussion.
James Larcombe (Stars in Battledress, William D Drake, North Sea Radio Orchestra) - organ, synth, piano.

Having garnered much critical...

Craig Fortnam: voice, guitars, piano, Philicorda organ, monosynth, percussion
James Larcombe: melodeon, dulcitone, wind organ, Philicorda organ, monosynth, piano
special guest:
Pete Aves: pedal steel guitar on 'Open My Eye'

This is one of those albums that seems simple and acoustic-oriented and straightforward and when you really listen to it, you realize that it actually is anything BUT simple. Conditionally recommended.

“North Sea Radio Orchestra's Craig Fortnam and...

Craig Fortnam: voice, guitars, piano, Philicorda organ, monosynth, percussion
James Larcombe: melodeon, dulcitone, wind organ, Philicorda organ, monosynth, piano
special guest:
Pete Aves: pedal steel guitar on 'Open My Eye'

This is one of those albums that seems simple and acoustic-oriented and straightforward and when you really listen to it, you realize that it actually is anything BUT simple. Conditionally recommended.

“North Sea Radio Orchestra's Craig Fortnam and...

This was the group's fourth album and it was the one that almost (and perhaps should have) catapulted them into the big time in the UK.

This has the 'classic' sextet lineup. It has their 'almost' hit "Is This The Life", and lots of other stuff..

This was the group's fourth album and it was the one that almost (and perhaps should have) catapulted them into the big time in the UK.
This has the 'classic' sextet lineup. It has their 'almost' hit "Is This The Life", and lots of other stuff that I like even more.

“An iconic album recorded with the 1987 classic line-up of Tim Smith, Jim Smith, Sarah Smith, William D. Drake, Tim Quy and Dominic Luckman, this release celebrates a band on the verge of success, working through the small hours..

The Cardiacs are a great, long-lived UK outfit, founded in 1977, who combine punk energy with very odd cabaret leanings and a fondness for musical complexity that undoubtedly got them gobbed on even more than usual during the 'age of punk'. They didn't...

The greatest concert ever given becomes, naturally, the greatest DVD ever released. Previously released only as a VHS tape, this incredible document has never been on DVD before. It captures the group in their insane prime and the little 'asides'...

Not just released, but SPITEFULLY released!

"A collection of Cardiacs’ earliest works recorded between the years 1977-1979. Spitefully compiled and released on the black market without the band’s knowledge by an embittered associate for personal gain. Now Archive Cardiacs gets the digipac works done on it to reflect it's incredible contents. Simply a ‘must have’ for the collector of toneless drivel."

A fine place to start if you just want a sampling of what they do. But then, of course, you will want them all...

The Cardiacs are a great, long-lived UK outfit, founded in 1977, who combine punk energy with very odd cabaret leanings and a...

For reasons I have never quite understood, and maybe they never understood either, Guns, released in 1999, was the band's last studio album.

"Guns…the perfect companion to ‘Sing To God’. Cardiacs extend the blueprint ever outwards with a 12...

This stupendous live album, recorded live to stereo with no overdubs or sweetening, on May 15, 1988 during their most popular live period, features the famous/classic sextet lineup.

The Cardiacs are a great, long-lived UK outfit, founded in 1977, who combine punk energy with very odd cabaret leanings and a fondness for musical complexity that undoubtedly got them gobbed on even more than usual during the 'age of punk'. They didn't care; "wankers", they cried to the unbelievers!

"It was...

I know that Cardiacs have a lot of live albums, but they really shine live and, despite it's name, this is an excellent quality live album by the sextet, recorded at the Reading Rock Festival in front of a huge audience on August 24, 1986. It was...

"Sing to God is the seventh album by Cardiacs and their first with drummer Bob Leith.

Sing to God was also the band's first double album, due to the sheer amount of material that group leader Tim Smith had written over a number of years with...

"In the wrong hands, a tool can serve as a WEAPON!"-Kavus Torabi

High quality video footage from 'rehearsals' from 2005! This is just a riot from beginning to end.
Tim claims he can't remember all the words, but it's just an excuse so he can sing 'fuckity fuck fuck' a lot and give Kavi 'the eye'; he doesn't give a toss anymore.
A fucking dog barks. And barks. And fucking barks....It's hot in the shed (for Jim, but not apparently for Kavus, who wears white fur), there is much....

I say:
This is the last Cardiacs CD to be reissued and available again in the post-Cardiacs era. Somehow, Cardiacs are a band that really shine live, and this 'special concept' live album shows that once more.

This is the only album they...

Around the time of their great release The Seaside and opening for Marillion in the UK, this originally cassette-only release emerged. It was first released on CD in 2004 and I certainly never saw it before now.

"A Cardiacs spin-off project...

This is the never-before released 2nd album by The Sea Nymphs (Tim Smith, Sarah Smith and William D. Drake, all of Cardiacs at the time it was recorded).
Originally recorded Spring, 1991, with some additional recordings done in 2015 and 2016.

�Exactly why this, their second album, has been denied an official release for over two decades has yet to be fully explained, but ... it�s hard to imagine a single [fan] failing to emit squeaks of delight at the prospect of hearing these songs for the..

"The Sea Nymphs is an album recorded as a side project by Tim and Sarah Smith, and William D. Drake of the band Cardiacs, originally known as Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. It was originally only available through the fan club and at concerts, but was later released generally as a CD in 1992."-Wikipedia

"The rumours that three key members of Cardiacs both past and present, namely Tim Smith, Sarah Smith and William D. Drake had been secretly recording material under the name of "The Sea Nymphs"...

"The Sea Nymphs is an album recorded as a side project by Tim and Sarah Smith, and William D. Drake of the band Cardiacs, originally known as Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. It was originally only available through the fan club and at concerts, but was later released generally as a CD in 1992."-Wikipedia

"The rumours that three key members of Cardiacs both past and present, namely Tim Smith, Sarah Smith and William D. Drake had been secretly recording material under the name of "The Sea Nymphs"...

Who is William D. Drake? William D. Drake was a member of Cardiacs during one of their very greatest periods (there have been more than one) and he also collaborated in the writing as well as making the under-acknowledged Mr & Mrs Smith and Mr Drake...

As the universe reels in pain from the reality, yet becomes used to the idea, of a 'post Cardiacs world', music is still being created by some of the ex-members. And the more I hear, the more I realize what a talented crew manned that ship. William...

As the universe reels in pain from the reality, yet becomes used to the idea, of a 'post Cardiacs world', music is still being created by some of the ex-members. And the more I hear, the more I realize what a talented crew manned that ship. William D. Drake was a member of the group and this is his fourth and latest solo album. You can definitely hear traces of Cardiacs in his work, but there's a lot more too. It's mostly songs, but every now and then you will be surprised by a rather intricate and...

"Yews Paw was an album of thirteen unaccompanied acoustic piano pieces. All of these were original Drake compositions, although inspirations included classical composers such as Debussy, Rachmaninov, Paderewski, Prokofiev and Hindemith as well as jazz...

"Yew's Paw was an album of thirteen unaccompanied acoustic piano pieces. All of these were original Drake compositions, although inspirations included classical composers such as Debussy, Rachmaninov, Paderewski, Prokofiev and Hindemith as well as jazz, Walt Disney films and Edward Lear). As with Briny Hooves, the album was well received. John L. Walters reviewed Yews Paw in The Guardian, describing it as "piano miniatures whose 'light classical' veneer peels back to reveal a tough musical heart."-Wikipedia

"You may know Stephen EvEns as the drummer behind Graham Coxon. You may know Stephen EvEns as the occasional sticksman behind The Damned. You may know Stephen EvEns as the rhythmic backbone of William D Drake’s band, Charlotte Hatherley, and, for one brief week, Cardiacs. You may even know him as Stuffy accompanied by his Fuses.
Now get to know Stephen EvEns the songsmith, the maudlin geetar plucker and blistering noisemangler. Get to know of his embittered heart (latterly mended) and the disturbed...

"You may know Stephen EvEns as the drummer behind Graham Coxon. You may know Stephen EvEns as the occasional sticksman behind The Damned. You may know Stephen EvEns as the rhythmic backbone of William D Drake’s band, Charlotte Hatherley, and, for one brief week, Cardiacs. You may even know him as Stuffy accompanied by his Fuses.
Now get to know Stephen EvEns the songsmith, the maudlin geetar plucker and blistering noisemangler. Get to know of his embittered heart (latterly mended) and the disturbed...

Craig Fortnam - voice, guitars, organ, synth, piano, percussion
Nicky Baigent - Bb clarinet, bass clarinet
Luke Crooks – bassoon
Harry Escott – cello
James Larcombe – piano
Brian Wright - violin, viola
Hugh Wilkinson – vibraphone

“All at sea. Anchorless. Adrift. Ark is the first album to be released as a Craig Fortnam solo album. As the composer for North Sea Radio Orchestra and Arch Garrison, Craig has always made music with meaning, emotional heft and depth of...

Craig Fortnam - voice, guitars, organ, synth, piano, percussion
Nicky Baigent - Bb clarinet, bass clarinet
Luke Crooks – bassoon
Harry Escott – cello
James Larcombe – piano
Brian Wright - violin, viola
Hugh Wilkinson – vibraphone

“All at sea. Anchorless. Adrift. Ark is the first album to be released as a Craig Fortnam solo album. As the composer for North Sea Radio Orchestra and Arch Garrison, Craig has always made music with meaning, emotional heft and depth of...

Their third release (second by the wonderful, eight-piece edition of the group) and once again, they've topped themselves! How can you not love and enjoy "vivid lysergic joy"?

"Were it not for an almost accidental affiliation with the modern prog rock scene, Knifeworld would surely have been embraced by the indie mainstream years ago. Bottled Out of Eden arrives as the band begin to make inroads in that domain, but rather than imbue their sound with a little Tame Impala-like polish, this is an...

Knifeworld is the long worked on solo project by Kavus Torabi, of Cadiacs, Guapo and Monsoon Bassoon. It's a very English, very modernly English progressive release - it's not filled with mellotrons and it doesn't sound like it's from the 70s, but it is full of good songs with great hooks and huge depth in terms of what he does with the song forms. If you like and appreciate Cardiacs, you'll definitely like this; although it doesn't sound anything like Cardiacs, it mines similar ground. Nicely done....

This collects the first recordings by Knifeworld as a band, as opposed to Kavus' solo project. Everyone who enjoyed The Unravelling needs this as well!

"Homes Of The Newly Departed is an album length collection of the Knifeworld EP's Dear Lord...

This 2008 release is the 2nd album by the North Sea Radio Orchestra, who are a contemporary music ensemble who happily cross genres. The band has several ties to Cardiacs and they do a piece by William D. Drake here, as well as including him and Kavus...

“Back in 2002 North Sea Radio Orchestra were born in the lanes and alleys of the City of London, playing, in dusty old churches, a kind of chamber/alternative classical/folk high-Victorian hybrid music. Then escaping the City to play various festivals, arts establishments, 6Music sessions, venues of all kinds whilst releasing three studio albums to great critical acclaim. Now after a 4 year break they return with their fourth album 'Dronne'.
All NSRO music is composed, recorded and lead by guitarist...

"The band/group(led by Craig Fortnam) have been described as 'unique english chamber music' which, at best, only describes the tools of their trade, you'll hear chamber strings, choral music, english folkiness, romantic poetry, experimental organs...

"North Sea Radio Orchestra (generally abbreviated to NSRO) is an English contemporary music ensemble and cross-disciplinary chamber orchestra (plus chorus).

The NSRO was set up mainly as a vehicle for the compositions of its musical director...

This is a hand-numbered edition of 999 copies!

“This concert is a beautiful event, for me. These musicians seem to me to have have really grasped what my songs are about; but at the same time, created an entirely fresh way of putting the music together. I feel so honored and so grateful.”-Robert Wyatt, March 2019

“One of the greatest albums of the 1970s, beautifully reimagined and re-written for orchestra. I have listened to Rock Bottom hundreds of times, and thought I was familiar with...

This 'lost album' was produced by Christian Hayes (Cardiacs) and mixed by Tim Smith (Cardiacs).

"A very long time coming Everything comes round again. Some things never go away.

Words that were weighted, wait, hang in the air, unwind..

Another great Cardiacs-associated release, saved from the gathering dustbin of impossible to find...

"Spratleys Japs was a British psychedelic rock band formed by Cardiacs leader Tim Smith and Joanne Spratley. The band is known to have been...

Even though he released it and it might be considered 'cheating' by some of this world's harshest critics, this is Kavus' favorite album of 2014.

"Stars In Battledress is a British duo. Brothers Richard and James Larcombe write and perform...

“Hip To The Jag, Kavus Torabi's debut solo album, is a blissfully skewed swan dive into the swirling cosmic kaleidoscope of the poet's soul. From spectral, intricate and fragile compositions to psychedelic, joyous and open drone-scapes, it is brave, beautiful and beguiling throughout.
Kavus Torabi's songs dwell on mortality, love and loss. He uses disquieting themes as a way of establishing a context for transcendent bliss.
Over the last two decades, as one of Britain's most inventive songwriters.

“Hip To The Jag, Kavus Torabi's debut solo album, is a blissfully skewed swan dive into the swirling cosmic kaleidoscope of the poet's soul. From spectral, intricate and fragile compositions to psychedelic, joyous and open drone-scapes, it is brave, beautiful and beguiling throughout.
Kavus Torabi's songs dwell on mortality, love and loss. He uses disquieting themes as a way of establishing a context for transcendent bliss.
Over the last two decades, as one of Britain's most inventive songwriters.

The relationship of this, Kavus' solo debut, to Knifeworld is not dis-similar to Chameleon In The Shadow Of The Night's relationship to Pawn Hearts. One would not exist in the same way without the other, it is similar in a lot of ways, but very different as well.

"Solar Divination is the debut EP from Knifeworld/ Gong frontman Kavus Torabi. Written, performed and produced by Torabi 'Solar Divination' is as profoundly psychedelic as you would expect.
Three otherworldly, spellbinding and...

Kavus Torabi (Cardiacs, Guapo, Knifeworld and the man behind the Believers Roast label) put on a one day festival featuring many of the best of London's modern progressive/unusual rock bands. All tracks here are not available elsewhere and this is a...

"Exquisite Corpse is a method by which a collection of images is collectively assembled. Each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence until finally the whole completed picture is revealed. This technique invented by the Surrealists is similar...