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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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..

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"...


Note that Jon Poole, Bob Leith and Bic Hayes are all ex-Cardiacs and Damo Waters is ex-Spratleys Japs!

"An absolutely superb new album from one of the UK's most underrated mavericks. Imagine Robert Wyatt, High Llamas, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, and Todd Rundgren all in one magnificent human. That's Crayola Lectern. Superb arrangements throughout, and in common with all the above I suppose, a sense of adventure and playfulness is evident throughout. One of my favourites of the year so far"...

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...

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 is a hand-numbered edition of 500 copies. The sleeve has a lovely, hand-constructed gimmix foldout cover and bonus CD which includes the entire program.

“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...

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..

This is the 1st solo release by Mark Cawthra, formerly of Cardiacs, who plays all instruments and contributes all vocals and gives the album a full band feel. "After what seems like an eternity, finally the first album is finished and soon to be avai

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...

“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...