RIP tim smith

I can hardly think of a single other group that combined extreme breakneck compositional complexity, unexpected tonal whiplash at every corner, and schizophrenic genre hopping with incredibly catchy and well written pop songwriting as Cardiacs. They managed to perpetually be in about twenty directions at once while simultaneously staying incredibly conceptually and sonically consistent with an incredibly laser focused and sharp ear for great hooks, melodies, and lyrics. Cardiacs are probably the closest thing I’ve ever heard to a fully actualized musical paradox. Tim Smith truly was one of the greatest songwriters in modern music and will be a continuing inspiration.

Rest in peace Tim.

It was John Walters, not Peel that hated Cardiacs. Peel got them in a couple of times for sessions under different guises, so Walters wouldn't realise what was being done.

A Man And A House And The Whole World Window is easily my favorite album of 1980-s

After my shift at the Bar where I work, there were only my colleague and a couple left. They drank drank profusely until I joined them. The guy of the couple, a dutch whose name escapes me and I started to talk about music quiet enthusiastically and I asked him if he played an instrument. He told me he is a church organist - I told him I am a drummer and composer. He looked me up and down and said - you like weird music don´t you... I was looking like always, a metalhead with a sprinkle of punk. We savagely discussed our favorite bands, especially from the 70s and 90s and as liqueur poured more and more we naturally played the music in the bar. And at some point, he jumped up and declared, that he must show me his favorite album. And that was when I heard the first serene tones of Sing to God. That was over a year ago. And I listened to everything Cardiacs have made, that I could get my hands on. There is rarely a day going by when I don´t listen to them. I feel a connection with that music in a way only Queen or Pink Floyd or Atomic Rooster or Daath and the likes where able to. I just want to thank you, weird dutch church-organ player who drunkenly showed me this terrific piece of art in a bar in Berlin at 6:30 in the morning.

Cardiacs is some of, if not the most creative music I've ever heard.

The almost Blakean sense of innocence that underpins much of Tim's creative output is what makes it really endearing for me. There's a special purity to how totally uninhibited the vision is across his and the cardiacs' entire career. The continual blurring between fact and fiction surrounding the band's history only adds to a presence of childlike play and mischief...

On a real note, the Cardiacs are one of my favorite bands, it’s cool to see them get love. A guy I met at a Melvin’s show told me to check them out, and then nothing was the same. Knifeworld is cool too, lead singer was in Cardiacs in the later years

Cardiacs are the only band I can't wait to recommend to anyone I get into a conversation about music with. There's massive variety from album to album, and I can't consider any of them less than a masterpiece. I evangelize them like they're an undiscovered religion, mainly because I want to bring the sheer joy they brought to my life to other music lovers. Tim Smith was an unparalleled genius, and his absence is an unbearable loss.

I feel like this is the way music was meant to be

Truly the greatest band to have graced this fair world. The Pondies love affair is strong

Not even a mention of Dirty Boy. The Crown jewel in this epic! But still, great review. Thank you.

RIP Tim Smith, creative genius.

"Eat It Up Worms Hero" is simply the greatest song of all time. The melody that gets repeated in the second half just puts the biggest smile and my face and creates a fuzzy warm feeling inside.

when i saw the thumbnail i squeaked in joy.

Two days ago, I have received a copy of this record. I have never been so nervous about any other record I have bought. The moment I have dropped the needle, the whole world around me completely disappeared. You were the one who helped me discover this amazing band too, among many other bands. Thank you, Oliver!

I threw this on immediately after the recommendation and I'm in musical glory. This is so good. The composition is really fun and I can definitely see their influence on Radiohead. These guys are freaks. I love it.

It sounds like a Yes album playing at he wrong speed but in the best way possible

Amazing album, glad that it seems to be getting more recognition these days though still criminally underrated on my opinion. Like many others I heard about it not on the internet but via word of mouth. I think that if it had a more eye-catching album cover it might have done better in the digital age. Also, best wishes to Tim Smith. A real tragedy what happened to that man. His artistic vision was truly, truly unique. No one else writes music like he does and his lyrics are somehow at once both hilarious and faintly repulsive in a way that really gets under your skin. The scant insights we get into the mind that wrote those lyrics are really valuable things I think.

Wow, was not expecting this video to show up while searching Cardiacs. Glad that you covered them, they need as much attention as possible and I hope more people can support Tim. Sing to God is the greatest album of all time for me and as someone who has trouble with articulating well enough on why I enjoy things, this video is godsend.

Best band that there ever was & is

Bought StG back in 1997. To say this is a work of genius and incredible talent is an understatement. Nothing will prepare for it if you haven't heard it. It's one of those albums that will stay with you for life.

I love this album. It overflows with ideas. Each track is like a new genre from a parallel universe one over. Subbed.

It is complex enough to egg on the idea of prog but it is done in the spirit of pop in that the songs are still meant to have hum along bits. Even though Fiery Gun Hand has the darting time movements one usually associates with prog there is still the air of stereo echoed guitars that take off to one two keyboards that are quite reminiscent of 80s pop. Yes, Timmy is right. Psychedelic Pop to be sure... but then again... we usually associate psychedelic tracks with prog era work. Timmy's primary point though is that if you compare any mainstream prog rock band you will find little if any true proximity to the feel of Cardiacs. Also, yes. Dirty Boy. The magnum opus. It is a cycle of crescendos breathing in and out of each other to such an extent that you'll honestly wonder how such chord progressions and vocal maneuvers were possible if you tried to find your way using music theory. More like... Conspiracy music theory.

Let the record show that this is one of the greatest albums ever made, and that Cardiacs were criminally under-appreciated and under-listened. I hope that will change because 200 years from now this album will still be shining unbearably bright in our eyes with it's genius.

I have such a love/hate relationship to some of the songs on this. They are just such earworms, that they occupy my mind and just generally fuck it up at times....

I'm so happy you are turning people onto this album. It's genius! Please share recommendations for other bands that follow this musical thread. Here are a few of mine: Mr Bungle, The Residents, Renaldo And the Loaf, Voivod, Zappa.

Excellent choice! I was in a band with tiny Bob Leith for a few years and can confim he is both lovely and bald. And a great drummer. I met him in a windowless basement filled with x-rays (long and surreal story that I won't go into here)

I always thought Syd Barrett would have ended writing this type of stuff if the fame and drugs sadly hadn’t drove him into seclusion. ‘Dirty Boy’ normally requires a ten minutes silence ‘ear cleanser’ after listening. Absolute genius on every level.

Imagine a bunch of clowns escaping from a madhouse, going on acid and starting a music band. Mad circus music. That´s how Cardiacs sounded to me the first time I listened to them. 30 years later, I still love being into this this mad and glorious circus

Tim Smith are William D Drake are genious composers of our time. I seriously think, that their songs will be listened in decades to come . The fact that they remained underground and widely unknown among broad audience makes them very special to me. It seems that it takes to be an exquisite listener to enjoy them :p

i'm more of an On Land and In the Sea guy myself, but Sing to God is one of those albums that I really, really, really want to get into because it seems to me like it's a culmination of everything Cardiacs

Greatest album ever made. (with all of their other albums)

Sharing this record is one if the best ways you can spend your time. Thanks so much!!!

I'm so glad you talked about this!! my favourite album of all time.

My favorite band of all time.

Love this album to DEATH!!!

OMG I'm sooo happy that you review this album, very underrated it needs more attention

A guide to cardiacs??

So stoked to have found your channel, this album (and band) are BEYOND underrated. Absolutely fantastic.

My admiration for Oliver's work increases each time a new episode of Deep Cuts Essentials is released. These great records truly deserve this professionally presented attention!

So glad you covered this! I was going to suggest doing an episode on Cardiacs. Took me ages to get into them yet how rewarding it was once it all clicked. Nice work!

Oliver, i'm going to be honest. your channel is what has been shaping my musical taste as of late, and you have inspired me to check out so many bands and artists i had never heard of. including: king krule, ghostpoet, and others. Fantano is great as well, but your informative yet passionate approach to reviews always keeps me coming back to you every time.

At bits this album is just the best music ever

A little disappointed that you didn't at least bring up the history of first-half climax "Nurses Whispering Verses". (And the hook on that song, my god.)

I'm so excited to dive into this!

Great record!!! I love cardiacs

Tim Smith really thought he was making Pop Music, and I understand why. Listen to Dog-Like Sparky: It is insanely catchy, the drums are really simplistic, there's verses and a clear chorus in the song. The thing is, he simply shifted a couple of concepts that we take for granted in Pop music and turned it on its head, and that's why it feels so outlandish. The rythm is so simple yet, by just playing some chord progressions outside of the original key, he made "Pop music" that U2 would never do.

There are a few albums that, once it's finished, I can replay and listen to all over again and enjoy just as much. This is one of them; "...Maresnest" is another. Stay strong Tim.

I heard it a few years ago, forgot the name of the album and just find it back. Thank you thank you thank you.

You're one of the best things on youtube right now...great video as always.Keep up the good work!

A very informed overview....now I have subscribed..

Never heard of them before, excited to check this out. Cheers

And, of course, Cardiacs are the greatest band in the history of ever, and this album is nothing short of fucking amazing

Hell yeah brother so happy to see the Cardiacs!!!

Great album! so happy to hear more people talk about ir

This is a band from 2080

I FUCKING LOVE THIS BAND

Oh nice one, Cardiacs are very special.

Better review than Fantano would of given it . Well done sir .

Wow big agree. Amazing record.

I own vinyl #2! Been obsessed with Cardiacs ever since I heard On Land and in the Sea as a teenager.

I first heard of these guys through the band Oceansize, who seemed to be pretty big fans of them. They had songs called "Part Cardiac" and "Commemorative 9/11 T-shirt". Vennart explained the name of the last song as "I was sold a t-shirt by the singer of the Cardiacs. On the label it read 'For ages 9-11', and when he sold it to me he said "oh, here's one of our commemorative 9/11 t-shirts," so I got thinking about what sort of person would wear a 9/11 t-shirt. Someone who's not really looking to the future." Tim Smith also apparently produced their first EP as well.

I like that album but I find myself listening to "all that glitters is a mares nest" live album way more. It's sounds so good with a great setlist.

I’m hosting Sing to God on my channel with permission from the Alphabet Business Concern for anyone who wants to hear it. If you like it, please purchase it from the Cardiacs website though, Tim needs every penny he can get for his recovery!

ace !glad to find your channel!

Nurses Whispering Verses... What a song!!

I've been meaning to check Sing To God since I love Mr Bungle so this video came in right time (Yes, I will Lamb)

Fantastic choice. I feel that this album is a build up to and subsequent come down from Dirty Boy. It comes slap-bang in the middle of the album and the ending to that song feels like the peak of Sing to God. Glorious.

Only came across the band past few days which unfortunately timed with finding out Tim Smith passed away Rip, I am not going to say the Album was life changing......but it was pretty damn close, listening to the music just made me feel emotions and often tunes would be difficult but then they would just click.....its weird and brilliant

What an album! What a band!

This album is fantastic. Also, there's a live TV session of Cardiacs that it's worth a view. They absolutely kill it on Fiery Gun Hand

absolute classic

Cardiacs and associated acts are available on Bandcamp.

Oh my gosh finally!

Deep Cuts Essentials - Battles (Mirrored)

Had a feeling you where a Cardiacs fan...but would agree that on land is my favourite plus the live album all that glitters is a mares nest is one of the best live cuts ever

John Peel loved them, Walters hated them, he booked them under a fake name for a session to fool Walters

This album sounds like if Manic Street Preachers made an art rock album while on acid

Fiery gun hand!! Is my personal hit :p

First time noticing how good his haircut is :")

Omg i cant believe you reviewed cardiacs :0 my dad got me into cardiacs when i was about 6 and iv loved them since. They are truly one of my favourite bands of all time. If you havent listened to the live album 'all that glitters is a mares nest' please do.. i think its the best CD i ever owned and id never sell or give it away. Still great review Oliver. Much respect.

Their history page is absolutely hilarious.

God, I love this album....no mention of Dirty Boy though?

FUCK YES CARDIACS.

great album

When I first listened to it, it gave me a Queen-esque vibe. Need to listen to it more than once though to fully grasp this album...

A guide to Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV would be great

ABC sounds very similar to the Cryptic Corporation, who "manage" The Residents.

Thumbs up for Cardiacs! Now do Van der Graaf Generator/Peter Hammill!

an experience of wonders to the ear but i also think "on land..." even superior. so glad i found this band (better: this microcosm of musicians and groups) some months before. tim smith and his band should get more love moreover in the light of his illness. thx! edit to fellow readers: cardiacs reach their peak with "dirty boy", be sure you dont miss this!

Eat It Up Worms Hero has a flavor of The Dillinger Escape Plan. A full year before the latter band was even formed.

I like your shirt 👍

Can you do a guide to fever ray

Pondies all seems to have a favorite Cardiacs... I don't... they all have something to offer, I'm more into Timmy's entire oeuvre... I find something different and compelling everywhere I listen to Timmy... breathtaking is often an apt description... lovable rascal...

Oceansize - Frames for deep cuts essentials! Please Oliver

cardiac - eden deez nuts

i was always under the impression that John Peel was a fan of cardiacs. iirc the sea nymphs did 2 peel sessions

Such a good album, but in my opinion it's not the best Cardiacs album. That title would go to On Land and in the Sea