The Cardiacs are one of those bands that I have heard of and had never listened to a note. Until I researched them online (yep, these reviews are researched, I know hard to believe) I was unaware of the tragedy that main man Tim Smith suffered with a cardiac arrest in 2008 which left him with dystonia which he bravely fought until his death in 2020, tragic.
The Seaside is a demo album that was initially released on cassette and was only available at concerts or from their fan site, this wasn’t storming the charts when released back in 1983.
What do they sound like, now there’s a question? After the first listen I would have said absolute rubbish, but every request gets three listens. By the third one I’m picking up things and I am sure I am missing loads with the bizarre mix over these nine songs, these are no traditional arranged songs.
Jibber and Twitch has a keyboard in it that reminds me of Rick Wakeman, before alarms go off and funnily enough the band twitch before a heavy metal riff that would not sound out of place on a 70’s BBC theme tune arrives and then we have brass. Bizarre.
Gena Lollabridgida is a bit more straight forward, more punky, relentless from the start and Hello Mr Sparrow has prog rock keyboard moments between the battering of drums and guitar and It’s a Lovely Day has the feel of a carnival at some points.
A Wooden Fish on Wheels has a ska like guitar and Smith’s vocals are vaguely like Terry Hall. R.E.S. has the sound of a kid’s keyboard at the start that slowly lodges in your brain before we go into a monumental instrumental moment halfway through where each instrument seems to get their own solo and I love the guitar solo in To Go Off and Things.
I am giving this a six as it’s slowly working on me, in a year ask me again and it could be a ten or a three. Its challenging music but that’s what makes it so interesting and unique.
Worth your time to decide if it’s a love or hate type record, reminds me of a certain band called The Fall that people seem to have the same feelings about.
6/10
GIVE IT A STREAM: A Wooden Fish on Wheels
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