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LSD (Cardiacs album)

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LSD is the unfinished sixth and final studio album by the English rock band Cardiacs. Recording began following lineup changes, with the lead single "Ditzy Scene" released by Org Records in 2007 to tease the upcoming double album. It was due to be released in October 2008, promoted by singles in August and November, a fall tour, a radio session with Marc Riley and a reissue of the concert film All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992). Production was indefinitely postponed after frontman Tim Smith had a cardiac arrest and stroke on 25 June 2008 leaving him unable to play or provide vocals.

Fundraiser gigs, namely charity concerts entitled "The Alphabet Business Convention", were arranged and tribute albums were recorded to aid Smith in rehabilitation, and to help him to complete work on the album and other musical projects. He died on 21 July 2020 of what was deemed to be another heart attack. The band released "Vermin Mangle", the final track of LSD, on 1 September 2020 to mark his funeral. Originating from Smith's solo performances in 2000 and 2006, it was the first release of new Cardiacs material since "Ditzy Scene", and featured Smith on vocals. Because of its history, the album became the subject of speculation and many apocryphal stories.[1]

In 2024, Tim Smith's brother Jim revealed that work on LSD had continued during Tim's illness and after his death, reaching the mixing phase of recording.[2][3]

Initial background

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Kavus Torabi (in 2008), a recent addition to the Cardiacs lineup on the album

In October 2005, Smith told questioner Rob Aird that the band had been working on a follow-up album to Guns (1999) from "about 1999–2000".[4] Smith also said that "things got broken and we couldn't finish the album", explaining: "I won't re-record things once they have been started because too much of the atmosphere and god knows what else is lost."[4] Smith hinted that the band "might put it out one day as it was left" but confirmed they had moved on to new tracks.[4][a] A track from the unreleased album called "Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain" appeared on Greatest Hits (2002).[6][1][b]

Following the release of Greatest Hits, several changes occurred within the Cardiacs lineup. Guitarist Jon Poole was replaced in 2003 by former guitar technician Kavus Torabi, previously known as a founding member of the Cardiacs-influenced The Monsoon Bassoon. In 2004, the band's lineup expanded further to include vocalists Claire Lemmon and Melanie Woods of Sidi Bou Said, Sharron Fortnam of the North Sea Radio Orchestra, and percussionists Cathy Harabaras and Dawn Staple.[6] Smith, Lemmon and Woods had previously worked together when Smith had produced Sidi Bou Said's Bodies album,[8] with Lemmon subsequently providing backing vocals for the song "Dog Like Sparky" on Cardiacs' album Sing to God (1996).[9] Dawn Staple's story "Peril on the Sea" had previously been included on another Sing to God track, "Wireless",[10] purportedly a prize for winning a competition set by Cardiacs' label Alphabet Business Concern.[11]

Recording

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Promotional "Ditzy Scene" CD-R

"Ditzy Scene" was the first song written and recorded by the band's new lineup at Smith's own recording studio Apollo 8—located at Tim and Jim Smith's childhood home in Chessington[12]—in Autumn 2007, shortly before the last Cardiacs tour.[13][14][15] Because it was recorded quickly, Torabi had less involvement in the arrangements than for other tracks.[16], although he did write most of the lyrics. "Ditzy Scene" was released as a single on Org Records on 5 November 2007,[c] backed with two other songs from the recent sessions, "Gen" and "Made All Up"

Cardiacs began further work on LSD following the 2007 tour.[19] Torabi had "never known [Smith] to be as productive as the time [Cardiacs] were making [LSD]."[20] According to Torabi in 2009, the band "came pretty close to completing the recording" and "were so busy on it at the time of Tim’s heart attack and subsequent stroke that [Torabi] never bothered to get desk mixes."[21]

Tim Smith's paralysis

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All work on LSD abruptly stopped when Tim Smith was hospitalised on 25 June 2008. Having attended the last night of My Bloody Valentine's comeback residency at the Roundhouse in London, Smith had gone for a drink with former Cardiacs guitarist Bic Hayes before heading off in the early hours to meet friends, subsequently suffering a heart attack and an episode of cerebral anoxia in a north London street, which in turn triggered a major stroke.[22][23][20][6] Smith was treated in intensive care at University College Hospital, but was thought to have had a second stroke in hospital a few days later as he recuperated. He was eventually diagnosed with the rare neurological condition dystonia, which causes muscles to contract uncontrollably, and was left both paralysed down one side of the body and unable to speak.[22][24][25] Denied movement and speech, Smith was forced to retire from live performances and - for a long time - from studio work.[26][27] Cardiacs went on an indefinite hiatus following his hospitalisation, leaving LSD unfinished.[28][29]

Aftermath

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At this point Tim Smith can neither sing nor play his guitar. [...] it is extremely unlikely that Cardiacs will perform live for the foreseeable future. This is not [...] the end of Cardiacs. You must once again be patient before events can reveal themselves as foodstuffs for your greedy little mouths.[30]

—The Alphabet Business Concern

A series of announcements were posted on Cardiacs' website by the band's record label, the Alphabet Business Concern, from 16 July 2008 to 25 June 2009 explaining Smith's current conditions.[30] In a 2009 interview, Torabi said that LSD would eventually release, but it was "the last thing on [their] minds".[31] On 13 December 2010, the tribute album Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 was released, compiling covers made by artists close to Smith, members of Cardiacs, and those inspired by the band.[32][d] Other fundraising initiatives were formed, including gigs—above all the charity concert "The Alphabet Business Convention" held on three occasions between 2013 and 2017.[26][6] Proceeds from reprints and special editions went towards Smith's rehabilitation, including the 2015 box set The Seaside: Original Edition.[6][33]

Due to Smith's illness, it was thought that LSD would remain a famous lost album.[34] However, Smith was able to oversee the completion of another of his musical projects, the Sea Nymphs' second album, On the Dry Land (2016), after significant progress with recovery.[35] Torabi stated in an interview that LSD was "nearly done but needs vocals and eyebrows", adding that there were talks of people who Smith would approve of adding vocals under his direction.[19] In January 2018, a fundraising drive was launched to help fund Smith's medical bills, initially set at £40,000.[36] The effort was supported by Faith No More founder and bassist Billy Gould, Shane Embury of Napalm Death, Voivod guitarist Dan Mongrain, and Ginger Wildheart.[37] Quickly exceeding the original goal, the JustGiving campaign updated to raise £100,000—enough to provide Smith a year of home care and a chance of recuperation.[38] Later that year, Smith was awarded an honorary degree as Doctor of Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.[24][39] There was talk of him moving back to his home full-time and being able to oversee the completion of LSD.[24]

On 22 July 2020, Jim Smith announced in a statement on Cardiacs' website that Tim had died the previous night.[40] The news was confirmed by Torabi, Mary Wren from the Alphabet Business Concern, and another band representative.[25] His exact cause of death was initially unconfirmed,[27] but was deemed to be another heart attack.[24][6] Tim Smith's funeral was held on 1 September 2020.[41] The same day, the song "Vermin Mangle"—planned as the final track on LSD—was released as a free download on the band's Bandcamp page.[42][24][43] It was only played live a few times during Smith's solo performances in 2000 and 2006, with the studio version first shared publicly during Steve Davis' tribute show on Phoenix FM on 30 July.[43] It was their first single and release of new material since "Ditzy Scene" in 2007, featuring the circus, prog and psychedelic instrumentation that drove the band's most classic work. Vermin Mangle features Tim Smith on vocals.[41][43]

Cardiacs resume activity

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Billed alternately as "Cardiacs", "The Cardiacs", and "Cardiacs Family & Friends", members of the band "past, present, and future" played sold-out shows as part of a "Sing to Tim" tour in 2024.[44] [45][46]

Release

[edit]

In 2024, Jim Smith confirmed that LSD was in mixing phase and on BBC Radio 6 Music mentioned a tentative release date of April 2025. Smith elaborated that the album had been worked on before and during Tim Smith's illness and after his death, with contributions from many Cardiacs members and associates. Jon Poole explained that Jim Smith had been "the key element" in pushing the album toward completion.[2][3]

Notes

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  1. ^ On the Progressive Ears forum, Kavus Torabi says that the lost follow-up album is apocryphal, though a few songs exist.[5]
  2. ^ Torabi recounts "Faster Than Snakes" being made around the time of Sing to God (1996), clarifying that it was never meant to be released on LSD.[7]
  3. ^ The release date of "Ditzy Scene" is alternatively given as 1 September 2007 on Apple Music and Bandcamp.[17][18]
  4. ^ Other tribute albums include The Whole World Window (I and II; 2016 and 2018) produced by Hayes, Singin' to God (2018) by the 180 Gs—a barbershop version of Sing to God, and Casio Cardiacs (2020) by the Gathering Doubt—an EP that reinterprets some of the band's classics in chiptune.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Benjamin, Stuart (12 July 2015). "Echoes of the Past: Cardiacs – Guns". Echoes and Dust. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b ""Sing to Tim", il rinnovato abbraccio dei Cardiacs". ImpattoSonoro - Webzine musicale e culturale indipendente (in Italian). 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  3. ^ a b "Riley & Coe - It's Cardiacs and Spratleys live in session. Double whammy! - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  4. ^ a b c Smith, Tim (October 2005). "Cardiacs Official Website » Your Vexed Questions October 2005". Cardiacs. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  5. ^ Torabi, Kavus (24 November 2014). "Cardiacs--where to start?". Progressive Ears. p. 38. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Sgrignoli, Marco (20 July 2022). "Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto". Ondarock [it] (in Italian). Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  7. ^ Torabi, Kavus (29 April 2015). "Cardiacs--where to start?". Progressive Ears. p. 55. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  8. ^ Petrella, Martino (11 June 2021). ""Sing To God": la guida galattica dei Cardiacs". ImpattoSonoro (in Italian). Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  9. ^ Kitching, Sean (4 July 2014). "Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  10. ^ Sing to God (liner notes). Cardiacs. Alphabet Business Concern. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ "History". Cardiacs. 2005. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  12. ^ Davis & Torabi 2021, Search "Apollo 8".
  13. ^ Lawson, Dom (11 August 2014). "Kavus Torabi's Guide To Cardiacs". Prog. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Умер Тим Смит — основатель и вокалист культовой группы Cardiacs". Afisha (in Russian). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Ditzy Scene" (CD single liner notes). Cardiacs. UK: Org Records. 2007. ORG419.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Torabi, Kavus (28 April 2015). "Cardiacs--where to start?". Progressive Ears. p. 54. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Ditzy Scene - Single by Cardiacs". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Ditzy Scene (Single)". Bandcamp. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  19. ^ a b Kitching, Sean (10 May 2016). "The Golden Age Is Now: The Strange World Of Kavus Torabi". The Quietus. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  20. ^ a b Marsden, Rhodri (8 January 2018). "Tim Smith, the Cardiacs singer hoping to overcome brain injury". i. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  21. ^ Shepherd, Sam (12 August 2009). "TLOBF Interview :: Knife World". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  22. ^ a b Gittins, Ian (3 February 2011). "Cardiacs tribute album to raise money for paralysed singer Tim Smith". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  23. ^ Mr. Spencer (20 April 2011). "The Cardiacs - an epic overview by Mr. Spencer with help from Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Captain Sensible". Louder Than War. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d e Kitching, Sean (24 July 2020). "Remembering Tim Smith Of Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  25. ^ a b Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (22 July 2020). "Tim Smith, frontman of cult band Cardiacs, dies aged 59". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  26. ^ a b Lawson, Dom (21 August 2020). "Tim Smith". Prog. Retrieved 7 August 2022 – via PressReader.
  27. ^ a b Reilly, Nick (22 July 2020). "The Cardiacs' Tim Smith has died at the age of 59". NME. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  28. ^ "Tim Smith, the lead singer of Cardiacs, has died aged 59". Far Out Magazine. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  29. ^ Richards, Sam (22 July 2020). "Cardiacs frontman Tim Smith has died, aged 59". Uncut. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  30. ^ a b Bell 2011, prologue.
  31. ^ The Curator (2009). "Kavus Torabi Interview 2009". Retrieved 11 August 2022 – via Cardiacs.org.
  32. ^ "Magic Numbers and XTC raise funds for Salisbury musician". BBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  33. ^ Kitching, Sean (3 November 2015). "Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  34. ^ Benjamin, Stuart (4 November 2016). "The Sea Nymphs – On The Dry Land". Echoes and Dust. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  35. ^ Ewing, Jerry (22 July 2020). "Cardiacs singer Tim Smith dead at 59". Prog. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  36. ^ "Fundraising drive launched for Cardiacs frontman Tim Smith". Belfast Telegraph. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  37. ^ Rowlands, Marc (10 January 2018). "Members Of Faith No More, Voivod And Napalm Death Join Fundraiser For Cardiacs Vocalist". Kerrang!. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  38. ^ Kitching, Sean (9 January 2018). "Tim Smith Of Cardiacs Talks About His Illness". The Quietus. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  39. ^ Kitching, Sean (3 July 2022). "The Strange (Parallel) World of… Tim Smith Of Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  40. ^ Malt, Andy (23 July 2020). "Cardiacs frontman Tim Smith dies". Complete Music Update. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  41. ^ a b Sacher, Andrew (1 September 2020). "Cardiacs put out previously unreleased song "Vermin Mangle" to honor Tim Smith". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  42. ^ Richards, Sam (2 September 2020). "Hear a previously unreleased Cardiacs song, "Vermin Mangle"". Uncut. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  43. ^ a b c Kitching, Sean (1 September 2020). "Previously Unheard Cardiacs Track Released". The Quietus. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  44. ^ "ORGAN THING: Singing Cardiacs songs for him, the Sing For Tim celebration at the Garage, London, of course it was wonderful, of course it was…". THE ORGAN. 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  45. ^ ""Sing to Tim", il rinnovato abbraccio dei Cardiacs". ImpattoSonoro - Webzine musicale e culturale indipendente (in Italian). 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  46. ^ Turner, Luke (2024-05-30). "Four Gigs for Cardiacs' Tim Smith Announced". The Quietus. Retrieved 2024-06-18.

Sources

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