No BS Reactions: Prog Dude Reacts to: Cardiacs - Jibber and Twitch

[@boq780_2.0]

The best version of this song is on the Fairytales from a Rotten Shed DVD, a very funny and beautifully played rehearsal performance video for the 'Special Garage Concerts' where Cardiacs played sets of very early material in the early 2000s. Well worth a watch, directed by Tim himself, it's on KZbin.

[@davegasque8392]

Seconded, Thirded, and Forthded!

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Will definitely look for that! Sounds fun. Thanks for watching!

[@drgreyhound]

Just for balance, I disagree entirely. The Seaside version is the definitive version.

[@boq780_2.0]

@@drgreyhound there's a distinct lack of dog on The Seaside version which inevitably drags it down.

[@macfrenzy6544]

@@drgreyhound The seaside version is the definitive version... but the Rotten Shed version is the ultimate version.

[@miked6426]

So many levels of Cardiacs. I'm on level 2 it's a lovely day!!

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

I think I'm likely still on Level 0. LOL

[@antlermagick]

The lyrics of this song are one of the best descriptions of ADHD I've ever heard. I doubt it's intentional, but it's so relatable.

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Wouldn't surprise me at all if it was intentional, though perhaps not specifically about ADHD. I'm fairly certain that wasn't yet identified as a diagnosis at the time the song was written, but certainly people experienced it by then.

[@robhickey5301]

Already iterated here, the live Fairytales from a Rotten Shed version is killer!

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Noted! Thanks!

[@neilomac]

One day we might find out where the FUCKING DOG is.

[@macfrenzy6544]

Think you can do better?, I don't think.

[@robhickey5301]

@@macfrenzy6544 Huh?

[@kenlyon8285]

​​​@@robhickey5301 Those were references to dialog from the DVD Fairytales from the Rotten Shed

[@jeffreytaylor6257]

I heard a reviewer of their work describe Cardiacs thusly: "they are attacking you with music and you thank them for it". That gets as close to it as I can imagine. Be well. JT

[@mr.magicmumbles4039]

A nice if not unintended nod to the cardiac's line; "Poor soldier, despite all his charms, while he slept they cut off his arms" "And he said: 'thank you sir'."

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

I love that description!

[@Unearth122]

I'd say check out on land and by the sea. It's what I'd call their most prog and straight forward album. But still has their signature wackyness.

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Cool! Thank you for the suggestion! And for watching!

[@miked6426]

Just a great album. 👍

[@shacharh5470]

gotta love that album, I agree. I wouldn't call it straightforward, except for a couple songs in the middle that are less crazy than the rest.

[@jameswarner5809]

There are a few long Cardiacs studio tracks. As Cold As Can Be In An English Sea is arguably the least weird and clocks in at over seven minutes, as does (Junior Is A) Jitterbug, Dirty Boy tops eight minutes and both it and Jitterbug have preposterously extended, yet somehow engaging, endings and the re-recording of Nurses Whispering Verses for the Sing To God album is also less weird, but has an eerie ambient conclusion which takes it past nine minutes.

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Thanks! Looking forward to exploring more of them, and the list of suggestions I've gotten is extensive, so that's good! Thanks for this and for watching!

[@SpuddySpud]

Loosefish Scapegrace is 7:40 or so and has an ambient beginning, a false ending, bits that repeat too many times in an amusing way, sudden melody changes, a "stagey" feel, too many instruments thrown in the mix, and a bratty vocal performance. It's a masterpiece!

[@SpuddySpud]

All brilliant recommendations. To me, this is a band that can do no wrong.

[@shacharh5470]

The Ever So Closely Gurded Line is around 8 minutes too

[@kenlyon8285]

You really need to go beyond their early formative material that Tim Smith himself described as " from when we were babies"- this and Tarred share the disruptive wackiness that would quickly mature & diversify with their studio releases***- Going from 'Seaside' to 'Sing to God' is akin to 'Saucerful of Secrets' to 'Animals' or 'The Wall'. For melodic lyrical content from their most conceptually proggy masterpiece try - 'A Little Man and a House' bookended with the album's finale, 'The Whole World Window'. (Sandwich 'R.E.S.' between them for a suite.) Must-hear classics would feature 'Big Ship', 'Loosefish Scapegrace' & 'The Everso Closely Guarded Line'. You might also give a listen to their only UK charting release ,- 'Is This The Life'.(best version is on 'All that Glitters...') The double album, Sing to God is too immense and too intense to even discuss here for the unwashed.😉( I'm,pretty sure 'Fiery Gun Hand' & 'Dirty Boy' would be right up your alley) ***'Tarred and Feathered' & 'Gibber and Twitch' were fan favorites in concert and much refined in later period live release( esp, All that Glitters is a Maresnest).

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

I'll admit, I've bouncing around from suggestion to suggestion. I'm very intrigued to find out what they have to offer later in their career, though. Sounds like I have some great stuff to look forward to! Thanks for watching and for the suggestions! Adding them to the list. Perhaps I'll try to get organized into a chronological order.

[@kenlyon8285]

Yo Supa! Chronological is a good way to go starting with A Little Man & a House and the Whole World Window' which is their most conceptual proggie album release. Do catch material from Songs for Ships & Irons' which is actually a compilation yet holds up well as a whole. Many of their finest songs from the classic line are included and show off their broad but idiosyncratic range from that period. By this point it should be very clear that Cardiacs music is the distillation of Joyous Subversive Excess. 😃🤪🤔😱 On Land & In the Sea is another classic record. Tim Smith fondly recalled it as being a very productive & enjoyable time period and sessions. Heaven Born & Ever Bright marks the change to a more streamlined , harder edged,4 piece, guitar based band which unfortunately was hampered in sales by the demise of Rough Trade , their distributor.This album is a favorite of mine, in particular the cuts Goodbye Grace, Heaven & Helen , For Good & All , Day Is Gone & album closer Snakes-a- Sleeping. I'm sure others will have their own picks. Next comes the definitive Cardiacs album-Sing To God, originally released as 2 records (vol. #1/#2)and with the addition of multi,- instrumentalist Jon Poole(Ad Nauseam, later Ginger Wildheart,GD Whores,Dr Hook,Crayola Lecturn,Dowling Poole,& Lifesigns)is more collaborative and varied with Tim really applying his production skills. This album should really be approached on its own terms. Finally there's Guns. I'll not say much as I find it a more band driven project. 'Signs', the album single and 'Jitterbug(Junior is A)' are a must. Daunting, no? ❤❤❤ Then there's Tim's side projects , the wonderful OceanLandWorld, his pop- psychedelic solo delight and the ethereal Sea Nymphs druid-folkie seaside jaunts with wife Sarah & keyboardist William D Drake. Rabbit hole, indeed... best, k

[@shacharh5470]

@@kenlyon8285 Goodbye Grace is a classic and Helen and Heaven is possibly my favourite of their more gentle/relaxed songs

[@Crumbleofborg]

You could maybe try one of their slower, gentler tunes next. I'm thinking Stoneage Dinosaurs, Foundling, The Whole World Window, Wireless...

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Stoneage Dinosaurs is on my - rather lengthy, now - list! I'll add the others, too! Thanks!

[@myaccount4981]

Watch Cardiacs A Mares Nest on here. It's them live a beautiful.

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Will add it to the ever-growing list! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@myaccount4981]

@@BleedingEdgeProg I think the full live set is too much for a reaction video but I think you'd enjoy it just to watch as it gives a little insight into the original line ups live show

[@sicko_the_ew]

@@BleedingEdgeProg This is a great suggestion. The name comes from the saying, "All that glitters is a mare's nest". ;-) It's a live concert (I think the last one before their first hiatus), with "interviews" that display the silliness of the bands' members to great effect - as well as the cruelty of Tim Smith (at least in the terms of their running gag of Tim bullying his brother, Jim at concerts - "Who is him?" "Him is Jim" is the chant that went with this.) It's a great video. (Agreed that it's probably a bit long for a reaction video, but you can find it in parts on KZbin if you like. Look for "It's a Lovely Day" is what I would say, if you do that one day.)

[@letsrock1729]

@@myaccount4981 He can watch the entire concert but break it down into multiple videos to upload.

[@monkeyhousescouse]

Cardiacs = best band ever. Please react to SING TO GOD - full album!!! ❤❤❤

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

They certainly do have a passionate fanbase, and I can understand why. I'll add that to my list, though.

[@shacharh5470]

Not their best album IMO but a good entry point. And some of their best bangers on it.

[@davegasque8392]

Thanks first of all for not calling them THE CARDIACS! Lead Tim Smith (RIP) was a genius in composing pop songs (his description) that branched off of the "rule of fifth" chord changes, which is why it sounds disconnected yet connected at the same time- with ambiences/noises connecting disparate sections of the music. He was truly a visionary that has inspired an entire underground music scene. Definitely hunt down Monsoon Bassoon's "I Dig Your Voodoo" here on YT- produced by Tim Smith, and featuring the splendorous Kavus Torbai (who would later become Cardiacs guitarist.) Very much in the same mold as Cardiacs. Cheers!

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

And now I have a new term (rule of fifth) to Google and read about! Thanks! Always cool to learn new things! I've heard that name, Monsoon Bassoon, before and have it on my list. Lost track of it, though. Thanks for the reminder and for watching!

[@kenlyon8285]

​@@BleedingEdgeProg After Cardiacs, Kavus went on to form Knifeworld and was given leadership of legendary 'Gong' with Daevid Allen's passing as well as Utopia Strong with snooker champ Steve Davis & solo works.

[@davegasque8392]

@@BleedingEdgeProg Oops...it's actually "Circle of Fifths." Do not pay attention to the man who drinks and posts in the wee hours. 🤣

[@ricardogomez981]

Mmm, if you're trying to get an emotional response I suggest to try a little man and a house, the whole world window, the icing of the world, everything is easy, no gold or the everso closely guarded line.BTW love your reaction. And in my opinion stay away from dirty boy, I have seen a lot of people that stars to react to cardiacs with that song and never come back. I think is overrated.

[@Quinceps]

Dirty Boy isn't overrated. It’s yet to be understood by those who take a plunge too fast with foreseeable consequences. Something similar could happen with Tarred and Feathered or Eat It Up Worms Hero or several others. Cardiacs was too much for a guy like Fantano.

[@ricardogomez981]

@@Quinceps the thing is I love Eat it up worms hero, burn your house brown, the duck and roger the horse...but dirty boy I don't know I feel the song stays in the same place for too long, I guess is not for me

[@Quinceps]

@@ricardogomez981 You’re more on the hectic side of things. So you don’t like Is this the life but you do like Duck and Roger the horse (?)

[@Quinceps]

The list you suggested up there was top though 👏 I love all of it especially Everso and Icing

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Thanks to you and to @Quinceps for the suggestions and lively discussion! I love to see the passion Cardiacs fans have for their music! It just encourages me to dive even further in!

[@bustedfender]

Monty Python meets King Crimson meets Blondie 🤣🤘

[@BleedingEdgeProg]

Heh! Love that description!