The first new material from Cardiacs for 18 years!!
Following the death of Tim Smith in 2021, it fell to his brother and bandmate, Jim Smith, to
decide if work would continue on the album he was finally moving home to complete.
Fortunately for Cardiacs fans, he decided it absolutely should.
‘LSD’ contains 17 brand new tracks and is presented on coloured double vinyl and a
seperate black double vinyl – both with gatefold sleeves and a slipcase, full lyric booklet and
a ‘Making of LSD’ Booklet featuring interviews with key personnel involved in the process.
It’s double CD counterpart also comes in a slipcase with both booklets.
Cardiacs return with Tim Smith’s brother and bandmate, Jim Smith, as their new captain.
Woodeneye lands in true, bold, idiosyncratic style, with all the hallmarks of Tim Smith’s
genius for a great tune and surreal lyricism: the impact of that familiar, frenetic energy is felt
from the first note until the last. A host of friends worked to complete the album and all can
be heard revelling in this classic Cardiacs tune. Mike Vennart (Biffy Clyro, Empire State
Bastard, Oceansize) makes his debut as lead singer for the band with a stunning vocal
revealing not only the insane breadth and power of his voice but his rightful place in this
iconic band. The end of the song has the listener almost concerned that he will attempt to
sing even higher as notes ascend in a thrilling close. The first taste Cardiacs fans will have of
songs from the forthcoming double album, LSD, Woodeneye blasts into position rather than
coaxing the listener forward, tentatively, and asking them to perhaps take a listen. A
statement of intent? Maybe. An unabashed, “You want this.” Definitely. They really do.
They’ve said so. Now they will know what that means
This album is a 17-song tour de force. Opener, Men in Bed, a hymn reminiscent of Home of
Fadeless Splendour (1992) that hits full-face with the darker underbelly of A Little Man and a
House and the Whole World Window (1988) in the brass and string arrangements, brings the
listener to attention with Rose- Ellen Kemp’s powerful vocal striding through then giving way
to the frenetic The May where the listener hears Tim Smith’s voice anew for the first time in
almost two decades. Songs like Volob and The Blue and Buff, see Smith’s playful pop
sensibility given full reign while the first single, Woodeneye, featuring new Cardiacs lead
singer, Mike Vennart (Biffy Clyro, Empire State Bastard, Oceansize), ripping into the vocal like
a man possessed, betrays a delight in the theatre of classic metal. Perhaps Torabi’s influence
is felt more here but in such perfect harmony with Smith’s own. In contrast, Skating is a Mr.
Bungle-esque montage of genres, flavours and styles all resulting in a triple-distilled
unmistakable Cardiacs thrill.
