Various ‎Artists – "The Snoopies Album: The Last Remains Of A Richmond Venue" ( 1,000 Only Records ‎– RSB1) 1981

Staying in the London area with,not quite a local bands compilation,but an album of studio recordings of some of the bands who played in very posh Richmond's premier alternative music venue....."Snoopies".Which closed its doors in 1981.
Some cracking tunes on this one, including a 'Hit', with an earlier version of The Cardiacs stadium pop classic "Is This The Life?", which was a minor hit single in 1988!? 
There's plenty of classic UK DIY as well, including the Tronics and the legendary Scissor Fits!

Tracklist:

A1 –Rich & Famous - Machine Gun
A2 –The Mag 7 - Rosalind Jones's Umbrella
A3 –Tronics - I'm A Diver
A4 –The People Upstairs - Whips Leather & Other Animals
A5 –Plain Characters - I Am A.
A6 –The Trudy - The Trudy
A7 –Thirteen At Midnight - Follow Yourself
A8 –Babybabybabybaby - Supernatural
B1 –Snatch 22 - Be Like You
B2 –Sister Sister - The Blackmen Dance
B3 –Scissor Fits- Radio Teeth
B4 –M.L.R. - The Recked Rectors Of Og
B5 –The Crew - Songs Like These
B6 –The Europeans - Drink Pink Zinc!
B7 –Cardiacs - Is This The Life?

DOWNLOAD these remains HERE!

The Cardiacs ‎– "The Seaside" (Alphabet ‎– ALPH 0001) 1983

Is this the only cassette with a Sea side, geddit? I'm almost as clever as The Cardiacs? ie too clever by 'arf.
This is a polished up version of early Cardiacs herky jerky time signature shifting alternative showbiz tunes. Containing the definitive version of "Is This The Life"; Ironically the least complicated tune they did,and predictably their 'Hit'......top ten I believe?

Tracklist:

A1	Jibber And Twitch
A2	Gina Lolla Brigida
A3	Hello Mr Sparrow
A4	Its A Lovely Day
A5	A Wooden Fish On Wheels
A6	Nurses Whispering Verses
B1	Is This The Life
B2	A Little Man And A House
B3	Hope Day
B4	Dinner Time
B5	Ice A Spot And A Dot On The Dog
B6	R.E.S.
B7	To Go Off And Things

DOWNLOAD into the sea HERE!

The Cardiacs - "Toy World" (Self-released C-60) 1981

More 'Pronk', or more accurately , more Post-Punk in a style originated by XTC and Talking Heads. Nevertheless a rather interesting,well constructed tour around various rock time signatures ,littered with a smattering of dysfunctional melodies.
I am informed that The Cardiacs actually got in the charts once in the mid-eighties(1988),with a polished up version of track 4 on side B, "Is This The Life?"; and what a stadium anthem it is too. I could just imagine Bono's mullet and pixie boots doing a fairy dance on the monitors while The Edge chopped out these er....anthemic chords, at Live Aid. But, alas no, we got "I Will Follow",which was around,strangely at the same time as this monster.The difference being that U2 are now wanted for crimes against humanity and The Cardiacs are forgotten. Another glaring difference is that the Cardiacs did a good line in Spazz dancing, whereas,we all know what kind of abysmal pixie dance Boner used to do during 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'......style bypass = success apparently. 

Message to Cardiacs obsessives;
I'm saying that I think The Cardiacs are quite GOOD, and not implying that they are a poor man's U2,and are probably at least the equals of XTC. So no trolling plz?
(Aww that nasty man didn't like my favourite pop/pronk group!?)

Tracklist:

A1	Aukamacic
A2	Over (Outtake)
A3	Icky Qualms
A4	Over + Over + Over + Over
A5	Dead Mouse
A6	A Big Noise In A Toy World
A7	Trademark
B1	Scratching Crawling Scrawling
B2	As Cold As Can Be In An English Sea
B3	...Verses (Outtake)
B4	Is This The Life?
B5	Nurses Whispering Verses
B6	A Time For Rejoicing

DOWNLOAD the joy of a toy HERE!

Cardiac Arrest - " The Obvious Identity"(cassette) 1980 + "A Bus For A Bus On The Bus"(EP) 1979

I dunno if it was the head trauma I suffered during my recent much publicised car accident, but I've found myself listening to The Cardiac's a lot,and actually liking them. Previously, I found them tiresomely over-clever,trying too hard to be quirky,and more than a tad irritating.Post brain injury, I now love them!? But, above all, I love the Cardiacs when they were called Cardiac Arrest.
I had a Brain scan, and they told me that despite my memory loss,my brain appeared 'Normal', contrary to previous observations from other, unqualified, sources. They (the 'experts'),never warned me that I would have an insatiable desire to listen to The Cardiac's,but I do?!
Some cheeky chappies have referred to this music as "Pronk"(a melange of Punk and Prog!),as an attempt to elevate this group to a 'special' place inhabited by the quirky undefinable's like Sun Ra and The Residents etc.....this is pure shite of course. This is no more progressive than the whole of the post-punk scene,which was in fact nothing more than a prog revival in short song format,without the solo's or sparkling capes.(I never understood what was actually wrong with a good sparkling cape?) 
If the Cardiac's were the only band that appeared to mix prog and punk together, then what was XTC,Magazine, Talking Heads, and countless other 'Pronk' bands?......Post-punk will do nicely thank you.
Yes it's all very 'clever',and complex,in a herky-jerky kind of way.
This era of the bands progression showcases a  jagged edge that later incarnations hid away too much.
I'll keep taking the pills,and maybe one day i'll hate them again?...but for now.......

"The Obvious Identity" Tracklist:

A1	The Obvious Identity	2:11
A2	Visiting Hours	4:50
A3	Pip As Uncle Dick But Peter Spoilt It	4:35
A4	To Go Off And Things	2:25
A5	Rock Around The Clock	1:53
A6	Leaf Scrapings	3:13
B1	A Game For Bertie's Party	7:02
B2	Cameras	1:02
B3	Bite 3/a	2:37
B4	Pilf	3:22
B5	Let Alone My Plastic Doll	4:06
B6	A Balloon For Bertie's Party	8:02

EP Tracklist:

A	A Bus For A Bus On The Bus	4:33
B1	A Cake For Bertie's Party	3:10
B2	Food On The Wall

DOWNLOAD this heartily arresting early incarnation HERE!