DITZY SCENE

Oddly, this is my first Cardiacs review despite having voluntarily hurled myself into what is likely to be a lifelong love affair with this band about two years ago. I apologise, therefore, if this review comes across as a little... fanboyish at times. Some things just can't be helped.

So, what exactly is Ditzy Scene? Well, it's a single. A limited edition single, no less, so your chances of getting hold of a copy are, by now, pretty damn slim. Far more importantly, however, Ditzy Scene is the first new studio material from this unique and practically indescribable band for the best part of a decade!* This makes it rather a special single. The songs on this album are also the first studio tracks to feature new recruit (he only joined in 2003!) guitarist Kavus Torabi - seen of late touring with the very excellent Guapo.

Clearly, then, it's a momentous release. A lot is at stake. What's changed since 1999's slightly underwhelming album 'Guns'? And what, perhaps more importantly, has stayed the same?

Ditzy Scene opens with something of a surprise - a lengthy, instrumental intro with shuffley tambourines, lazy, almost disorientated twangy guitar strums and a tense bass drum pulse. Eventually this gives way to a sudden burst of energy - a rock n' roll riff punctuated by a female gospel backing vocal refrain closely followed by a tight, choral verse which places us, at last, in more familiar Cardiacs territory. And on it goes, squeezing its weaving melody and tense chords for all its bombastic worth!

A lot of fans have compared this song to Dirty Boy - the mighty opening number on Sing To God Part Two. If you have heard that song you will know that this is not a bad thing. Ditzy Scene is, however, as different to the aforementioned Cardiacs classic as it is similar. Things HAVE changed in the last few years. I'm just not sure I could tell you what, simply that it's for the better!

The first of the two B-sides on the single is a jolly little track called Gen. It belts along with a gallopy refrain, one of those horribly catchy demented pop melodies that Cardiacs do so very very well and the most indescribable guitar solo courtesy of Kavus. The best I can do is to say that it sounds like a rockabilly guitar lick played by someone with attention defecit disorder. The song's all over far too quickly, but I know in my heart of hearts that's what makes it stick.

The last track on the disc is Made All Up, another big song with all the boys and girls singing till their lungs ache. It's another unmistakably Cardiacsy tune - the chords, the words, the sheer bulk of noise. Their style is so unique and conspicuous that you'd sooner mistake a brick for a marshmallow than this song for something by anyone else but Cardiacs! My only reservation with it is that, unlike the preceding Gen, it slightly outstays its welcome. The song almost immediately gets stuck in an endless (and admittedly very tasty sounding) cycle which it never really escapes from. Sixty seconds less of it probably wouldn't have done much harm...

All in all, though, this is a terribly exciting release for Cardiacs fans everywhere and I'm extremely glad I snagged a copy (just) in time!

As for those of you who are new to the band... don't start here. Obviously. Try 'Songs For Ships and Irons' or 'Sing To God' instead!

*With the exception of one song (Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain) included on 2002's 'Greatest Hits' collection. This was supposedly a track from a forthcoming album, but six years on and one line-up change later, that album's still yet to appear!

A very exciting Cardiacs release, as this is the first new material coming out of Cardiacs since 1999 "Guns" (Which is underrated). For one the amazing Jon Poole is gone and replaced by Kavus Torabi which I truly like just as much (You should really look up his stuff he worked with Guapo, was in a great band called Monsoon Bassoon, and recently released a solo album under the title of Knifeworld). Tim and Jim Smith are of course here, and so is Bob Leith. The other new additions are a couple of gals playing percussion and singing backup. I honestly didn't notice them until I saw the musicians on the album page here (and it was all like Ohhhh). The music does have a fuller sound to it I guess.

The music! It's rather fantastic and exciting. Cardiacs have stayed their usual quirky delightful self, but the sound has changed. For one their songs on this EP are rather anthemic (well anyone whose listened to Cardiacs before knows that they can make some amazing anthems) and there's a definitely a even more punky leaning here than Guns.

The title track is bombastic to say the least. It's starts with a single drum and then accumulates to the whole joining into this rather insane sound scape of rather loud guitars and fun stuff like that. It does stay a bit too long. A half minute off could have helped. But still rather incredible.

"Gen" is the a real Cardiacs diddy. It just rolling drums and bass and a great chorus and general awesomness. Short and very very sweet.

"Made All Up" is more or less a gigantic chorus. It's just like ahhhhhhhhh, more or less. Really epic feeling to it. The drums pound and there's Tube bells in the song! It's quite beautiful and interesting. Few Cardiacs effects and studio thingies were added giving a cool effect.

Don't start here with Cardiacs, start with "Sing To God". But when you get truly addicted to Cardiacs definitely check this out as it is quite possibly the last Cardiacs material to be released (Leader Tim Smith has had a heart attack in 08 and is still recuperating, very sadly Kvarus has said in some podcast that Cardiacs will never play live again). Very good stuff, not perfect but still darn excellent.

Get well soon Tim!!!!