“As pictorial histories go, it’s as smart and surprising as Cardiacs themselves”: A Big Book And A Band And A Whole World Window by Aaron Tanner

The idiosyncratic English art-rockers’ history is detailed in a pleasingly DIY limited-edition chunky read.

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Cardiacs: A Big Book And A Band And A Whole World Window by Aaron Tanner
(Image: © Melodic Virtue)

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Following books on Residents, Ministry and Butthole Surfers, Melodic Virtue owner Aaron Tanner’s attention has turned to the UK’s favourite cult group, the love-‘em-or- hate-‘em Cardiacs.

This 300-page coffee-table-sized celebration is assembled with the blessing of Jim Smith, co-founder and brother of the late Tim, the captain of Cardiacs’ ship. This ensures access to tonnes of unseen images and documents as well as unreleased music from the band’s first incarnation as Cardiac Arrest, served up as an accompanying 7” vinyl.

The personality of the band leaps from every page, and the hand-written, photocopied, texturised art style is pleasingly DIY. The legacy of their deranged, dazzling output is writ large through the testimonials of band members and famous fans, from Shane Embury of Napalm Death to Styx’s Todd Sucherman.

As pictorial histories go, it’s as smart and surprising as Cardiacs themselves; the personal touches are welcome amid the effervescent madness. A handbook for freedom of expression, whether the music appeals or not.

Cardiacs: A Big Book And A Band And A Whole World Window is on sale now via Melodic Virtue.

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Jo Kendall
Jo Kendall

Jo is a journalist, podcaster, event host and music industry lecturer with 23 years in music magazines since joining Kerrang! as office manager in 1999. But before that Jo had 10 years as a London-based gig promoter and DJ, also working in various vintage record shops and for the UK arm of the Sub Pop label as a warehouse and press assistant. Jo's had tea with Robert Fripp, touched Ian Anderson's favourite flute (!), asked Suzi Quatro what one wears under a leather catsuit, and invented several ridiculous editorial ideas such as the regular celebrity cooking column for Prog, Supper's Ready. After being Deputy Editor for Prog for five years and Managing Editor of Classic Rock for three, Jo is now Associate Editor of Prog, where she's been since its inception in 2009, and a regular contributor to Classic Rock. She continues to spread the experimental and psychedelic music-based word amid unsuspecting students at BIMM Institute London, hoping to inspire the next gen of rock, metal, prog and indie creators and appreciators.