aaamusic | On 02, Apr 2011

Leader Of The Starry Skies is a tribute to Tim Smith, lead singer of Cardiacs, who has been tragically stuck in hospital for two years after suffering a heart attack. The album is due to be re-released on vinyl, as well as a new split single featuring Stoneage Dinosaurs by Steven Wilson and Fear by Oceansize. These two tracks are taken from Leader Of The Starry Skies, and both the single and album are due for a vinyl release on the 16th April to coincide with Indie Record Store Day.

These two tracks aren’t so much covers as they are tributes to one man’s beautiful music; music that inspired a generation of underground musicians to pick up an instrument to create something that they wanted to hear, rather than settle for what was being played to them on the radio.

Tim Smith’s cryptic and experimental songwriting style makes it impossible not to hear how much influence Cardiacs have had on the current wave of British alternative artists. Both tracks have very much been a labour of love for the artists involved, impeccably recreating the signature sound that made Cardiacs stand head and shoulders above their contemporaries.

“It would appear that more and more music lovers are embracing the notion of Independent Record Store day, and in this climate where the internet has taken over, it’s cool that people still care about the stores So with that in mind we thought it’d be prudent to draw attention to this amazing record.”

– Mike Vennart (Oceansize)

Organised by ex-Cardiacs Bic Hayes and Mark Cawthra, Cardiacs’ guitarist Kavus Torabi and Spratley’s Japs singer Jo Spratley, Leader Of The Starry Skies features contributions from Oceansize, Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree) Andy Partridge (of XTC), Max Tundra, Knifeworld, North Sea Radio Orchestra and many more.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud waveform for Knifeworld‘s stunning rendition of The Stench Of Honey below, you can download the free single via our ABoF Sound Cloud.

Knifeworld – The Stench of Honey by abadgeoffriendship

Leaders Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith was previously released on CD and MP3 via Believers Roast on 6th December 2010 and can be purchased from The Genepool website and iTunes. Stoneage Dinosaurs and Fear are both taken from the album and will be released as a split single on K-Scope.

Both releases will be available to buy on vinyl from all good independent record stores on 16th April 2011.

All profits from the sale of the single and album will go directly to Tim Smith.