Ditzy Scene

"Ditzy Scene" is a song by English rock band Cardiacs. It was planned as the opening track and lead single from the band's unfinished sixth album, LSD. It was released on Org Records, and was the band's last single to be released in frontman Tim Smith's lifetime, as well as their most recent to be composed of entirely new material.^[4]

"Ditzy Scene"
Single by Cardiacs
from the album LSD
B-side	"Gen" "Made All Up"
Released	5 November 2007[a]
Recorded	Autumn 2007
Studio	Apollo 8 (Chessington)[3]
Length	6:38
Label	Org
Composer(s)	Tim Smith
Lyricist(s)	Kavus Torabi
Cardiacs singles chronology
"Signs" (1999) "Ditzy Scene" (2007) "Vermin Mangle" (2020)
Alternative cover
2018 Bandcamp cover

"Ditzy Scene" was included in Prog's list of Knifeworld frontman Kavus Torabi's Guide to Cardiacs. In 2018, the Alphabet Business Concern rereleased the song on Bandcamp.

Writing and recording

"Ditzy Scene" was written by Tim Smith and Kavus Torabi.^[2] It was the first of several songs written following a Cardiacs' line-up change in 2004. Torabi wrote the lyrics after beginning to record their unreleased sixth album, provisionally titled LSD, in 2005.^[5] He said it was planned to be remixed for the album:

I'm not mad on the mix of it, so the plan would've been to remix it for the LSD album that never happened. I love the tune. It was the first thing that we did with that new line-up and it was a new thing.^[6]

The band recorded "Ditzy Scene" at Smith's own recording studio Apollo 8 in Autumn 2007, shortly before the last Cardiacs tour.^[6][7][8] Torabi wrote the lyrics to Smith's arrangement, as well as playing the guitar solo for the intro.^[6] The intro, according to Torabi, was extremely hard to play, requiring complete concentration from the band. They recorded the song with tapes.^[6] Along with Smith, vocals were provided by Torabi, bass player Jim Smith, Claire Lemmon and "special guest star" Suzanne Kirby.^[9]

In an interview with Prog, Torabi described his first reaction to the song's structure whilst recording: "When we started recording it was like 'Fucking hell ... here we go!' When those girl vocals came in at the start, going 'Aaah aaah!' it was a real goosebump moment and I thought 'Okay, we've really got something here ...' It's just brilliant."^[6]

Release and reception

The "Ditzy Scene" single, backed with two other tracks "Gen" and "Made All Up", was due for release just prior to the start of Cardiacs' first full UK tour since 2000.^[11] On November 5, it had a limited edition press release on Org Records,^[8] with only 1000 copies made.^[12][a] Cardiacs planned to release their first studio album since Guns (1999) early the following year.^[13] The song charted at number 72 on the Spanish iTunes Chart on 11 October 2020.^[14]

Formats and track listings

All lyrics are written by Cardiacs (noted); all music is composed by Tim Smith.^[8]

CD single^[8]

1. "Ditzy Scene" (Kavus Torabi) – 6:38
2. "Gen" (Smith) – 3:42
3. "Made All Up" (Torabi) – 5:04

CDr promo^[15]

1. "Ditzy Scene" – 6:38

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of "Ditzy Scene".^[8]

• Tim Smith – guitar, loud voice
• Cathy Harabaras – tube bell, big drum, percussions
• Jim Smith – bass guitar, voice
• Kavus Torabi – guitar, voice
• Melanie Woods – voice
• Bob Leith – many drums and some cymbals
• Dawn Staple – tube bell, big drum, percussions
• Claire Lemmon – voice

with:

• Suzanne Kirby – voice

Notes

1. The release date of the single is alternatively given as 1 September 2007 on Apple Music and Bandcamp.^[1][2]