A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window

**"Is everybody happy?"**

This article is about **the debut studio album by Cardiacs, ***A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window*****. You may be looking for **the song, 'A Little Man and a House' or the song, 'The Whole World Window'**.

## Singles from *A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window*

1. Is This the Life?
 Released: March 1988

2. I'm Eating in Bed
 Released: March 1988

***A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window*** is the debut studio album by Cardiacs. It was recorded throughout 1985 to 1987 and was released by the Alphabet Business Concern on March 21, 1988.

## Tracklist

All songs produced by Tim Smith.

\* 'I'm Eating in Bed' was not included on the album until the 1995 reissue.

## Background and production

Cardiacs released their third demo album, *The Seaside*, in 1984. It gave them some attention, though not to an impressive degree by any means.

*A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window* was recorded between 1985 and 1987 at The Workhouse in London. Multiple songs from the album previously appeared on *The Seaside,* and Tim later said in an interview that he wrote 'Interlude' when he was young; around thirteen.

## Concept and music

The opening strings and hissing radiator effects of 'A Little Man and a House', as a reviewer from *The Quietus* puts it, "cut straight to the album's central image; the smallness of the individual caught in the conveyor belt machinery of industrialised society and the contrasting hugeness of the imagination that dreams of the world outside the window." 'In a City Lining' kicks off with a surge of mellotron and precise bursts of staccato guitar before winding tighter. The next track, 'I'm Eating in Bed', was only included in certain releases of the album. 'Is This the Life?' is, in some ways, atypical for a Cardiacs song. Its main driving melody is delivered mid-tempo and is unaffected by time changes. However, the massive choral keyboard sound and heavenward building guitar embodies the emotional essence of the band. Tim Smith wrote 'Interlude' when he was around thirteen. It has been used as an opening for many Cardiacs-related projects and analyses. 'Dive', as the same reviewer says, "harnesses the energy of punk to the clarity and precision of a classical symphony. As it loses itself in the mantra-like repetitive refrain towards its end, the effect is not unlike being spun ever faster on a delirious fairground ride as scary, painted wooden automatons crank out the tune with inhuman abandon." 'The Icing on the World' slows the pace a little once more, whilst retaining an almost mechanical sounding rhythm. Tim was inspired by Red Krayola's 'A Letter Bomb' in this regard. 'The Breakfast Line' and 'Victory Egg' are commonly considered the most epic tracks on the album. The latter's lyrics constanly reference war and opportunity. 'R.E.S.' "takes the kind of episodic song structure, literally crammed with notes, that Frank Zappa used on tracks such as 'Echidna's Arf (Of You)' from the live Roxy & Elsewhere album, to its logical conclusion." 'The Whole World Window' is a dramatic song that concludes the album with a long final note.

## Release and promotion

The album cover, a silhouette of a daisy, was chosen by Tim Smith. He said in an interview that he simply chose it because it looked pleasing. In most releases of the album, its title is wrapped around inside the petal frame, though some have it at the bottom in a serif typeface unlike the handwriting used in the former. Less detail can be seen in the backgrounds of the latter covers.

Album coverCD back coverReissue album coverReissue CD back coverTorso CD back cover1995 reissue album coverCassette Cover2023 four disc reissueThe album was released in the UK on March 21, 1988 by the band's long-running own label, the Alphabet Business Concern. 'Is This the Life?' was released as the album's single the same month the album released.

The album was put on the band's Bandcamp page on March 6, 2018 and would later also appear on other streaming services.

A four disc reissue was made for a September 9, 2023 release, available to preorder two months prior.

## Singles

In 1988, 'Is This the Life?' was released as a single by the Alphabet Business Concern, with its CD containing two other tracks: 'Goosegash' and 'I'm Eating in Bed'. The latter appeared on the 1995 reissue of the album, though the former only appeared on the Torso CD.

## Reception

 Source

In *New Musical Express*, reviewer Jack O'Neill savaged the album for what he perceived to be its retrospective musical approach and (in his opinion) unwelcome leanings towards progressive rock. "Just when you thought Marillion had taken us to the very limit along comes this schizo-progressive anachronism wherein the Cardiacs have telescoped the entire dreggs of the early seventies into one album so geriatric, by comparison that the next Blue Öyster Cult will sound as fresh as *Viva Hate*. It is the Floyd, it is Genesis, it is King Crimson, does it matter? *A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window* is the very worst bits of *Tommy* stretched out to an eternity; it's Emerson, Lake & Palmer; it's *Brain Salad Burglary* as the NME of its day might have said. By way of variation, 'In a City Lining' knocks off one of those Neil Young/Mission cryogenic guitar solos and to bewilder us completely there is a nutty body-stomp midway through 'Is This the Life?' which resides about as comfortable as Ian Paisley in the Vatican. Cardiacs are the sound of both feet in the grave."

Over time, music critics have re-evaluated Cardiacs and their albums and, today, *A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window* is one of their most beloved albums.

Sean Kitching of *The Quietus* said "Cardiacs music is fuelled by love and laughter and by awe in the diversity of creation. It is grandiloquent in the way that certain classical music is – particularly the work of Charles Ives – often with several harmonies and melodies developing and converging within the structure of a single song. It can be as simple and beautiful as a budding flower, or as grandiose and multifaceted as the most baroque of architecture. Yet it is the absolute antithesis of gothic, for it is driven by the desire celebration and above all else, laughter. The kind that reaches down into your gut and doubles you up, transcending all contrary opposites and flooding you with the immediate joy truly knowing that you are alive and a part of the incredible diversity of life on this planet. And for being so, in a world that celebrated mediocrity and sameness, those who understood them, who felt this "great grandiloquent gesture" ringing true to the tune of their own souls, loved and treasured them above all else."

## Credits

Credits adapted from multiple internet sources.

### **Tim**

> *Hello, Kidz! (You will notice that I spelt the word kidz with a 'z'.) I have been bowled over and knocked back by the outpourings of love posted on here. Every one of them. You have no idea what this means. Really, though. While I would love to respond to each message, you are doubtlessly aware, my body is my enemy and my hands are cunts. Nonetheless, it means the world to me. Thank you all so much. I am truly blessed.*
>
>

### **Jim**

> *Tim sadly passed away on 21st July, 2020, aged 59 years; will be terribly missed by myself and all who knew him. I won't go on about Tim's musical genius, as we all know that to be a given, and many other more eloquent people have done a better job of that than I ever could. But I will say a few words about his character. He could be a stubborn, self centred tyrant of a man who bulldozed through his life with no thought of the consequences, but at the same time, he was the gentlest, loving, funny and amazing brother anyone could wish for and I will miss him terribly.*
>
>

### **Our Continued Thanks**

> *How are you bearing up? Here, amongst close friends and family, the reality of our loss is beginning to descend and it hurts to the core. We know that you are grieving too. You have sent us some beautiful messages and these will be shared with all of Tim's loved ones. Thank you. Thank you for appreciating that we did our very best to make his life good. Thank you for knowing we did everything we could to keep him safe. Thank you for never doubting us, for trusting us and for always supporting us when we asked for your help.* You *helped make his last days happy, almost contented ones. This must not be underestimated. You are instructed to internalise this* fact *and allow it to assist you in the grieving process which, as any shithead on the street can tell you, correlates precisely to the love that you feel. … This was no ordinary life. This was no ordinary rock star. This was someone whose peg was made bespoke and fitted no convenient hole. In short, we know how you feel and we know you need to show it. We will help you with that as best we can when the times allow us.*
>
>

> With very much love to you all,
>
>

> **Mary x**
>
>

## References

### Citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Smith, Tim. "Dancing About Architecture: the PIEmag Cardiacs Interview". *The Corroseum*. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Kitching, Sean (July 3, 2013). "A Little Man & A House & The Whole World Window By Cardiacs Revisited". *The Quietus*. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
3. ↑ "Cardiacs interview @Radio Rock - Feb 8, 1990" *YouTube.* Retrieved February 1, 2021.
4. ↑ "Cardiacs' Community | Cardiacs". *Bandcamp*. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
5. ↑ https://abc-mary.myshopify.com/products/a-little-man-and-a-house-and-the-whole-world-window-special-edition-vinyl-casebound-book
6. ↑ "Cardiacs - Is This The Life (1988, Vinyl)" *Discogs*. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
7. ↑ Smith, Tim (April 29, 2013). "Hello Kidz! (You will notice that I spelled the word kidz with a 'z')." *Facebook*. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
8. ↑ Smith, Jim. "Funeral Notice for Tim". *Dignity Funerals*. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
9. ↑ Wren, Mary (July 30, 2020). "News - Cardiacs". *Cardiacs*. Retrieved February 22, 2021.

### External links

* Official Cardiacs website

*Some of this article uses text originally authored on Wikipedia.*