Kavus Torabi

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Kavus Torabi

Background information
Born December 5th, 1971
Genre(s) Psychedelic
Progressive Rock
Instrument(s) Guitar
Associated acts Cardiacs
The Monsoon Bassoon
Authority
Guapo
Admirals Hard
Die Laughing
The North Sea Radio Orchestra
Miss Helsinki
Hatchjaw and Bassett

Kavus Torabi was born in Tehran, Iran on 5 December, 1971, he is a composer / musician, primarily as guitarist and was one of the founding members of The Monsoon Bassoon. He is now a guitarist in the unique Progressive Art Punk group, Cardiacs.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1988, Torabi formed Die Laughing [1], a Psychedelic/Thrash group, as guitarist, where he met his close friend, Dan Chudley (who has been part of Kavus’ life for most of his musical career; they are noted for an interlocking, highly complex guitar style.), who also played guitar and sang vocals. The Plymouth - based band released three demos before they eventually split in 1993. After a lull, Torabi hooked back up with his friend Dan, who had been playing in a band called Squid Squad since 1993, and they formed The Monsoon Bassoon.

The Monsoon Bassoon started life in 1995, soon relocating from Plymouth to Leyton in East London. Their style of music, Psychedelic/Math Rock, was built around Torabi and Chudley's singular compositions. Torabi split the group in 2001. While the band received critical acclaim and a cult following for their unorthodox approach and sound, they only released one studio album, I Dig Your Voodoo, and five singles. Many recordings from this period still remain unreleased.

After The Monsoon Bassoon split, Torabi toured as guitarist with former Pogues member Spider Stacy's group, Wisemen, also featuring other ex-Pogues band members. After line-up changes, the group became The Vendettas. Kavus co-wrote and produced an album with them in 2003, but the project was shelved in the wake of the Pogues’ reunion that year.

Torabi joined Cardiacs in 2003, first appearing at their now legendary three-date Garage concerts. He had previously been Cardiacs' guitar technician, plus Tim Smith, Cardiacs lead singer and song writer, had previously produced The Monsoon Bassoon’s unreleased In Bold Gardens EP in 1996 and I Dig Your Voodoo CD in 1999. He remains a permanent member of the band, featuring on their 2007 single, Ditzy Scene and forthcoming album.

In 2005, he and Dan Chudley formed Authority, which also had other ex-members of The Monsoon Bassoon in their ranks. Although they have played live for a number of years, they have yet to release any studio output. Torabi joined the instrumental Avant-Psychedelic/Progressive group Guapo as guitarist in 2006 with whom he has toured extensively, although is yet to feature on any recordings.

Torabi has plenty of project work on his CV. He sings for the chorus of The North Sea Radio Orchestra, as well as adding mandolin, guitar and vocals to Psychedelic Folk group, Admirals Hard, who play mainly re-workings of sea-shanties. He also formed Miss Helsinki in the wake of The Monsoon Bassoon's split. This group is currently out of commission, along with the gentler Hatchjaw and Bassett, both with Dan Chudley. He is currently working on a solo album entitled Knife World.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Die Laughing

  • Omnigod Cassette Demo (1991)
  • Artificial Playground Cassette Demo (1992)
  • 6 New Songs By Die Laughing Cassette Demo (1993)

[edit] The Monsoon Bassoon

  • Redoubtable Cassette EP (1995) ORG007
  • In Bold Gardens EP (1996) (unreleased)
  • Wise Guy 7" (1998) WNRS1
  • In the Iceman's Back Garden 7" (1998) WNRS2
  • The King of Evil 7" (1999) WNRS3
  • I Dig Your Voodoo CD (1999) WNRS4
  • Wall of Suss 1 7" split single with Rothko (2000) WNRS5
  • Wall of Suss 2 7" split single with Max Tundra (2000) WNRS6
  • Summer 2001: 4 Seasons Singles Club 3 x CD (2001) DRSUM01 (featuring The Noosemaker, God Bless The Monsoon Bassoon and Brickfields)
  • Useless in Bed Volume 1 Compilation CD (2002) HOS001CD (featuring one song from the unreleased In Bold Gardens EP, plus the only known recording of Miss Helsinki)

[edit] Cardiacs

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://metal-archives.com/band.php?id=58391 Metal Archives - Die Laughing