Interview: Kavus Torabi (on Knifeworld, Cardiacs, Monsoon Bassoon and that snooker bloke)

After my bizarre dream about Kavus Torabi the other day, I figured it was time to badger him into sitting down to answer a few questions. On the off-chance you’ve forgotten who he is, he’s the wild-haired guitarist from Cardiacs, Knifeworld, Guapo, The Monsoon Bassoon, Chrome Hoof and a dozen other collaborations.

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I figured I’d start with asking him how he wound up working on The Interesting Alternative Show, a weekly prog-rock indulgence co-hosted by Steve Davis. Dare I ask he wound up doing a radio show with some bloke famous for playing snooker?

KT: Well, it was fairly straightforward. Steve is a massive music fan and has impeccable taste. We met at a one month residency Magma were doing at this wonderful venue, Le Triton, in Paris. We pretty much hit it off straight away. He came to a couple of Cardiacs shows, we started hanging out quite a lot, he had me as a guest in The Interesting Alternative Show which he had been doing for a couple of years or so. It was such fun he suggested, if I was up for it, perhaps I could come in on a more full time basis … which ended up being every week.

#musicmonday : Guapo – Tremors From the Future

I had the weirdest dream that I interviewed Kavus Torabi. I’ve known him since I was 16, but we lost touch for many years. In my dream, he told me everything I’d missed – a tale by turns witty and warm, touching and inspiring – and I woke up with a profound understanding, not just of my candyfloss-haired pal but of life and our place in the universe.

#musicmonday : Thinking Plague – Behold The Man

I’m nicking this from JG Thirlwell’s Tumblr page. I bought his recommendations of In Extremis and A History of Madness without hesitation after hearing this. They are, of course, great.