Album: Various artists, Leader of the Starry Skies (Believers Roast)

This tribute to Tim Smith – founder and frontman of cult-psych-meets-music-hall eccentrics the Cardiacs, who suffered a stroke in 2008 – aims to raise money towards his care.

Contributors include Oceansize, Max Tundra, Rose Kemp, Julianne Regan of All About Eve and Andy Partridge of XTC. The Magic Numbers’ “A Little Man and a House” best captures Smith’s ultra-English charm, and Mikrokosmos’ “Is This the Life” reminds you what a monster that song is. Order from thegenepool.co.uk