The Caretaker
Real Name:
James Kirby
Profile:
Concieved in 1999 as a side project to V/Vm, The Caretaker went on to be the longest-running and best known of James Kirby's many acts, and continued well after V/Vm's official end in 2008.
Inspired by a scene from Stanley Kubrick's film version of "The Shining," the project took as its major source 78 RPM singles of ballroom recordings, treated with minimal effects compared to V/Vm's rapid-fire, often obliterative approach. Gradually, the project began to explore the theme of neurodegenerative illness, using the records themselves as a metaphor for the progressive failure of the human mind. This culminated in the six-part epic Everywhere At The End of Time, a fictional first-person account of early onset dementia told in surface noise, atmospherics, and snippets of worn-out records.
After 20 years, the project ended with the conclusion of Everywhere... in 2019. Kirby continues to make music under his separate ongoing projects.
Inspired by a scene from Stanley Kubrick's film version of "The Shining," the project took as its major source 78 RPM singles of ballroom recordings, treated with minimal effects compared to V/Vm's rapid-fire, often obliterative approach. Gradually, the project began to explore the theme of neurodegenerative illness, using the records themselves as a metaphor for the progressive failure of the human mind. This culminated in the six-part epic Everywhere At The End of Time, a fictional first-person account of early onset dementia told in surface noise, atmospherics, and snippets of worn-out records.
After 20 years, the project ended with the conclusion of Everywhere... in 2019. Kirby continues to make music under his separate ongoing projects.
Sites:
Aliases:
Marketplace 280 For Sale
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Albums |
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OFFAL02 |
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The Caretaker | Selected Memories From The Haunted Ballroom (Album) | V/Vm Test Records | OFFAL02 | UK | 1999 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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OFFALP07 |
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The Caretaker | A Stairway To The Stars (Album) | V/Vm Test Records | OFFALP07 | UK | 2002 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VVMTCD15, vvmtcd15 |
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The Caretaker | We'll All Go Riding On A Rainbow (Album) | V/Vm Test Records, V/Vm Test Records | VVMTCD15, vvmtcd15 | UK | 2003 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VVMTCD25 |
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The Caretaker | Theoretically Pure Anterograde Amnesia (Album) | V/Vm Test Records | VVMTCD25 | UK | 2005 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VVMTCD25x |
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The Caretaker | Additional Amnesiac Memories (13xFile, MP3) | V/Vm Test Records | VVMTCD25x | UK | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WeMe 009 |
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The Caretaker | Deleted Scenes / Forgotten Dreams | WéMè Records | WeMe 009 | Belgium | 2007 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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INST002 |
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The Caretaker | Persistent Repetition Of Phrases (Album) | Install | INST002 | US | 2008 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW008-LP |
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The Caretaker | An Empty Bliss Beyond This World (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW008-LP | Europe | 2011 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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none |
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The Caretaker | Extra Patience (After Sebald) (MiniAlbum) | History Always Favours The Winners | none | Europe | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW013-LP |
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The Caretaker | Patience (After Sebald) (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW013-LP | Europe | 2012 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW025 |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW025 | UK | 2016 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW027 |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time - Stage 3 (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW027 | UK | 2017 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTWCD0103 |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time Stages 1-3 | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTWCD0103 | UK | 2017 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Caretaker | Take Care. It's A Desert Out There... (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | none | UK | 2017 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW026-LP |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time - Stage 2 (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW026-LP | UK | 2017 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW028 |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time - Stage 4 (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW028 | UK | 2018 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW029 |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time - Stage 5 (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW029 | UK | 2018 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW030 |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time - Stage 6 (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW030 | UK | 2019 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTW022-DL |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere, An Empty Bliss | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTW022-DL | UK | 2019 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Compilations |
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VUKZID09 |
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The Caretaker | Recollected Memories From The Museum Of Garden History (File, MP3, Comp, Mixed, 320) | Vukzid | VUKZID09 | UK | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DLS-1-MP3 | Leyland Kirby / The Caretaker | Leyland Kirby / The Caretaker - Bonus Tracks 1 (Comp) | History Always Favours The Winners | DLS-1-MP3 | UK | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time (Album) | History Always Favours The Winners | none | UK | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAFTWCD0406 |
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The Caretaker | Everywhere At The End Of Time - Stages 4-6 (4xCD, Comp, Dlx) | History Always Favours The Winners | HAFTWCD0406 | UK | 2019 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DJ Mixes |
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FACT 45 |
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The Caretaker | FACT Mix 45 (Delving Into My Past For FACT) (File, MP3, Mixed, 320) | FACT Magazine | FACT 45 | UK | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Caretaker | Recollections From Old London Town (File, MP3, Mixed, 192) | Wire Magazine | none | UK | 2009 |
Reviews Show All 8 Reviews

BinaryAstro
December 26, 2020
I absolutely cannot wait for represses to come again. The caretaker has been steadily at it since the 90s, and I'm so glad to see him finally getting more support; he really deserves it!
willsi
December 21, 2018
"I'm sorry to defer w/ you, sir... but, you are the caretaker... You've always been the caretaker."
Leyland Kirby's now mammoth project that stretches out toward the infinite darkness of time in entropy and decay is shocking, terrifying and beautiful. It will be sad to see The Caretaker project ended. But, all good things... The few times I've corresponded w/ Kirby he has been humble and genuine.
Cheers, from the Haunted Ballroom, Overlook Hotel, 1921.
Recommendations: "A Stairway to the Stars," "Recollected Memories from the Museum of Garden History," "An Empty Bliss Beyond this World," and the whole lot.
Leyland Kirby's now mammoth project that stretches out toward the infinite darkness of time in entropy and decay is shocking, terrifying and beautiful. It will be sad to see The Caretaker project ended. But, all good things... The few times I've corresponded w/ Kirby he has been humble and genuine.
Cheers, from the Haunted Ballroom, Overlook Hotel, 1921.
Recommendations: "A Stairway to the Stars," "Recollected Memories from the Museum of Garden History," "An Empty Bliss Beyond this World," and the whole lot.

Fenria
October 25, 2016
The Caretaker is pure hiraeth. How distant is that world in which we strolled so gracefully, without a care.

djthumpa
September 14, 2008
Jesus Christ, where do I start?
Over the last few years I've become completely and dangerously submerged in The Caretaker's music. If you're the kind of person who loves music that makes you feel uncomfortable then you will love this guy. Its beyond music, its a soundscape of dark and light that can fill your heart with dread and happiness at the same time.
Inspired by the ballroom scenes from 'The Shining', his source was originally faint ballroom music with crackly effects, creepy yet elegant, always tinged with sorrow. However now The Caretaker has progressed to creating a beautiful yet disturbing soundtrack, including a 72 track album of some of the scariest music I have ever heard.
I cannot gush enough praise for this producer. I discovered him purely by accident whilst looking for hardcore artists signed to the same label, and I fell in love with his music instantly.
There is so much more you could talk about with this stuff, the introduction of warmer, almost tearful sounds with his album 'Deleted Scenes/Forgotten Dreams', the 72 track album introducing the aspect of memory loss and an imaginary past or his newer music. Stop reading this and check him out for yourself. One word - amazing.
Over the last few years I've become completely and dangerously submerged in The Caretaker's music. If you're the kind of person who loves music that makes you feel uncomfortable then you will love this guy. Its beyond music, its a soundscape of dark and light that can fill your heart with dread and happiness at the same time.
Inspired by the ballroom scenes from 'The Shining', his source was originally faint ballroom music with crackly effects, creepy yet elegant, always tinged with sorrow. However now The Caretaker has progressed to creating a beautiful yet disturbing soundtrack, including a 72 track album of some of the scariest music I have ever heard.
I cannot gush enough praise for this producer. I discovered him purely by accident whilst looking for hardcore artists signed to the same label, and I fell in love with his music instantly.
There is so much more you could talk about with this stuff, the introduction of warmer, almost tearful sounds with his album 'Deleted Scenes/Forgotten Dreams', the 72 track album introducing the aspect of memory loss and an imaginary past or his newer music. Stop reading this and check him out for yourself. One word - amazing.
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Diabolick
January 21, 2021