Cardinal: Hymns

Cardinal
Hymns
Fire Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Richard Davies and Eric Matthews reunite 18 years later for Cardinal's sophomore album Hymns.

Album Review:
18 years is a long time to wait for a sophomore outing but that is exactly the case from Richard Davies and Eric Matthews early band Cardinal. Since that time both guys have had a nice music career as Matthews has released six albums and two critically hailed on Sub Pop while Davies of The Moles fame had his own success on independents Flydaddy and Kindercore as well as working with Robert Pollard on the Cosmos collaboration.

Hymns is an interesting listen because you just have no idea what to expect going in with so much time in-between albums and considering the fact that the musical climate is ever moving. The biggest surprise here is that not much has changed at all from the self-titled debut as both Davies and Matthews personality rings through here and if you enjoyed them before you will enjoy Cardinal again.

Matthews' has always been known for his brass support in his compositions which surface again here on excellent tracks like "Carbolic Smoke Bell" and "Kal", while his soft chamber pop vocal flourishes on "Her". The contrast of course happens when Davies takes the lead as his more straightforward rock voice, with some small vocal effects, gives off a different vibe and provides the album some likable diversity.

Regardless of their evolved different styles over the years, both artists work well together again as if Cardinal never took a break. Hymns has plenty of winners if given repeat plays as the piano driven ballad "General Hospital" is solid while "Love Like Rain" is an upbeat power pop rocker that is worth hearing again.

Hymns does suffer a little from never blowing you away immediately and because of so much time in-between releases, Cardinal may not get all the attention they deserve nor pull in too many new fans. It is an album that is a good listen, especially if you were fan back in 1994, and because of the talented Matthews and Davies we can only hope another record will develop out of this reunited collaboration because it would have the potential to be stellar!

Key Tracks: "Her", "Carbolic Smoke Ball", "Love Like Rain"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Clientele
Cosmos
The Divine Comedy

Cosmos: Jar Of Jam Ton Of Bricks [Fire Note Review 6/5/09]

Eric Matthews Website
Richard Davies Facebook
Fire Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony