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Features Disc of the day

Cardinal
Cardinal



Grunge-era, orch-pop masterpiece, beautifully hymned by MOJO messageboarder

Cardinal

On paper, it shouldn’t work. A seasoned Aussie songwriter in his mid-thirties teams up with a young classically trained trumpet player and arranger from Boston (the place!). The former, Richard Davies (left) has a dry, stringy voice that sounds a bit like David Bowie, while Eric Matthews’ vocals are enunciated and breathy, bringing to mind the sighing beauty of Colin Blunstone. It should be like chalk and cheese when they put their voices together, but they blend like a dream on this exquisite LP. Matthews’ arrangements use lush strings and brass, but it never gets too mushy, as there are also spiky electric guitar textures which give the songs real weight and bite. The lyrics and titles are elliptical and intriguing (If You Believe In Christmas Trees kicks off the album), but the melodies are thrillingly direct, recalling the classic tunesmithery of Love, The Beatles and the Zombies. Seek out the still available reissue, which has a hefty 11 bonus tracks, and let this gorgeous treasure into your life.

gottenbold

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 10/02/2008

Further Listening

Eric MatthewsIt's Heavy In Here (Sub Pop)

Richard DaviesTelegraph (Flydaddy)

Colin BlunstoneOne Year (Epic)


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