In 1994, Eric Matthews and Richard Davies collaborated on a now-lauded self-titled debut that pre-dated Belle & Sebastian and even Arcade Fire, but was entrenched in the orchestral pop and baroque stylings of the 60s that those later bands would soon exploit. And it wasn’t grunge or Britpop, either.
Both performers then went solo but, in the intervening 18 years, the pair have kept in touch. Hymns, the follow-up to Cardinal, treads the same path, but was made by exchanging tapes from the east to west coasts of the US. Davies still feels the leader, with his parchment-dry tones all over the bulk of the delicate tracks; yet when Matthews’ aching counter-melody and richer tone is added – or, better still, leads – Hymns really sings. General Hospital suggests that Davies has been ill, and is close to the knuckle in its confessional tone; the repeated line, “I want you to change but stay the same,” on Rosemary Livingstone, could almost be Cardinal’s mission statement.
Anyone pleasantly surprised by the news of this long-overdue return will find plenty here to love, though it’s uncertain how much more we can expect from the duo, or whether they will ever get the respect they deserve.
