hmv talks to... Cardinal Black

Can you describe the new album in only a few words? 
Life to date.

Were there any unexpected influences that shaped the sonic palette of this record?
I don’t think any of us were quite expecting to have bagpipes on the first track of the record (!) but the one instrument which became a bit of a sonic stamp of the album was the Mellotron. It’s such a unique, inspiring instrument that it quickly found its way onto most of the tracks in one way or another. I can see why The Beatles loved it!

Was there a particular moment in the studio that captured the spirit of the record?
For me - Chris - recording Morning Light was a particular highlight. It was the last track we were set to record at the end of a fairly long day and I think all of us were flagging slightly. That was until our frontman Tom appeared from the kitchen above the studio armed with some industrial-strength rum and coke at which point, miraculously, we were all suddenly reinvigorated! Not that I would particularly recommend trying to record an album three sheets to the wind but there’s possibly something to be said for a little lubrication at the end of a very long day! I also love how Morning Light turned out so there’s very little incentive not to try that tactic again if needed...

Were there any songs on the album that ended up sounding completely different from how you first envisioned them?
For most of the album’s writing sessions and pre-production rehearsals, Holding My Breath didn’t actually have a drum groove. It was a slow, brooding track that slowly built to a crescendo in time for the last chorus but it took a huge turn when Tom suggested that we try a Rolling Stones ‘Miss You’-esque beat under it. It’s far from disco but it definitely gave it a groove and a vibe that I don’t think anyone had particularly envisioned when we were writing it!

What’s one lyric or line from the album that still sticks with you?
Midnight at The Valencia is a much more personal record than our first; reflective of all the things that have happened to us both as a band and individuals in the last few years: achievements, children, losing loved ones etc. There’s a line that Tom wrote in Push/Pull, a song about my father’s passing - ‘the songs that you gave me are a picture of you’ which I always find particularly poignant. My Dad lived for music I absolutely wouldn’t be a musician if it wasn’t for his influence and encouragement.

How has your relationship with your audience evolved since your early days in small venues?
There’s a connection and intimacy you develop with crowds when playing smaller venues that’s undoubtedly hard to maintain when you progress to bigger venues but if nothing else, it’s a very nice problem to have because it shows progression! We put a lot of thought into our setlists though and try to get the crowd involved and interacting from the first moment - it builds a rapport that lasts the duration of the gig and hopefully a lifetime...!

With this album, is there a particular track you’re most excited (or nervous) to perform live, and why?
Push/Pull was a track that I’d never envisioned playing live but it somehow crept into the setlist on the last tour and I always find it remarkable that you can hear a pin drop no matter how rowdy or boisterous a crowd may have been to that point. Without ever having really spoken openly about its meaning or lyrical content, there seemed to be a mutual understanding that it was a personal song and meant a lot to us, which is always lovely to witness. As for tracks that I really look forward to on the setlist, Ride Home - the first track on the album - is just great fun! Any track that has bagpipes on it can’t help but be a laugh, really...

Is there a message or emotion you hope lingers after the final note fades?
“Wow, that was a long guitar solo!” probably! Ha! Joking aside, this record really feels like the culmination of everything we’ve done and experienced to date, both personally and as a bunch of mates who have lived in each other’s pockets for the last decade or so. Relative to our friendship, Cardinal Black is very new but this record, for me at least, encompasses the 10,000 hours that we’ve put into having a stab at making a living playing music. I’m sure there are much easier ways to make a living, but very few are as fun, and I hope that comes across in the record.

Now that this chapter is complete, where do you see your sound evolving next? Or is this album just the beginning of a new era for you?
Not that we needed one but Midnight at The Valencia definitely feels like a fresh start for the band. The first album was a collection of songs that spanned such a long period that it kind of felt like a Greatest Hits record of songs that nobody knew. This record comparatively feels coherent, cohesive, and representative of where we’ve been and where we see ourselves going as a band. We may not have any idea where that is but it’s good fun if nothing else!