Originally a one-off project from singer/songwriters
Richard Davies and
Eric Matthews,
Cardinal came together in 1994 following ex-
Moles frontman
Davies' relocation from his native Australia to the U.S.; he wrote and sang all but one of the songs that comprised
Cardinal's self-titled debut, while
Matthews arranged the compositions, layering them with ornate strings, horns, and pianos inspired by the lush, baroque sounds of late-'60s pop. While
Cardinal was released to great acclaim, internal strife quickly split the duo apart, and both
Davies and
Matthews embarked on solo careers. An unlikely reunion in 2011 produced their sophomore follow-up,
Hymns. ~ Jason Ankeny