Cardinal Black: Midnight at The Valencia Review

May 21, 2025 Neven Tili 0 Comments Cardinal Black

The Welsh trio Cardinal Black have got a brand new album Midnight at The Valencia lined up for release via Thirty Tigers on May 23rd. Following years spent on stages of every dive bar and neon-soaked club they’ve come across, the band has set out to create a record that will represent their 10,000 hours of work. Talking about the new release, the frontman Tom Hollister said: “It’s a long, shared history we have. We feel like we’ve paid our dues, and this album is the culmination of all that effort”. Having heard the singles released in the build-up, I was keen to dive right in.

Midnight at The Valencia doesn’t start as your conventional blues rock record. The first track titled “Ride Home” is more of a progressive pop / art rock blend. Starting out with atmospheric synth sounds and a sampled voice, a hypnotic drum beat soon joins in to take us into verse one. The harmony is built mainly upon a single chord giving this tune almost mantric qualities with the rare change providing a big release to the built up tension. Hollister’s powerful, rounded voice brings a sense of warmth to this track that also features a bagpipes solo. The album opener is a masterpiece in it’s own right, certainly possessing cinematic qualities and slightly resembling Peter Gabriel’s debut solo single “Solsbury Hill”. The synth sample continues into song number two, “Falling”, creating a seamless transition before Adam Roberts counts down on the hi-hat and jumps into a considerably heavier groove. The volume swell on Chris Buck’s sustained chord followed by wailing bends made it seem as if Hendrix transformed into David Gilmour in a matter of seconds. This is followed by back-to-back ballads titled “Racing Cars” and “Breathe”, bringing soulful vibes to the mix. Creative guitar parts, instantly recognisable voice, and solid grooves, crowned with a touch of melancholy, seems to have become the signature style of Cardinal Black and I’m here for it.

Track number 5, “Keep On Running” is one of the singles released in the lead-up. The rhythm section is what really drives this fiery blues-infused number. The bass and drums work in great harmony to build a bouncy groove. Another commanding vocal performance by Hollister is topped off with haunting backing vocals singing earworm melodies throughout the song. And did I mention the guitar tone on this one? Dirty as hell! The way this track has been written, performed, and produced should be taught in schools – a true work of art. “Morning Light” starts with some comforting ASMR sounds – steps getting closer and closer, a door opening, casual conversation backed by an acoustic guitar and some slightly out-of-tune piano. It felt like I was there – in the studio, listening to the band play this warm and powerful country-style ballad live. It’s an experience, I’m telling you! Another single released earlier this year “Holding My Breath” – excellent song all in all, very catchy, however this one is all about the guitar. Upon hearing it for the first time on Spotify’s Release Radar, what caught my ear immediately was the muted staccato rhythm that Buck is knitting into the very fabric of this song. Not to mention the guitar solo – it’s unlike anything I’ve heard before, so cleverly built, and delivered with such feel, and such rich tone, it’s shiver-inducing.

Lyrically expressive and powerful, “Push/Pull” is a beautiful, meditative tune – floating in space and calming the mind down. Fading in from out far, a proper love song titled “Adeline” follows, keeping things slow and dreamy for a little while longer before the heavily distorted guitar takes over to lead us into “Need More Time”. A tune that features folky harmonica parts, an extremely catchy chorus, and killer parts on the electric organ. Wrapping this record up in style is another genuine, emotion-packed love song titled “Your Spark (Blows Me to Pieces)”.

With meticulous production, a distinctive sound, and impeccable songwriting bringing a wide array of emotions to surface – Midnight at The Valencia is a breathtaking record. Difficult to place inside any genre or even cross-genre boundary, this release is simply ‘Cardinal Black’. Those who have witnessed them play live say the band’s chemistry, energy, and musicianship contribute towards a truly electrifying experience, earning this Welsh outfit a reputation as one of the most compelling live acts. Make sure to catch them on tour across UK, US, and EU this year. Oh, and keep this amazing record spinning – truth be told if you spin it once you might not be able to stop!