Moody and introspective post-rock is often only perfected by groups from the United Kingdom, but it appears as though Cardia are North America's exception to the rule. Comprised of members of Rival Schools, 2 Skinnee J's, The Verve Pipe and Shudder To Think fame, this New York based act are utterly spellbinding on their self-titled debut effort. Stunning hooks, impressively high pitched vocals and a plethora of engulfing melodies are all present here and invoke warm memories of many great artists, with shades of bands like Coldplay, Radiohead and Sunny Day Real Estate clearly shining through.

Truly impressive, the vocals soar with great velocity and pitch, instantly conveying the power of the music on hand. At times sullen and inviting, while at others almost recalling the rawness of Chris Cornell's earlier days in Soundgarden, the words are spoken with true feeling and mesmerizing emotion. Combining such an astute performance with densely layered progressive rock would surely be enough to win over the masses, but the band don't stop there. Instead they riddle the tracks with ascensive shimmering riffs and a robust rhythm section that maintains a distinctly anchored edge, firmly preventing the quartet from ever flying too far up into the clouds.

Many bands have come and gone in this style of music and of them all, you could probably count the ones with enough talent and skill to leave a lasting effect on one hand. This is mainly due to the lack of experimentation in their craft and fortunately, this is a trend completely ignored by Cardia. Intricately voluminous and yet still pushing their limits at nearly every turn, this group have managed to construct an album that knows few boundaries and expands its range and scope accordingly with each passing track, effortlessly sweeping the listener away in the tide. Understandably, the singing may be a bit too grating for some and the bands sensitive approach may rub a few the wrong way as well; But that still doesn't stop "Cardia" from being a true indie gem and unlike most jewels found in the underground - no polish or cutting is necessary here.