For a guy with a theremin player at his disposal, singer/songwriter John Washburn is a bit too hard on himself. A thoughtful band in the Indie Britpop vein of Blur or Pulp, The Cardinal Points’ debut EP ‘I Promised You Mermaids, But The Ocean Was Empty’ finds Washburn with some mixed up plans, but good intentions nonetheless. It’s a landscape of frozen dreams and tumbling anxieties on the pounding ‘Circle the Sun’ and theremin-kissed album opener ‘The Strangest Days.’ My favorite, title track ‘I Promised You Mermaids,’ is an epic tour of these settings, where Washburn tries to repair a disappointing relationship. An impressive debut, The Cardinal Points are as bouncy as they are stark, and I’m looking forward to seeing them announce some more dates. So pack your bags and take a visit. The album is streaming on their bandcamp. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
