The Cat Empire began as a trio with McGill, Riebl, and Monro in late 1999, and started playing a wide variety of gigs in Melbourne. The band soon expanded in 2001, adding Angus, Hull-Brown, and Khadiwala.
THE Cat Empire's message, on stage and in the studio, has always been about breaking down borders: musical, geographic, lingual. But they have never done it so powerfully as they do on their new album, Cinema. The album serves up a set which captures the inexorable force - and sheer joy - of their live performances, delivered in a format perfect for lounge-rooms, backyards, BBQ’s, cafes, road trips and parties all over the world.
Cinema, the band's fourth studio album, is a dazzling statement of a band at a peak of its powers, music designed to move the body and the mind. Right from the opening track, Waiting, this is music that leaps from the speakers.
All the elements that people love about The Cat Empire are there but the result is brighter, bolder. And yes, more cinematic. What grabs the ear immediately is that this is not a band playing with genres. In the past, The Cat Empire dived in to any musical style which took their fancy, from reggae to salsa, Latin to hip-hop. Cinema reveals a band that has developed an emphatic voice that is all their own.
``That's a sound that has emerged out of nearly 10 years of playing on stage together,'' says singer and percussionist Felix Riebl. ”The result is an album that's much more integrated than anything we've done before, with a Cat Empire sound that runs consistently through it. The lyrics are perhaps darker, but they are accompanied by music that is uplifting which gives it a strange but powerful feeling.''
Riebl adds: “At times the album is thoughtful, at times it makes you just forget and dance. But it is an album that has more sonic depth than we've ever had before, experimental in parts but with really direct choruses. It's going to be a great album to play live, especially on big stages and at festivals.''
Of course, the stage is never far from the thoughts of this band. In an age when so much of selling music seems to be about celebrity and fashion, The Cat Empire have risen to be one of Australia and indeed the worlds favourite live acts through sheer musicality and the power of their interaction on stage. The band - Riebl, Vocalist and trumpeter Harry Angus, keys player Ollie McGill, bassist Ryan Monro, drummer Will Hull-Brown and Jamshid Khadiwala (aka ‘Jumps’) on decks - played their 700th show in Amsterdam last year, and will hit the 800 mark in 2010. While it is not well known in Australia, The Cat Empire are one of the country's most successful musical exports, doubling their audience numbers at every return stop.
They have headlined some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Summersonic (Japan), Rock am Ring (Germany) and V Fest (UK), playing Bonnaroo (US) as well as to an audience of 300,000 at the Montreal Jazz Festival. They have also played on some of world's highest rating entertainment shows, including Dave Letterman and Jay Leno. This year their worldwide tour in support of the international release of Cinema will see them return to Canada, US, Europe, Japan and the UK, where they will play to a full house at London's Brixton Academy.
The knowledge that they would be playing songs from the new album on so many big stages focused the song writing sessions for Cinema. The album was recorded close to home at Sing Sing studios in Melbourne with producer Steve Schram, and he encouraged them to make an album that was their most collaborative song writing effort yet.
``That was a deliberate decision from all of us,'' says the lion of the live show - Vocalist and Trumpeter Harry Angus. ``With six people in the band sometimes there will be a song on an album that not everyone wants to play live. This album certainly gets around that problem. And I think that after so many years playing together the guys are much more confident about contributing to the writing. Steve encouraged us to do that. That's been great for us.''
Of working with The Cat Empire, Schram says “it was the perfect studio scenario; amazing players open to trying anything and willing to take a back seat when required. Egos were left at the door.” He adds “In terms of musicianship, it's no secret that they don't come much better than The Cat Empire. Yet Cinema shows that simplicity and one well placed note packs more of a punch and serves the song far more than musical chops alone. We set out to explore in depth the mood and character of each song while maintaining a focus on performance rather than studio trickery. “
After taking their longest break from studio recording after the release of 2007's So Many Nights, the band reconvened feeling refreshed. ``In 2008 we took a break from touring for 8 months. Then in 2009 we released our (live album) Live on Earth” Riebl says. ``When we came back to the band, and then into the studio we all rediscovered what we loved about The Cat Empire in the first place; that it is a band that can do the unexpected, that we have great energy and make music that is always a lot of fun to play on stage. The feeling right now is just like when we were starting out. We're all very excited about that.''
Cinema will be released ...
JUNE 25, AUSTRALIA
JUNE 29, CANADA
JULY 6, USA
AUGUST 2010, EUROPE & JAPAN
See www.thecatempire.com for tours and information
Cities
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
747 Lands I go out strolling
Pacing lacing up the shoes
That depict a kind of blues
Get a paper read the news
Oh so many cities
Are going around in my head
Take me back to where I might belong
Traipsing trading with strangers and romance
Learnt about the nights where you live like your last chance
Oh oh oh... I'm going to rocket with bus across the sky
Gonna catch a train through the sea
Then steal some fire
Hold on baby while the stage lights eve
When the beat ignites us Prometheus is free
Oh so many cities
Are going around in my head
Take us back to where we might belong
Oh so many people
Rolled up on these shoulders
Something give me grace oh darling please
Blurring facing evasive evolving
747 Lands I go out strolling
Pacing lacing up the shoes
That depict a kind of blues
Get a paper read the news
She was a fountain in the desert and a tropical sea
Our caravan stopped temporarily
The Cat Empire's song "Cities" is a lyrical masterpiece that talks about the singer's journey through several cities that seem to be going around in his head. The lyrics are quite poetic and create vivid images of the different places he visits. The song's opening line, "Blurring facing evasive evolving," sets the tone for the rest of the song, hinting at the chaotic nature of the singer's journey.
The first verse talks about the singer taking a walk after landing in a new city and lacing up his shoes, which depict a kind of blues. He then reads the news, highlighting the mundane nature of his activities. However, the chorus takes a new turn, with the singer expressing a longing to belong somewhere.
The second verse talks about the singer's experiences in various cities, including trading with strangers and finding true romance. The bridge of the song is where things get more exciting, with the singer talking about catching a rocket bus across the sky and stealing fire. The chorus repeats, highlighting the singer's longing for a sense of belonging.
The final verse talks about the people the singer has met and the various experiences they have shared. The song ends with the singer reflecting on his journey and hoping for grace as he continues to travel.
Line by Line Meaning
Blurring facing evasive evolving
Moving quickly, facing challenges and trying to adapt and change to keep up
747 Lands I go out strolling
After getting off the plane, taking a leisurely walk to explore the unfamiliar city
Pacing lacing up the shoes
Preparing to move at a steady pace while getting ready to leave
That depict a kind of blues
The type of shoes that give off an air of sadness or melancholy
Get a paper read the news
Looking for information about the new surroundings by reading the local paper
Oh so many cities
Feeling overwhelmed by the number of cities visited or considered visiting
Are going around in my head
Unable to stop thinking about all the cities, recalling the memories and experiences
Take me back to where I might belong
Longing for a sense of belonging, a familiar place where one feels more at home
Traipsing trading with strangers and romance
Going around and interacting with strangers, experiencing love affairs with brief intensity
Learnt about the nights where you live like your last chance
Learning about the lifestyle of living to the fullest every night, as if it could be the last
I'm going to rocket with bus across the sky
Using various means of transportation, including unusual ones, to travel across great distances quickly
Gonna catch a train through the sea
Taking a train that travels through the ocean, which may signify a sense of adventure or impossibility
Then steal some fire
Doing something bold or risky, perhaps taking inspiration from the mythological figure Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods
Hold on baby while the stage lights eve
As the excitement builds up and the stage lights come on, holding on tight to the person one loves
When the beat ignites us Prometheus is free
Feeling liberated or empowered by the music and rhythms, as if Prometheus was released from his chains
Oh so many people
Feeling burdened by the weight of expectations, responsibilities, or the various people affecting one's life
Rolled up on these shoulders
Carrying the load or responsibility of taking care of many people, like Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders
Something give me grace oh darling please
Seeking a moment of relief or help from someone one loves
She was a fountain in the desert and a tropical sea
Describing a person who is paradoxical, having qualities that are opposite yet complementing each other
Our caravan stopped temporarily
Pausing in the journey and taking a break, reflecting on the experience so far
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.