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
Oscar Wilde
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some distant years ago
As my dog ran along the road
As fast as he could go
And I know that the past is gone but
Some moments shine like gold
And I called as I followed
And all I called was
Oh-weh, oh-weh oh-weh
Oh-weh, and where do we go, eh?
Oh-weh oh-weh
Oh-weh, just on and on and on
I'm going to let go
I'm going to see you
I'm going to do all I was afraid
If I would forget
Who I thought I was
I'm gonna make a friend of chaos
Will you be my friend
Will you be my right hand
If I ran into my creature
So glad to meet you
Oscar Wilde, yeah
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
In the palms of a morning stage
In the roll of a midnight song
I followed you out there
I followed you old dog
When I run let me feel no care
We fist bump when the evenin' comes
What's mine is mine to bear
So all I call is
Oh-weh, oh-weh oh-weh
Oh-weh, and where do we go, eh?
Oh-weh oh-weh
Oh-weh, just on and on and on
Follow the rooftops
Set some day goals
All of the wild ones sing
But where do we go
But where do we go
But where do we go
Just on and on and
Runnin' the alleys
With broken bottles
All of the thugs, they're cool
But how would I know
But how would I know
But how would I know
How would I know when
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
I'm going to let go
I'm going to see you
I'm going to do all I was afraid
If I would forget
Who I thought I was
I'm gonna make a friend of chaos
Will you be my friend
Will you be my right hand
If I ran into my creature
I'm not gonna miss it
Oscar Wilde, eh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
Ooh-weh, ooh-weh
The song 'Oscar Wilde' by The Cat Empire is about the importance of memories and being true to oneself. The opening verse describes a moment from the past where the singer's dog ran down a road and the singer called out after it. The singer reflects on the fact that although the past is gone, some moments shine like gold in memory. The chorus of the song is a repeating mantra which asks the question 'where do we go?' as if to suggest that life is an endless journey with no ultimate destination.
The second verse introduces the idea of letting go of fear and being true to oneself. The singer wants to embrace chaos and make a friend out of it, asking the listener to be their friend and right hand in that process. The bridge section of the song celebrates the idea of following one's dreams and living a wild and free life. The final verse returns to the idea of being true to oneself and not missing out on life's opportunities. The song finishes with a final repetition of the mantra "Oscar Wilde, yeah" which suggests that the singer is celebrating the life and work of the famous writer who was known for his commitment to individualism and free expression.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember a night back home
The singer remembers a vivid moment from their past.
Some distant years ago
The moment is from a long time ago.
As my dog ran along the road
The singer's dog is a key part of the memory.
As fast as he could go
The dog was running quickly.
And I know that the past is gone but
The artist acknowledges that the moment is in the past.
Some moments shine like gold
The memory is particularly special and valuable.
And I called as I followed
The singer tried to keep up with the dog and called out to him.
And all I called was
The artist can only remember one specific thing they said.
Oh-weh, oh-weh oh-weh
The artist repeats this phrase to indicate the sound they made.
Oh-weh, and where do we go, eh?
The artist wonders about the direction they are heading in life.
Oh-weh oh-weh
The singer repeats the phrase again.
Oh-weh, just on and on and on
The artist feels like they are stuck in a cycle of repetition.
I'm going to let go
The singer wants to release their fears.
I'm going to see you
The singer is eager to see someone or something.
I'm going to do all I was afraid
The singer plans to conquer their fears and take action.
If I would forget
The artist worries about losing their sense of self.
Who I thought I was
The artist is questioning their identity.
I'm gonna make a friend of chaos
The singer wants to embrace the unpredictable nature of life.
Will you be my friend
The singer is seeking companionship.
Will you be my right hand
The artist wants someone to support them.
If I ran into my creature
The artist anticipates encountering something unusual.
So glad to meet you
The artist is upbeat and welcoming.
Oscar Wilde, yeah
The singer references Oscar Wilde, perhaps as an emblem of unconventionality.
In the palms of a morning stage
The artist evokes an image of a dramatic setting.
In the roll of a midnight song
The singer implies that music is an important part of life.
I followed you out there
The singer is fixated on something or someone.
I followed you old dog
The singer is still thinking about their dog from the earlier memory.
When I run let me feel no care
The artist wants to be free of worry when they run.
We fist bump when the evenin' comes
The artist suggests a carefree sense of camaraderie.
What's mine is mine to bear
The singer is willing to take responsibility for their actions.
Follow the rooftops
The singer is giving an instruction to someone.
Set some day goals
The artist is offering advice or encouragement.
All of the wild ones sing
The artist suggests that unconventional people often express themselves through art.
But where do we go
The artist returns to their earlier existential question.
Runnin' the alleys
The singer conjures an image of urban exploration and danger.
With broken bottles
The artist describes the hazards of this environment.
All of the thugs, they're cool
The singer observes but does not necessarily condone certain behavior.
But how would I know
The singer reflects on their own knowledge and perception.
How would I know when
The singer continues questioning their awareness of their surroundings.
I'm not gonna miss it
The artist is determined not to let opportunities pass them by.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Felix Riebl, Henry Angus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind