Belleruche released a series of three extremely limited 7” records on their own Hippoflex Recording Industries label before signing with Tru Thoughts. These individually numbered 45’s (with hand screen-printed sleeves) quickly sold out in the UK’s independent record stores and attracted a cult following in the UK and Europe, having been hand-distributed by the band at gigs.
In 2007 Belleruche signed to Tru Thoughts and their debut album Turntable Soul Music was released in July of the same year, gaining admiring reviews both at home and abroad and becoming the fastest-selling debut album in the label’s history.
The songs on ‘Turntable Soul Music’ were written in train carriages, dubious minicabs and pub backrooms around the UK whilst the trio gigged everywhere they could. The songs were then forged and reworked in the band’s electrifying live shows. From their initial sunday residency in the Salmon and Compass in Angel, London to gigs all over Europe, Australia and Asia. ‘Turntable Soul Music’ is like a weird trawl through a dusty basement full of the best records you’ve never heard of, whilst a voice you can’t quite pin down sings hooks you can’t forget.
Their live show marks them apart, using only a turntable, sampler, guitar and microphone, they combine to produce something markedly different. Sounding at once both weird and distinctive, but at the same time musical and compelling, they have played at venues as diverse as Montreux Jazz Festival, The Dance arena at Glastonbury, and many underground nightclubs.
In October 2008 Tru Thoughts released The Express, the bands second album. Following on from the live songwriting and broken leads ethic of Belleruche's debut, 'The Express' has maybe a tougher sound.
Their latest album 270 Stories - including the singles Clockwatching, Fuzz Face and 3 Amp Fuse - was released in October 2010. The band will be playing festival dates this summer and touring the new album in autumn.
Kathrin deBoer
Raised on a pirate boat sailing the South Pacific Ocean, with only Billie Holiday and Spanky Wilson records for company, Kathrins voice carries the soul of the wind off the cape mixed with the grit of illegal Polynesian rum bars. Lyrics written in bottles cast into the sea found their way into three continents; Kathrin jumped ship and found London.
Ricky Fabulous
Leo. Baby. Following an adolescence chasing girls and heavy rock bands, Fabulous found himself trapped working for a Maltese gangster in a frozen northern town. Whilst keeping warm locked in a damp basement, he found a stack of quarter inch tapes and discovered the work of Grant Green and Django Reinhardt, which gave him the energy to slip out of town, heading south on a freight car clutching a false identity and a forty-year-old guitar.
DJ Modest
Growing up in the deep south, in engine oil and mud, Modest discovered hiphop on a stolen radio, sneaking into clubs through broken windows to hear more. Building turntables and mixers from scavenged electronic gear and two stroke engines, he created a soundsystem and played unlawful hiphop parties in strange woodlands to farmers. He coaxes twisted Bluenote solos and broken drums from Shure m44-7s whilst drunk on moonshine.
Cat In a Dog Suit
Belleruche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like it's a part of me
The piece you wanted back so desperately
You know it would have been nice
To have a little more time
To catch my breath
You said it was for my own good
You should know I understand the meaning of over
Then you tell me to read between the lines
Afraid of what I'll find
You either held me too tight or held me down
Then you tell me to read between the lines
There might be things you need to find
Would you ever think to put it to right
And I wish to clarify
The particular night
It all turned sour and you lost your head
Come enter Mr Hyde
You flipped right out of my mind
Side swiped, where the hell did that come from
Ever thought you could confide
It'd been brewing for sometime
Talk it out, instead you preferred to shock and awe
Then you tell me to read between the lines
Afraid of what I'll find
You either held me too tight or held me down
Then you tell me to read between the lines
There might be things you need to find
Would you ever think to put it to right
Well I wish I could remind
Myself of the first time
Three strikes I was out a long time ago
Now there's nothing more to see
And nothing left to feel
Nothing more I can do for you
Seems obvious to me
There's something else that runs too deep
A part of you don't let anyone in to see
Then you tell me to read between the lines
Afraid of what I'll find
You either held me too tight or held me down
Then you tell me to read between the lines
There might be things you need to find
Would you ever think to put it to right
Then you tell me to read between the lines
Afraid of what I'll find
You either held me too tight or held me down
Then you tell me to read between the lines
There might be things you need to find
Would you ever think to put it to right
The song "Cat In a Dog Suit" by Belleruche tells a story about a relationship that has gone sour. The first verse conveys the idea that the singer is missing a part of their partner that they wanted back. It implies that their partner has taken something from them that was important. Despite this, they still understand the meaning of "over" and accept that things have ended.
The second verse talks about how the singer wished they had more time to catch their breath before their partner flipped out on them. It seems as though their partner had been holding something back for a while and it finally exploded. The singer is frustrated that their partner didn't talk it out and instead resorted to shocking and awe, leaving the singer to read between the lines for answers.
In the chorus, the singer is asked to read between the lines and to find things that their partner may be hiding. The lines "You either held me too tight or held me down" suggest that their partner was either controlling or manipulating them in some way. The singer then reflects on how their partner didn't let anyone see the real them, and how there's nothing left to feel now that the relationship is over.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the difficulties of communication in relationships and how sometimes we don't truly know the people we're with. It warns about the dangers of not being open with one another and how important it is to talk things out, rather than hiding behind subtext.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm missing a part of you
I feel incomplete without you in my life.
Like it's a part of me
Your presence in my life is as vital as any part of my being.
The piece you wanted back so desperately
The particular part of me that you are looking for holds tremendous value to you.
You know it would have been nice
It is unfortunate that things did not turn out the way we both wished.
To have a little more time
If only we had more time together, things could have been different.
To catch my breath
The situation between us has been too intense, and it would have been nice to take a break.
Instead you cleaned me out,
You took everything from me, leaving me with nothing.
You said it was for my own good
What you did was for my own benefit, according to you.
You should know I understand the meaning of over
I am completely aware that our relationship is beyond repair.
Then you tell me to read between the lines
You want me to look beyond the obvious and find a deeper meaning in our interactions.
Afraid of what I'll find
You are apprehensive of what I might come up with.
You either held me too tight or held me down
Your affection for me somehow limited my freedom.
There might be things you need to find
You think there are issues you need to address, but are possibly not aware of them.
Would you ever think to put it to right
Would you take responsibility to fix the problems between us?
And I wish to clarify
I want to elaborate on a particular event that changed our relationship.
The particular night
A specific moment in time that marked a turning point for us.
It all turned sour and you lost your head
The situation took a bad turn, and you did not behave rationally.
Come enter Mr Hyde
You turned into a completely different person I hadn't seen before.
You flipped right out of my mind
I was taken aback by your behavior, and couldn't comprehend what was happening.
Side swiped, where the hell did that come from
Your actions were unexpected and blindsided me.
Ever thought you could confide
You could have shared your concerns with me at any point in time.
It'd been brewing for sometime
The issues between us had been simmering underneath for a while.
Talk it out, instead you preferred to shock and awe
We could have addressed the issue by talking it out, but you chose a more dramatic approach.
Well I wish I could remind
I wish I could bring back a better time when things were not so complicated between us.
Myself of the first time
A time in our past where we were happy and had no issues to deal with.
Three strikes I was out a long time ago
My trust in you was broken multiple times, but it has been long since I lost hope in fixing things with you.
Now there's nothing more to see
Our relationship has ended, and there is nothing left for us to hold on to.
And nothing left to feel
All the emotions that we once had for each other have ceased to exist.
Nothing more I can do for you
I have nothing else to give, and I cannot do anything else to fix things between us.
Seems obvious to me
It is clear that something is holding you back from being honest with yourself and those around you.
There's something else that runs too deep
There are underlying issues that have not been addressed that are causing problems for you.
A part of you don't let anyone in to see
You have a part of yourself that you keep hidden from everyone else.
Would you ever think to put it to right
Is it possible for you to fix the issues between us on your own?
Writer(s): Tim Godwin, Richard Carr, Kathrin Wollermann
Contributed by Victoria J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MiKMinasyanC
every time when i hear her stunning voice, i'm unable to turn it off.
@Rhea68
...She's amazing.
@olehfetisov8935
perfect!
@turdfacesaywhaaaa
Really nice.
@LoriTianSailiata
+Belleruche and +KEXP two of my most favorite things. Belleruche is a Brit group that transcends UK borders to dip into #newjazz #whirledpeascafe
@cokemall
this dj got skills
@mysticmushroom1
same here i have herd ever song on you tube by them her voice and her all by her self i whould love to meet her cause im in love
@stricknice
Nice...
@ks1983ish
@MiKMinasyanC shes addictive isnt she the new mercedes ad in the uk brought me to them lol
@mysticmushroom1
listen to 3 amp fuse f-in awsome song