After recording a 7-track demo in 1995, the band signed to Murmur Records, a subsidiary of Sony. In 1996, they released the 7-track EP The Answer to Both Your Questions, recorded and mixed by Greg Atkinson of Sydney band Big Heavy Stuff.
In November of 1996, the 3-track single "Dean Martin" was released. Early in 1997, the band released a 5-track EP titled Intermission as they recorded their first album, Elsewhere for Eight Minutes, in New Zealand and mixed and mastered it in New York with U.S. producer Brian Paulson. (Brian had previously produced albums for Wilco, Archers of Loaf, Superchunk and Slint, amongst others.) Something for Kate's first full-length album was released in July of 1997. Bass player Julian Carroll was then replaced by Toby Ralph, who toured with the band for the release of the album.
Four singles were released from Elsewhere for Eight Minutes: "Captain (Million miles an hour)", "Prick", "Working Against Me" and "Roll Credit". Bass player Toby Ralph was replaced by Stephanie Ashworth (of Melbourne outfit Sandpit) in March 1998. The band then wrote their second album, Beautiful Sharks, which was released in April of 1999. Beautiful Sharks was recorded in Melbourne, once again by producer Brian Paulson.
Four singles were released from Beautiful Sharks: "Electricity", "Hallways", "Whatever You Want" and "The Astronaut". When the band went on the road with this album they took on an extra touring musician, Wally Gunn, to play the incidental guitar and keyboard parts.
In 2000, as the band were writing for their third album, Murmur released Q & A With Dean Martin, a re-release of the sold-out first EP and single. Also released in 2000 was Big Screen Television, a video collection of 12 of the band's music videos along with some bonus footage.
In June of 2001, the third album, Echolalia, was released. Produced by the band and Trina Shoemaker (whose other recording credits include Queens of the Stone Age, REM, Whiskeytown and Sheryl Crow), Echolalia was recorded at INXS bass-player Garry Gary Beers' Mangrove studio in the Central Coast of NSW.
Four singles were released from Echolalia: "Monsters", "Three Dimensions", "Twenty Years" and "Say Something". When touring this album, the band took on two touring musicians, Pip Branson (ex Sydney band Sidewinder) and Simon Bourke, again, to play the increasing amount of keyboards and extra guitar parts featured on the album.
In 2002 the band released their first DVD, A Diversion, which is a document of the writing, recording and touring of the Echolalia album.
In 2003 the band recorded and released their fourth album, The Official Fiction. Produced once again by the band and Trina Shoemaker at Mangrove studios, it spawned the singles "Deja Vu", "Song for a Sleepwalker", "Best Weapon" and "Moving Right Along".
After supporting David Bowie on the Australian leg of his Reality Tour, the band toured Europe in 2004, taking in Germany, France, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland and the UK, before returned to Australia to release Phantom Limbs, a double album of the band members' and their fans' favourite b-side tracks from over the years.
On the 30th of June 2006, Something for Kate released their fifth album, Desert Lights. Since then, Something for Kate has released 2 singles, Cigarettes and Suitcases which was released on the 5th of May 2006, just under 2 months before the second EP, Oh Kamikaze which was released on the 1st of September 2006.
Faster
Something for Kate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the sun begins its shift
Over the city and all the sad and sleeping factories
I hear every engine
Hear them put together
Just to take apart my quiet, quietness
The old men talk
Some one calls in quiet desperation
Just stand in there
When open the door
Say we can't stay here anymore
It's another phone call
Another change of address
Another life raft we will have to build for ourselves
There'll be another nine
There'll be another nine lives
And all the time in the world to trivialise
Memories lapse
And empires collapse
And we forget together on that
Some new construction came all at once
And slow and certain
Standing on the side I can see no difference
Same colours come and snap together
Looking just a life sized life
It's like one long season
Two worlds on top of each other one doesn't notice the other
And their faces say
Business as usual
Faster and faster and faster and faster and…
And if we leave
Or if we never leave
They'll just cover us with new buildings
And if we leave
Or if we never leave
They'll just cover us with new buildings
Some new construction came all at once
And slow and certain
Standing on the side I can see no difference
Same colours come and snap together
Looking just a life sized life
It's like one long season
Two worlds on top of each other one doesn't notice the other
And their faces say
Business as usual
Faster and faster and faster and faster and faster
(etc)
The lyrics of "Faster" by Something for Kate offer a commentary on the modern condition and the pace of life in the industrialised world. The song describes the sound of the city waking up and coming alive as the sun rises and the factories begin to stir. With great imagery, the lyrics capture the idea of the machinery of modern life making noise and disrupting the stillness.
One of the key themes of "Faster" is the idea that change is an inevitable part of life. The lyrics speak of "another change of address" and "another life raft we will have to build for ourselves." These lines suggest that the world is constantly in flux, and we need to be adaptable and resilient to survive. At the same time, the song acknowledges the importance of memory and the inevitability of forgetting. "Memories lapse and empires collapse," the lyrics say, encapsulating the fleeting nature of human experience.
The chorus of "Faster" reinforces these ideas, as the song speaks of two worlds existing side by side. One world is consumed with the "business as usual" of everyday life, while the other is more ephemeral and less tangible. It's almost like the song is urging listeners to slow down and appreciate the passing moments of life before they are gone forever.
Overall, "Faster" is a deep and insightful commentary on modern life and the human condition. It speaks to the importance of adaptability and resilience, while also acknowledging the fleeting and ephemeral nature of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel it coming on
Sensing a change is about to happen.
As the sun begins its shift, over the city and all the sad and sleeping factories
The sun is rising on a city that's in need of life.
I hear every engine, Hear them put together
Noticing the machines that make the city run.
Just to take apart my quiet, quietness
The noise disrupts the peaceful quietness.
The old men talk, in every direction
Elderly people engage in chatter.
Someone calls in quiet desperation, just stand in there
Someone is desperate and stuck in a certain situation.
When open the door, Say we can't stay here anymore
At some point, it's time to make a change.
It's another phone call, another change of address
Life keeps changing, and moving is a constant occurrence.
Another life raft we will have to build for ourselves
We need to rely on ourselves to survive life's difficulties.
There'll be another nine, there'll be another nine lives
Like a cat, we have multiple chances to live our lives well.
And all the time in the world to trivialize
We often waste our time on meaningless things.
Memories lapse, and empires collapse
Things that were important can become forgotten, and powerful entities can fall.
And we forget together on that
Collectively, we can forget about things that used to matter.
Some new construction came all at once, And slow and certain
New buildings are being constructed, taking time and progressing.
Standing on the side I can see no difference, Same colours come and snap together
New buildings look much the same, with similar colors and designs.
Looking just a life sized life, It's like one long season
Life is a journey that can seem to go on forever.
Two worlds on top of each other one doesn't notice the other
Different layers of life exist, but can go unnoticed by others.
And their faces say Business as usual, Faster and faster and faster and faster and... (etc)
People keep going about their business, even as things speed up and change around them.
And if we leave, Or if we never leave
We may stay in one place or move around, depending on our choices.
They'll just cover us with new buildings
No matter where we go, new buildings will be constructed and surround us.
Contributed by Ryan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.