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.
Oh Kamikaze
Something for Kate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were a fast one always in control, Kamikaze,
Spreading your wings full of holes as you drag the sky
And no-one can tell you if this is to spin or free falling
'Cause no-one is so sure that this was meant to fly.
Uptight.
You flicker and flame like the
They're calling your name from the
Outside.
You don't believe in the real world.
Tryin to process all of your need and desperation
So you can straighten out every devil lie.
The ripple is falling comin' down slow like silent movie
And they will abandon time
So far
You wanted too much and it's
Closer
So close you could touch it for
One time.
You disappear, you disappear
Uptight.
You flicker and flame like the
Bright light.
They're calling your name it's a
Sure sign
You don't belong in the real world, the real world.
You never see it comin' 'till it carries you off the ground.
I see it in your face when you come back, come back
Down, down, down
Down, down, come back down
Uptight.
You flicker and flame like the
Bright light.
They're callin' your name in your
Sweet time
You slip away from the real world.
Uptight
You flicker, you flicker,
Bright light
They're callin, they're callin your name
Sweet time
You slip away from the, the real world.
The lyrics of Something for Kate's song Oh Kamikaze seem to describe a person who is unstable, self-destructive and out of touch with the world around them. The opening lines use the metaphor of a kamikaze – a Japanese term for a suicide pilot – to suggest that this person is throwing themselves recklessly into life, soaring through the sky but at the same time leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Uptight, you flicker and flame like the bright light," captures the restless energy of this person, who seems to be constantly searching for something but never finding it. They are out of step with the real world, driven by their own needs and desires, and unable to connect with others or find a sense of purpose. The verses go deeper, describing this person's inner turmoil and how they are almost trapped in a cycle of need and desperation, trying to "straighten out every devil lie" and get a hold on their life.
The overall message of the song seems to be a warning against living a life without meaning or connection. While the kamikaze pilot may seem like a symbol of fearlessness or bravery, in reality, they are sacrificing themselves for a futile cause. In the same way, the singer is urging this person to stop and take stock of their life, to try and find a way to connect with the world around them before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
You, You,
You were a fast one always in control, Kamikaze,
Spreading your wings full of holes as you drag the sky
And no-one can tell you if this is to spin or free falling
'Cause no-one is so sure that this was meant to fly.
Addressing the subject, the song begins by describing them as someone who was always in control, comparable to a kamikaze. Their wings are full of holes, which means that they may not be able to sustain this control forever. Uncertainty surrounds the subject's future because nobody knows whether they will continue to thrive or fall.
Tryin to process all of your need and desperation
So you can straighten out every devil lie.
The ripple is falling comin' down slow like silent movie
And they will abandon time
The subject is trying to make sense of their wants, needs, and their desperate situation by finding the truth behind every lie. The results of this struggle are shown metaphorically as a slow ripple like a silent movie. Eventually, they will detach themselves from time and reality.
So far
You wanted too much and it's
Closer
So close you could touch it for
One time.
You disappear, you disappear
The subject has been striving hard for something and has come very close to it, maybe for the very first time. However, in the end, they vanish and can't reach their goal.
You never see it comin' 'till it carries you off the ground.
I see it in your face when you come back, come back
Down, down, down
Down, down, come back down
The subject is unaware of the origin of their problems, and they are only demonstrable when they come back to reality. The song is asking them to come back and see the reality when they fall back down.
Uptight.
You flicker and flame like the
Bright light.
They're callin, they're callin your name
Sweet time
You slip away from the, the real world.
The chorus depicts the subject as uptight, constantly flickering with their control, comparable to a flame. Other people continuously call their name, but the subject remains disconnected from the so-called 'real world.' They are moving away from reality and slipping into a fantastic but distorted world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ASHWORTH, DEMPSEY, HYNDMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thomas Langford
Literally everything about this song is incredible (like most SFK songs, to be honest) but the PRODUCTION on this is just PERFECT! There are so many beautiful little dynamics, weird but wonderful effects (that guitar sound is iconic), and the mix is so so good. Paul's voice has never sounded cleaner and more emotionally resonant. A masterpiece!
Looking forward to the new album guys, can't wait to absorb myself in your wonderful little sonic landscape for a long time.
XaraX
Absolutely incredible ❤️ Just like always
Azita Ezady
The best band in the world🔥🎸
Kevo Biggy
Absolute ripper of a song. Such a amazing band.
buzzardnutz
Went on a YouTube journey tonight and discovered so much great stuff. Love it!
Michael Reid
Fucking love this so much. ❤️❤️❤️
jody marshall
You, You,
You were a fast one always in control, Kamikaze,
Spreading your wings full of holes as you drag the sky
And no-one can tell you if this is to spin or free falling
'Cause no-one is so sure that this was meant to fly.
Uptight.
You flicker and flame like the
Bright light.
They're calling your name from the
Outside.
You don't believe in the real world.
Tryin to process all of your need and desperation
So you can straighten out every devil lie.
The ripple is falling comin' down slow like silent movie
And they will abandon time
So far
You wanted too much and it's
Closer
So close you could touch it for
One time.
You disappear, you disappear
Uptight.
You flicker and flame like the
Bright light.
They're calling your name it's a
Sure sign
You don't belong in the real world, the real world.
You never see it comin' 'till it carries you off the ground.
I see it in your face when you come back, come back
Down, down, down
Down, down, come back down
Uptight.
You flicker and flame like the
Bright light.
They're callin' your name in your
Sweet time
You slip away from the real world.
Uptight
You flicker, you flicker,
Bright light
They're callin, they're callin your name
Sweet time
You slip away from the, the real world.