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
1001
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- just made my list of one thousand
one thousand and one
but ah Parking Inspector
Went to my friends
when I found a fine beat
where the rhythm plays me
play it all day
on a balcony above the street
where old Franky and me we
shuffle with our feet
And old man Georgie
takes some sugar with his tea
when he's stirred by a melody
of hands moving easy
you see it reminds him
dreams by the sea
where the breeze blows
underneath that island tree
And we played til the playing
Gave us the munchies
then we played in the kitchen
made the easy gods happy
cos we left them a little chili-special
and some chocolate we eat because it's sweet
when I leave I am smiling
at the things I haven't done
oh I haven't broke a sweat
and I haven't had to run
for the list of one-thousand
-and-one that does plague me
on some days
when the sun rays don't come
Parking Inspector
just made my list of one thousand
one thousand and one
but ah Parking Inspector
(won't let you wreck my fun)
When I get to my car
I am faced with a sight
that is strange and it's sad
and it's mad it's not right
there's one thousand and one
spaces free but I see
that he find me guilty
of the time over fee
Now I know why my mother
why my mother warned me
said ‘you might be lucky
but know nothing comes for free
she is right - entirely
cos the ticket paid the song
that I sing to this beat
Parking inspector
just made my list of one thousand
one thousand and one
but ah parking inspector
won't let you wreck my fun
cos when I pay for my ticket
I won't curse and despise
no i'll run into the girl
with the slinky blue eyes
then my list of one thousand and one
will remain
I had plans to get it done
but now my plans they have changed
Parking Inspector
just made my list of one thousand
one thousand and one
but ah Parking Inspector
just listen to the bass and the funky drums
Parking Inspector
just made my list of one thousand
grow a little more
but ah parking inspector
you won't believe what I saw
on the back of my ticket
with invisible type
was a map to the place
with one thousand delights
and a key that was one to that
spot by the sea where the breeze
blows underneath that island tree
The Cat Empire's "1001" is a song that reflects on the ups and downs of life in a bustling city, particularly in relation to the frustrations of dealing with a parking inspector. The opening lines establish the central conflict: "Parking Inspector, just made my list of one thousand / one thousand and one / but ah Parking Inspector, won't let you wreck my fun." The singer aims to maintain positivity in the face of daily struggles and stresses, finding solace in music and the company of fellow musicians.
The song describes a scene where the singer and their friends are hanging out and jamming on a balcony above a busy street. The group plays music and dances together, providing a moment of reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life. However, when the singer returns to their car, they receive a ticket from the parking inspector, which threatens to ruin their mood. Despite this setback, they choose to maintain a positive outlook and even discover a hidden message on the back of the ticket that leads them to a magical spot by the sea, where the breeze blows and a thousand delights can be found.
Overall, "1001" is a song that celebrates the importance of music, friendship, and finding the silver lining in difficult situations, even when faced with the frustrations of urban life.
Line by Line Meaning
Parking Inspector
The beginning of the song and the introduction to the character who will come back again and again throughout the lyrics.
just made my list of one thousand
The parking inspector just gave the singer another ticket and added him to his personal 'list' of people who have been fined.
one thousand and one
The singer is now part of a list of a thousand and one people who have been fined by the parking inspector.
but ah Parking Inspector
The artist is acknowledging the presence of the parking inspector but asserting that he won't let him ruin his fun.
Went to my friends
The artist went to visit his friends and began playing music with them.
when I found a fine beat
The singer found a great rhythm that he and his friends could make their own music to.
cos I like to play a rhythm
The singer is passionate about playing music and is enjoying this particular rhythm.
where the rhythm plays me
The rhythm is so good that the artist is effortlessly playing along to it.
play it all day
The artist and his friends play music all day long and don't want to stop.
on a balcony above the street
The artist and his friends are playing music on a balcony that overlooks the street below.
where old Franky and me we
Franky is one of the singer's friends that he is playing music with on the balcony.
shuffle with our feet
The artist and Franky are dancing along to the music they are playing.
And old man Georgie
Another character is introduced to the story, old man Georgie.
takes some sugar with his tea
Old man Georgie is having some tea and adding sugar to it.
when he's stirred by a melody
Old man Georgie is paying attention to the music and enjoying it.
of hands moving easy
The artist and his friends are playing music with ease and skill.
you see it reminds him
The music reminds old man Georgie of something or somewhere he used to be.
dreams by the sea
The music is bringing back memories of being by the ocean or sea for old man Georgie.
where the breeze blows
Old man Georgie is remembering the feeling of the breeze blowing while he was by the sea.
underneath that island tree
Old man Georgie is thinking of a specific tree that he saw or sat under while he was by the sea.
And we played til the playing
The artist and his friends played music until they were hungry.
Gave us the munchies
Playing music made the artist and his friends hungry for food.
then we played in the kitchen
The singer and his friends moved to the kitchen to continue playing music.
made the easy gods happy
Playing music made the group feel good and happy.
cos we left them a little chili-special
The singer and his friends made a spicy meal for themselves but kept it small and simple.
and some chocolate we eat because it's sweet
The group also had some chocolate for dessert because it is sweet and enjoyable.
when I leave I am smiling
Even though the group is done playing music and eating, the singer is still happy and smiling.
at the things I haven't done
The artist is happy with what he did that day but also happy that there are still things out there to do and explore.
oh I haven't broke a sweat
The artist feels good because he didn't have to work hard or struggle to have a good day.
and I haven't had to run
The singer is happy because he didn't have to rush around or handle anything stressful that day.
for the list of one-thousand
The singer is referring to the list of people who have been fined by the parking inspector, which he has now been added to.
-and-one that does plague me
The artist is annoyed by the fact that he has been added to the list of people who have been fined.
on some days
This feeling only bothers the artist occasionally and not all the time.
when the sun rays don't come
The artist is talking about gloomy or rainy days where the sun is not shining.
won't let you wreck my fun
The singer won't allow the parking inspector or his fines to ruin his good mood and good day.
When I get to my car
The artist is finished playing music and is returning to his car.
I am faced with a sight
The singer sees something negative or disappointing when he returns to his car.
that is strange and it's sad
The singer is upset by what he sees and thinks it is an unfair situation.
and it's mad it's not right
The singer thinks the situation is not logical or fair.
there's one thousand and one
The artist is referring to the list of people who have been fined by the parking inspector again.
spaces free but I see
Even though there are many open parking spaces available, the artist still got fined for staying too long.
that he find me guilty
The singer is acknowledging that he was found guilty by the parking inspector but still thinks it's unfair.
of the time over fee
The singer stayed too long in his parking spot and was charged extra for it.
Now I know why my mother
The artist remembers some advice his mother gave him.
why my mother warned me
The artist's mother warned him that nothing in life is truly free.
said ‘you might be lucky
The artist's mother acknowledges that people can be lucky sometimes.
but know nothing comes for free
Even though people can be lucky, there is always a price or a catch to pay.
she is right - entirely
The artist agrees with his mother's advice and thinks she is completely right.
cos the ticket paid the song
Even though the singer was fined for his parking, the price he paid was worth it because he enjoyed playing music with his friends.
that I sing to this beat
The singer is still singing the song that he and his friends played earlier in the day.
just listen to the bass and the funky drums
The singer is telling others to enjoy the music being played and to simply listen to the rhythm.
just made my list of one thousand
The parking inspector has continued to fine people and add them to his list.
grow a little more
The list of people who have been fined by the parking inspector is growing longer.
but ah parking inspector
The singer acknowledges the presence of the parking inspector again.
you won't believe what I saw
The singer saw something surprising or unexpected.
on the back of my ticket
The surprise or unexpected thing that the artist saw was written on the back of his parking ticket.
with invisible type
The writing on the back of the ticket was written in such a way that it was difficult to see or read.
was a map to the place
The writing on the back of the ticket was actually a map to a specific location.
with one thousand delights
This location is full of many exciting things to see or experience.
and a key that was one to that
The writing on the back of the ticket also included a key to access this special location.
spot by the sea where the breeze
The location that the map leads to is by the ocean or sea, where there is a nice breeze.
blows underneath that island tree
The location that the map leads to has a specific tree that the singer already knows and remembers well.
Contributed by Arianna J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Babelfish112
the slide guitar is what gets me with this song! so catchy
Jasper Russ
The best cat empire song
Bruce Wane
I was just listening to the song the night that never ends, and I found this by accident.