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
All Night Loud
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wished that spring would come to me
And I wished that I could dance up on the isles
Sweat rivers on a stage of steam
I let my thoughts begin to dream
I held my breath and ran into the wild
And each night a horizon grew
Til morning's gold would make it disappear
Yet somewhere in my treasured chest
Is not forgot what must forget
But that's a feeling for another year
And movement has a way like words
You're there before the rhyme is heard
And all that one can do is shape the ride
The miles of a forgotten dream
Are yours my love it's where we've been
And maybe one day soon we will arrive
Playing all night loud
Playing all night loud
Sing it all night with me
All night loud
And we went on a whirlwind trip
The nights unwound the records flipped
And stillness came like chaos in the lights
And voices like devotion flew
Across the sea from me to you
In music that I still cannot describe
And there were ugly times it's true
Some from me and some from you
And devils have a way of digging down
But a friend is not a friend for life
Unless your life is worth the strife
So hold on we'll be alright
Playing all night loud
Playing all night loud
Sing it all night with me
All night loud
There's a speech that I know well
Was told by Henry V I'll tell
A version that relates to us not war
'He who sheds his sweat with me
Will be my friend eternally
From this day to the ending of the world!'
No matter if we're young or old
Or in the sun or in the cold
I hope I can remember your bright eyes
Cos I know you and you know me
At least somehow mysteriously
So thank you my dear friends
And that's goodnight
I'm much obliged
I'm much obliged
So thank you my dear friends
And that's goodnight
I'm much obliged
I'm much obliged
So thank you my dear friends
And that's good night
"All Night Loud" by The Cat Empire is an upbeat and energetic song that talks about living life to its fullest and making the most of every moment. The song speaks about the singer's desires and aspirations from when he was 16 years old, wanting to feel the excitement of dancing on an island and sweating rivers on a steamy stage. The lyrics emphasize the idea of letting go and allowing oneself to dream big while enjoying the journey of life.
The verse "And movement has a way like words, you’re there before the rhyme is heard, and all that one can do is shape the ride," highlights that life is full of surprises, and we never know what will happen next. We need to be open to changes and shape it to our liking. The chorus section of the song is an invitation to play and sing all night and enjoy the moment. The final lines of the song thank the singer's dear friends for being there and bidding them goodnight.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since I was 16
Since I was young, I longed for the arrival of spring and the opportunity to dance.
I wished that spring would come to me
I yearned for the excitement of spring and the opportunities it would bring.
And I wished that I could dance up on the isles
I desired to experience the thrill of dancing on stage in front of a crowd.
Sweat rivers on a stage of steam
I wanted to become so involved in my performance that I would sweat profusely.
I let my thoughts begin to dream
I allowed my mind to wander and imagine my future.
I held my breath and ran into the wild
I took a risk and pursued my dreams fearlessly.
And each night a horizon grew
Every night I saw a new and promising future.
In all of us or just a few
This future was shared among us all or only by a select few.
Til morning's gold would make it disappear
However, these hopes and dreams would fade with the arrival of a new day.
Yet somewhere in my treasured chest
But deep inside, I still cherished these feelings.
Is not forgot what must forget
But I realized that some things must be forgotten to move forward in life.
But that's a feeling for another year
I knew that it was not the right time to address these emotions.
And movement has a way like words
Like the power of words, action and movement can affect change.
You're there before the rhyme is heard
One's physical presence and actions are felt before their words are heard.
And all that one can do is shape the ride
We can only control our actions and shape our experiences, not the outcome.
The miles of a forgotten dream
The distance and time that has passed since a dream was born.
Are yours my love it's where we've been
These memories and experiences are shared between us and never forgotten.
And maybe one day soon we will arrive
Perhaps one day, we will achieve our dreams and goals.
Playing all night loud
We played music and celebrated all night long.
Sing it all night with me
We sang and enjoyed the music together, all night long.
And we went on a whirlwind trip
We embarked on a thrilling adventure together.
The nights unwound the records flipped
We spent many nights listening to music, letting it take us on a journey.
And stillness came like chaos in the lights
Sometimes, calmness would unexpectedly arise amidst chaotic and lively circumstances.
And voices like devotion flew
The power and emotion of the music brought us closer together.
Across the sea from me to you
Even though we were separated by distance, we were connected by our shared experiences.
In music that I still cannot describe
The power of music and its effect on us is indescribable.
And there were ugly times it's true
We experienced hardships and struggles together.
Some from me and some from you
These difficulties were caused by both of us at times.
And devils have a way of digging down
Negative emotions and traits can deeply affect us.
But a friend is not a friend for life
A true friendship requires effort and care to last a lifetime.
Unless your life is worth the strife
However, it is worth the effort to maintain a valuable friendship.
So hold on we'll be alright
We can overcome any obstacle as long as we hold on to our friendships.
There's a speech that I know well
A speech that I am familiar with.
Was told by Henry V I'll tell
A version that I will share, relating to our lives and not war.
'He who sheds his sweat with me
Those who work hard alongside me.
Will be my friend eternally
Will remain my true friend forever.
From this day to the ending of the world!'
Until the end of time.
No matter if we're young or old
Age does not matter in friendship.
Or in the sun or in the cold
It does not matter where we are or what we are experiencing.
I hope I can remember your bright eyes
I hope to always remember the brightness and happiness in your eyes.
Cos I know you and you know me
Because we understand and know each other.
At least somehow mysteriously
In some way, that is mysterious and unexplainable.
So thank you my dear friends
Thank you, my cherished and beloved friends.
And that's goodnight
And with that, I bid farewell for now.
I'm much obliged
I am grateful.
So thank you my dear friends
Once again, thank you, my dear friends.
And that's goodnight
And with that, I bid you goodnight.
I'm much obliged
I am grateful.
Contributed by Christian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joe DiNoto
This entire album is fantastic but this song is a standout among standouts. Perhaps one of their best.
mtbocd
this song ether gives my goose bumps, or makes me cry, every time I hear it.
LDNRider
Same man, every time
gstar6009
Only recently discovered these guys, such a great album : )
tassie Made
thank you for putting this wonderful album on your play lilst!!!! : - )
KungFuSquirle
Recenty discoverd The Cat Empire, they are great! This a bit less then wath i hearth first (Chariot) but still verry nice, chill
Probl going to buy some albums, they deserve it :))
And thx for putting this album online!!
wolfgang fox
This song will be my funeral song.
Vlad Calin
THE CAT EMPIRE MUST COME TO ROMANIA!
SymPaThetiXx
This is how music is supposed to be...
Room For Light
best band ever