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
Fishies
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my supplies in a magic pack
And I followed the sound of music
Not up a hill ... but down to an old wharf shack
Inside I heard the trumpet call
I salute to the champions on the wall
And in the Jazz of squalls and impassioned brawls she danced
And the night she looked so fine to me
Oh I am a man on an Odyssey
And so tie me to the mast I must believe!
Wow didi didi I just had to look
I said wow didi didi how those hips they shook
Eye patch tongue ring little black hook
Welcome fishies to my hook
And the tiny chefs they waved their giant knives
And the dark goumas they flicked dynamite
Still I kept the sight of my desire
And this one thing's sure I made no apologies
Lights dimmed but she shone my mythology
And I must admit she felt so alive
Wow didi didi I just had to look
I said wow didi didi how those hips they shook
Eye patch tongue ring little black hook
Welcome fishies to my hook
She waves for everybody down on the floor
As if to pray to the gods of the festival
And there we were in the depths of the wild below
Her face so close I could taste the distant shores
She whispered 'wait for the trumpets call'
It's not exactly love it's to adore
Wow didi didi I just had to look
I said wow didi didi how those hips they shook
Eye patch tongue ring little black hook
Welcome fishies to my hook
The Cat Empire's song Fishies paints a vivid picture of a man's adventure into the depths of a jazz club, where he is mesmerized by the music and the dancing of a woman. The lyrics suggest that he is on a journey - an Odyssey - and the music and dancing become his siren's song, drawing him deeper and deeper into the captivating world of the club. The woman dancing is the focal point of his attention, and he is transfixed by her movements. Despite the danger (represented by the chefs waving knives and the dark goumas flicking dynamite), he is determined to pursue his desire and make no apologies for his passions.
The chorus, which repeats the lines "Wow didi didi I just had to look/I said wow didi didi how those hips they shook/Eye patch tongue ring little black hook/Welcome fishies to my hook," reinforces the idea that the man is drawn in by the woman's charm and beauty. The slightly risqué imagery of the eye patch and tongue ring adds to the sense of danger and excitement, as if the man is willingly putting himself in harm's way to experience the thrill of the moment.
Overall, Fishies is a song about being swept up in the moment and giving in to the allure of a powerful experience. It is a tribute to the transformative power of music and dance, and the way that they can transport us to another world.
Line by Line Meaning
I left the house left the room with the foxy on my back
I exited the building with a foxy-looking accessory and my supplies packed in a magical bag.
And I followed the sound of music
Guided by the melody of music, I began walking towards its source.
Not up a hill ... but down to an old wharf shack
The shack where the music led me was not situated atop a hill, but rather down by the wharf.
Inside I heard the trumpet call
Upon entering the shack, I sensed the presence of the trumpet's tune.
I salute to the champions on the wall
I pay respect to the noble champions depicted on the wall of the shack.
And in the Jazz of squalls and impassioned brawls she danced
Amidst the commotion and fervor of jazz music, she danced with spirit.
And the night she looked so fine to me
The night's atmosphere appeared enchanting to me.
Oh I am a man on an Odyssey
I am a traveler on a long and adventurous journey.
And so tie me to the mast I must believe!
I feel so compelled by my quest that I am willing to bind myself to the mast of a ship.
Wow didi didi I just had to look
In awe, I exclaimed 'wow didi didi', upon gazing upon a mesmerizing sight.
I said wow didi didi how those hips they shook
The particular sight that gave me pause involved her impressively moving hips.
Eye patch tongue ring little black hook
She wore an eye patch and tongue ring, and her black clothing added to her allure.
Welcome fishies to my hook
I welcome all those who fall under my sway to come to me like fish to a hook.
And the tiny chefs they waved their giant knives
The small chefs present brandished much larger than average knives.
And the dark goumas they flicked dynamite
Even the dark goumas were using dynamite as an instrument in their dealings.
Still I kept the sight of my desire
My attention remained fixed on the sight of the individual who piqued my desires.
And this one thing's sure I made no apologies
I make no apologies for my actions and intentions.
Lights dimmed but she shone my mythology
Even as the lights dimmed, she remained the central figure of my personal mythology.
And I must admit she felt so alive
I could sense her vivid energy and spark.
She waves for everybody down on the floor
She greeted and acknowledged everyone dancing on the floor.
As if to pray to the gods of the festival
In a manner that was reminiscent of a prayer, she gestured to the deities of the festival.
And there we were in the depths of the wild below
We found ourselves in the midst of a wild and untamed environment.
Her face so close I could taste the distant shores
I was so close to her face that I could sense the essence of distant lands.
She whispered 'wait for the trumpets call'
In a soft whisper, she urged me to anticipate the trumpets' call.
It's not exactly love it's to adore
What I felt wasn't precisely love, but rather a deep admiration and adoration.
Contributed by Wyatt D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Harry White
this was the first song I ever listened to in my life; I will always remember it
Andrew Klitzke
Its such a great but underknown band!
HitgirlKicksAss1997
Love this. Real music.
Tyler Adams
It makes me want to dance... But I could never dance this song justice.
UmbraeVenator
+Tyler Adams :D Do it anyway haha
Garrett Walker
Dancing to the music is the best compliment anyone can give dancing feels good enjoy it
starpuffs :3
Same unfortunately
lourdes saenz
Thank you so much pandora!! This is a really great song :D I love it
Kari Stone
Best Aussie band ever!
Budew 2222
I do really like this song. Quite underrated.