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
Go
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do a little walking in your sleep
All around the garden shoots of green
All around the world are human beings
They're crying out, living in a dream
Some of them are nightmares, some of them are sweet
Every now and then someone starts to sing
Every now and then but you're just standing there and
Staring at some message on your omnipresent phone
You're so goddam materialistic, man you've got to let it, got to let it go
Go!
Now I don't know what you've been told
Every little goldfish is not gold
Every little viper's not your friend
And a million dollars is not how this story ends
Doesn't mean a thing
Catch it on the wind, throw it to the sea
There's a lot of old gods in the deep
Maybe you could see them if you weren't just standing
Staring at some message on your omnipresent phone
You're so goddam materialistic, man you've got to let it, got to let it go
Go!
There's gonna be a thunder in the hills
There's gonna be a red moon in the sky
People never do what they've been told
You're gonna have to hold your loved ones to you through the night
Underneath the sky
Turning out the lights
Everybody comes in by the fire
Dance the night away
She looks into your eyes and are you standing there just
Staring at some message on you're omnipresent phone
You're so goddam materialistic, man you've got to let it, got to let it,
Got to let it go
Go!
Got to let it, got to let it go
Go!
The song "Go" by The Cat Empire is a powerful commentary on modern society and the disconnect that people have with the natural world and each other due to materialistic pursuits. The first stanza admonishes the listener to look around and take notice of the natural world, as well as the people who inhabit it. The lyrics suggest that many people are living in a dream, some of them nightmares and others sweet, and that the only way to break out of the dream is to start singing. However, the listener is portrayed as simply standing and staring at their phone, failing to connect with the world around them.
The second stanza further expands on this theme of materialism, cautioning the listener not to be taken in by false promises of wealth and friendship. The line "there's a lot of old gods in the deep, maybe you could see them if you weren't just standing" suggests that a deeper connection with the earth and the universe can be found if one takes the time to look beyond superficial materialistic pursuits. The final stanza suggests that there is a storm coming and that people should be prepared to hold onto loved ones and come together by the fire. The line "are you standing there just staring at some message on your omnipresent phone" is repeated once more, emphasizing the need to disconnect from technology and connect with the world around us.
Overall, "Go" is a powerful call to action to put down our phones, step away from materialistic pursuits, and connect with the natural world and each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Now take a look at what you see
Observe and reflect upon your surroundings
Do a little walking in your sleep
Explore your subconscious and imagination
All around the garden shoots of green
Nature is omnipresent and constantly growing
All around the world are human beings
People exist everywhere and we are all interconnected
They're crying out, living in a dream
Humanity is simultaneously suffering and aspiring
Some of them are nightmares, some of them are sweet
Life brings both joy and pain to individuals
Every now and then someone starts to sing
Music is a powerful and unifying force
Every now and then but you're just standing there and
Despite others singing and expressing themselves, you remain passive
Staring at some message on your omnipresent phone
You are addicted to technology and its distractions
You're so goddam materialistic, man you've got to let it, got to let it go
Your obsession with material things is preventing you from being present and enjoying life
Now I don't know what you've been told
I am unaware of the information you have received
Every little goldfish is not gold
Not everything is as it appears, don't be deceived
Every little viper's not your friend
People can be deceiving, don't trust everyone
And a million dollars is not how this story ends
Money cannot buy happiness or solve all problems
Doesn't mean a thing
It is ultimately insignificant
Catch it on the wind, throw it to the sea
Let go of worries and let them go with the elements
There's a lot of old gods in the deep
The world is full of ancient wisdom and truths
Maybe you could see them if you weren't just standing
You could learn from the world's mysticism if you were open-minded and engaged
There's gonna be a thunder in the hills
Chaos and turmoil are imminent
There's gonna be a red moon in the sky
The world is changing and unpredictability is looming
People never do what they've been told
Human nature often rejects what authority demands
You're gonna have to hold your loved ones to you through the night
Love and human connection are essential during difficult times
Underneath the sky
We are all subject to the same universe and natural law
Turning out the lights
The end of a journey or experience
Everybody comes in by the fire
We are all united by the idea of comfort and warmth
Dance the night away
Enjoy the present moment and let loose
She looks into your eyes and are you standing there just
Despite intimate connection, you remain distracted and self-absorbed
Got to let it, got to let it go
Release your fears and distractions to achieve inner peace
Go!
Promoting action and the idea of letting go to enjoy life
Contributed by Evelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sky
Love this band!!
Omar Luján
<3