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
Panama
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a fly landed on her thigh
And I thought I brushed it off quite brashly
I introduced myself
And she said her name was sky.
A simple Hi and I could tell
That her plainness was well seamless
She drove a calm and weightless determination
And to what lands her mind would travel
I don't know but I was so curious
I had to keep on thinking of her floating through the clouds Yeah
I asked her wether she enjoyed being in the air
And airily she answered with an accent so careful
I could feel each syllable while
I love things that seem impossible
I love things that seem impossible
Well I love things that seem impossible
And I love things that seem impossible Yeah
Bridge
Seem impossible
Seem impossible
I love things that seem impossible
And to what lands her mind would travel
I don't know but I was so curious
I had to keep on thinking of her floating through the clouds Yeah
The Cat Empire's "Panama" tells the story of a chance encounter between the singer and a mysterious woman on a plane ride to Panama. As the singer brushes off a fly that landed on the woman's thigh, he introduces himself to her and learns that her name is Sky. Despite her plain appearance, the singer senses a deep and calm determination within Sky. He becomes interested in her mind and the places it travels to, imagining her floating through the clouds. When he asks her if she enjoys being in the air, Sky responds that she loves things that seem impossible. This admiration of the impossible seems to intrigue and fascinate the singer, who continues to ponder her until the end of the song.
The lyrics of "Panama" evoke a feeling of wonder and intrigue towards Sky's character. The use of metaphorical language, such as "floating through the clouds," adds to the dream-like and imaginative nature of the song. The idea of loving things that seem impossible also adds to this theme, suggesting that Sky herself might be an elusive and mysterious figure.
Line by Line Meaning
I was in a plane to Panama
I was on a flight to Panama.
And a fly landed on her thigh
A fly came and sat on her lap.
And I thought I brushed it off quite brashly
I tried to remove the fly rather abruptly.
I introduced myself
I greeted her and introduced myself.
And she said her name was sky.
She told me her name was 'Sky'.
A simple Hi and I could tell
Just a small greeting and I could sense.
That her plainness was well seamless
That her simplicity was beautifully effortless.
And somewhere deep inside
And within her soul.
She drove a calm and weightless determination
She had a peaceful and determined attitude.
And to what lands her mind would travel
I wonder where her thoughts wander to.
I don't know but I was so curious
I don't know, but my curiosity was aroused.
I had to keep on thinking of her floating through the clouds Yeah
I couldn't stop imagining her, flying high in the sky.
I asked her whether she enjoyed being in the air
I inquired if she liked flying.
And airily she answered with an accent so careful
She responded with a light tone and a precise accent.
I could feel each syllable while
I was able to comprehend every word.
I love things that seem impossible
I enjoy doing things that others see as impossible.
I love things that seem impossible
I take pleasure in achieving what others deem impossible.
Well I love things that seem impossible
I really love doing what others see as impossible.
And I love things that seem impossible Yeah
I feel happy and excited when I'm doing what others believe is impossible.
Seem impossible
Things that appear impossible.
Seem impossible
Things that are hard to imagine.
I love things that seem impossible
I love doing things that others see as impossible.
And to what lands her mind would travel
I wonder where her thoughts wander to.
I don't know but I was so curious
I don't know, but my curiosity was aroused.
I had to keep on thinking of her floating through the clouds Yeah
I couldn't stop imagining her, flying high in the sky.
Contributed by Skyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@schmurzschmurz1431
Beautiful song
@single_daddin_it
Anyone who can help me find the bass tabs to this I’ll forever be in your debt.
@ardyblue
If anyone sees this question, who is the conversation with? The girl on whose thigh the fly sat or the fly herself?
A fly named Sky adds to the beauty of the scene I imagine this song in.
The 'her' thigh has me very intrigued though.
@danielmackin2067
Mind blown
@crutches9755
Thanks to my Auslan teacher to recommending this