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
Party Started
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
from my hammock down my tree and into Melbourne town
now first stop hit Kanelata to Tedesco land
to down that show - with 2 shoes and a magic hand man
now it's aplan as flamenco turns to -down shakin
there's a jazz jam and Julie's got the whole joint bakin'
and anyone who's fakin' gets a quick anihilation
as we movin' destinations on the music train station singing
checkin checkin out Mr Askey's song - cos he's
late sevens' captain-on-the-mic but blows the horn so fierce
that the room ignite
it's like his shuffle got us thinking about dowing the down low so where we go?
We take the night cat stop for the cabrones show
and here's the point I stop reciting start to dance instead
I heared the city of the deep blue lights it said:
Now get the party started
It wasn't hard... to get the party started
Chillin at the club, pimpin with my money
(Well actually, my parties are more like_
Chillin in the sun with tea and milk and honey
Tea and lamingtons, that's my idea of fun
But I do enjoy the odd ocaasional bottle of rum
As we learnt in the songs that I have previously sung
When it's done with fruit juice at a barbecue in the sun
In the afternoon is begun with kangaroo and capsicum
I do eat meat but I don't like killing
So don't crash my party whill I'm sitting back chilling
My oh my why oh why are people so violient
I ani't trying to be a lion I extend my alliance
To anyone who like to just sit back and chitchat
Maybe have a jam, spit scats and eat biscuits
Before you know it's midnight and you're running through the moonlight
And you realise...
It wasn't hard... to get the party started
The house party started about eleven or so
got a call dfrom Krido to tell me that
Dubwo and Hendo started it blow by blow
notw it's a dancehall rockin like'a Cuban mojo
so bring ya go-go's and your special friends
I've never been diving but I get the bends
when schlam and Mick and Fairooz making the soul news
see we got the bomb track and the D-floor's the fuse
The C-A-T E-M-P-I-R-E-S G-O-T
A Party H-A-P-P-E-N-I-N-G and it's a
G-O-Double N-A be seeing
The break of dawn
Then keep on rockig it
Can you tell me something about last night?
It wasn't hard... to get the party started
The lyrics to The Cat Empire's song "Party Started" describe a night out in Melbourne, Australia. The singer starts by leaving his house through the window and heading into town. He stops at various bars and clubs, enjoying different types of music and dancing along the way. Eventually, he ends up at a house party that was started by his friends. Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes that he likes to have fun and party, but in a peaceful and non-violent way.
The lyrics include many references to different types of music, including flamenco, jazz, and Cuban rock. There are also references to specific people and places in Melbourne, such as Kanelata and the Night Cat. Overall, the song celebrates the city's vibrant music scene and the joy of spending a night out with friends.
One interesting fact about "Party Started" is that it was released as a single in 2004, but it did not appear on any official album until 2007's "So Many Nights". The song has since become a fan favorite and a staple of The Cat Empire's live shows. Another interesting fact is that the band has stated that the lyrics were inspired by their own experiences partying in Melbourne, particularly in the area around Brunswick Street.
Line by Line Meaning
Ducking out my window double story from the ground
I'm leaving my place, jumping out of my window from the second floor
from my hammock down my tree and into Melbourne town
I'm using my hammock down the tree to reach Melbourne as quickly as possible
now first stop hit Kanelata to Tedesco land
The first stop is at Kanelata to reach Tedesco land
to down that show - with 2 shoes and a magic hand man
We'll be going to see the show and dance with our two shoes accompanied by a talented magician
now it's aplan as flamenco turns to -down shakin
We have a plan as we switch from flamenco to some serious shaking down
there's a jazz jam and Julie's got the whole joint bakin'
Julie is playing some amazing Jazz that's got everyone dancing and sweating
and anyone who's fakin' gets a quick annihilation
No one can fake their way through this party, they will be recognized and called out
as we movin' destinations on the music train station singing
We move from place to place, following the music and singing our hearts out
'on and on and on'. "on and on and on"
We keep moving forward, not stopping any time soon
checkin checkin out Mr Askey's song - cos he's
We're listening to Mr Askey's song, because he's awesome
late sevens' captain-on-the-mic but blows the horn so fierce
The late 7s captain is amazing on the mic, spitting fire and keeping us all dancing
that the room ignite
The room is on fire from the music and energy
it's like his shuffle got us thinking about dowing the down low so where we go?
The music and dancing is so good, we start thinking about where to go next to keep the party going
We take the night cat stop for the cabrones show
We take a stop at the Night Cat to see the amazing Cabrones show
and here's the point I stop reciting start to dance instead
At this point, I stop talking and start dancing instead
I heared the city of the deep blue lights it said:
I heard the city calling me with its gorgeous blue lights
Now get the party started
Let's start the party with all the energy we've got
Chillin at the club, pimpin with my money
I'm chilling at the club, enjoying myself and showing off my money
(Well actually, my parties are more like_
Actually, my parties are more laid back and relaxed
Chillin in the sun with tea and milk and honey
I prefer chilling in the sun with some iced tea, milk, and honey
Tea and lamingtons, that's my idea of fun
Enjoying some tea and lamingtons with friends is what I consider a fun time
But I do enjoy the odd occasional bottle of rum
Although I prefer more low-key gatherings, I do enjoy some rum once in a while
As we learnt in the songs that I have previously sung
From my songs, you can probably tell that parties are not usually my thing
When it's done with fruit juice at a barbecue in the sun
If I do have a party, it's usually outdoors with some fruit juice and grilling
In the afternoon it's begun with kangaroo and capsicum
We start the party in the afternoon with some kangaroo and capsicum snacks
I do eat meat but I don't like killing
I eat meat but don't support the idea of killing animals
So don't crash my party whill I'm sitting back chilling
Just relax and join my party, but please don't ruin the vibe
My oh my why oh why are people so violent
I wonder why people have to be violent all the time, it's not necessary
I ain't trying to be a lion I extend my alliance
I don't want to be aggressive, I prefer to extend an olive branch of friendship
To anyone who like to just sit back and chitchat
Anyone who likes to have a relaxed conversation is welcome in my party
Maybe have a jam, spit scats and eat biscuits
We can jam together, freestyling and eating biscuits
Before you know it's midnight and you're running through the moonlight
The time flies by, and before you know it, it's midnight and you're having the time of your life
It wasn't hard... to get the party started
It was easy to get everyone together and start the party
The house party started about eleven or so
The house party started around eleven in the evening
got a call from Krido to tell me that Dubwo and Hendo started it blow by blow
Krido called me to let me know that Dubwo and Hendo started an amazing party
now it's a dancehall rockin like'a Cuban mojo
Now the dance hall is rocking to the Cuban mojo beats
so bring ya go-go's and your special friends
Bring your friends and let's keep the party going
I've never been diving but I get the bends
I've never been scuba diving, but sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed
when schlam and Mick and Fairooz making the soul news
When Schlam, Mick, and Fairooz are making the soulful music, we can't help but dance
see we got the bomb track and the D-floor's the fuse
We've got an incredible bomb track, and the dance floor is ready to explode
The C-A-T E-M-P-I-R-E-S G-O-T
The Cat Empire has got
A Party H-A-P-P-E-N-I-N-G and it's a
A party is happening and it's
G-O-Double N-A be seeing
Going to be amazing
The break of dawn
The party will last until dawn
Then keep on rockig it
Let's keep the party rockin'
Can you tell me something about last night?
Do you have any stories to share from last night's party?
Contributed by Caroline I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
It's in It.
Chillin in the sun
With tea and milk and hone
Tea and lamingtons...mmm
L Val
Add some Jack ☺️