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
Prophets in the Sky
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You saw the carnival in Rio,
You saw them dancing in the sun,
But listen to your cold eyes move,
Can you believe you’re always on your own?
You’re like a song without a singer,
You’re like a bird without a song,
And you’re walking down alone against the road.
(Chorus)
Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Can you imagine a love like that?
A love like that, a love like that
A love like that, a love like…
(Verse)
This love is older than your father,
This love is younger than your son.
You feel it in your cold eyes move
And it will be here when everything is gone.
And as the night turns into morning
When the fire burns to cold
She whispers in your cold eyes move
Now you know, now you know, now you know.
(Chorus)
Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Can you imagine a love like that?
A love like that, a love like that
A love like that, a love like…
(Bridge)
Oh, you’re lost in the crowd,
But I know that I’ll find you, a song doesn’t lie.
Hundreds of yards of some ancient street
Between the sad in the night.
I know that heaven
(Verse)
And with the summer comes the madness
Hold your faces in the night
We light our fires all alone
And build a temple to save us from the dawn.
You can’t have everybody love you,
You can’t have sunshine every day,
You see a dancer there alone
Then you know, then you know, then you know.
(Chorus)
Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Can you imagine a love like that?
A love like that, a love like that
A love like that, a love like…
The Cat Empire’s “Prophets in the Sky” speaks about the loneliness and isolation that come with being human. The song begins by addressing an individual who has seen the carnival in Rio, where people dance happily in the sun. However, despite this beautiful sight, the person is still alone and walking down the road by themselves. The lyrics then compare this person to a song without a singer and a bird without a song, emphasizing the loneliness they’re feeling.
The chorus calls out to the “tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,” seemingly as a way of asking if they can imagine a love like that which is being described. The love referred to here is not romantic love, but rather a love that is older than one’s father and younger than one’s son. This is a love that can be felt even in one’s “cold eyes move,” and it will remain even after everything else is gone.
The song ends with a description of the madness that comes with summer and the fires that people light alone to save themselves from the dawn. The lyrics make it clear that not everyone can have sunshine every day or have everyone love them. However, regardless of this, people can still connect with one another in moments like seeing a lone dancer, where they realize that they’re not truly alone.
Line by Line Meaning
You saw the carnival in Rio,
You experienced the lively and colorful festival of Rio de Janeiro,
You saw them dancing in the sun,
You witnessed the people dancing joyfully under the sun,
But listen to your cold eyes move,
Despite all these sensations, your inner self remains unresponsive and indifferent,
Can you believe you’re always on your own?
Do you realize that you are always alone, despite being surrounded by others?
You’re like a song without a singer,
You lack purpose or direction, like a melody without vocals,
You’re like a bird without a song,
You feel empty and meaningless, like a bird without a melody to chirp,
You’re all alone, all alone,
You feel isolated and disconnected from others,
And you’re walking down alone against the road.
You are journeying through life, alone and unsupported,
This love is older than your father,
The concept of love surpasses the age of your parent,
This love is younger than your son.
Yet, it is timeless and ever-renewing, just as a newborn baby symbolizes a fresh start,
You feel it in your cold eyes move
You sense the presence of this love even within your numbness and lack of emotion,
And it will be here when everything is gone.
This love will outlast everything and remain constant when all else vanishes,
And as the night turns into morning
During the transition from darkness to light,
When the fire burns to cold
When everything loses its warmth and passion,
She whispers in your cold eyes move
Love speaks to you through your innermost being, even when you are aloof and detached,
Now you know, now you know, now you know.
Finally, you comprehend and recognize the power and beauty of love,
Oh, you’re lost in the crowd,
You feel insignificant and invisible among countless others,
But I know that I’ll find you, a song doesn’t lie.
Yet, someone can still perceive the unique melody hidden within you and appreciate it,
Hundreds of yards of some ancient street
In the midst of a historical and unchanging place,
Between the sad in the night.
Among the melancholy and sorrow of the night,
I know that heaven
There is a glimpse of heaven,
And with the summer comes the madness
During the vibrant and intense season of summer,
Hold your faces in the night
Amidst the darkness and shadows, hold onto your identity and true self,
We light our fires all alone
We must ignite our inner passion and inspiration ourselves,
And build a temple to save us from the dawn.
Create a sanctuary or community to shelter and support us from the inevitable challenges and hardships of a new day,
You can’t have everybody love you,
It is impossible for everyone to accept or adore you,
You can’t have sunshine every day,
Similarly, it is unrealistic to expect constant happiness and positivity in life,
You see a dancer there alone
When you notice someone else who seems isolated and detached,
Then you know, then you know, then you know.
You realize that others also experience solitude and that it is not uncommon,
Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Addressing those who claim to have answers or wisdom beyond the mundane world,
Can you imagine a love like that?
Can you fathom a love that transcends all boundaries and endures forever?
A love like that, a love like that
A love that surpasses ordinary human connection,
A love like that, a love like…
A love that is indescribable and incomprehensible.
Contributed by Julia D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alice Julia Lambin Coila
I love it
Dr. S. Choudhury
Not a single dislike! Another proof about how awesome ur music is! ❤
The Overcomer
How can I have missed a whole album? Oh yes I've heard it...
light hog
Soooo good
Felix Dean
By far my fave for a yell when home alone😂
Totox
Dont remember when I did suscribe to your channel, but the music sure is supercooooool XD
Walker Pearcey
Underrated