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
The Night That Never Ends
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a gypsy lady sneak into my head
and she said
‘I've got a bottle of schnapps
lets get to know each other drinking
a belly full of laughs
and some thoughts that beyond thinking
let's play a game of those cards my friend
how the night it never never never ends'
Morning is
one thousand dreams away
and our expedition
telling us to stay
so stay we will we've got that gypsy lady
perched upon our bow
and the empire ship be heading
where the wild ones they are now
oh how the gods look down
and frown at those who never stood said
‘my name is no-one'
then went a little mad
And from time to time
she sneaks back inside me and she say
‘lucky sing the secrets that I taught you always'
replied ‘as long as I am living
I never forget
that the sun is never shining and it never set'
so let's make some fire and smoke and then
we'll go exploring in the night
that never never never end
Morning is
one thousand dreams away
and our expedition
telling us to stay
so stay we will we've got that gypsy lady
perched upon our bow
and the empire ship be heading
where the wild ones they are now
oh how the gods look down
and frown at those who never stood said
‘my name is no-one'
then went a little mad
I've got a tingle in my back
and something sparking in my toes
I get the shivers through my body
when that trumpet blows
and while asleep I am awake
and while awake I am dreaming
before I start to think
I am scheming
to start a party tonight my friends
because tonight I'm going to show you
how the night it never never never ends
The Cat Empire’s song ‘The Night That Never Ends’ is a surreal and whimsical look at the enduring power of the night, the secrets it holds, and the emotional connection we can form with those around us during its hold. The song’s lyrics describe a night where a ‘gypsy lady’ appears to the singer in their dreams and invites them on a fanciful journey of schnapps, laughter, and card games. The night never seems to end, as if time itself is suspended, and the singer and their companions explore and party endlessly.
As the night wears on and morning approaches, the gypsy lady’s lessons linger with the singer, becoming a part of them forever. They speak of the secrets they’ve learned and the sparks of creativity and energy that still remain with them even after the night ends. In a way, the song is a celebration of the wildness and unpredictability of life and an encouragement to embrace the ebbs and flows of both our internal and external worlds.
Overall, ‘The Night That Never Ends’ is a vivid and imaginative ode to the enduring magic and power of the night, and a reminder that even in the darkest hours, we can find joy and connection with others.
Line by Line Meaning
One night when I was sleeping
On a night when I was sleeping
a gypsy lady sneak into my head
A gypsy lady entered my mind without my knowing
and she said
She spoke and said
‘I've got a bottle of schnapps
I have a bottle of schnapps
lets get to know each other drinking
We'll get to know each other by drinking
a belly full of laughs
We'll be filled with laughter
and some thoughts that beyond thinking
And we'll share thoughts that are beyond conscious thinking
let's play a game of those cards my friend
Let's play a game of cards, my friend
because tonight I'm going to show you
Because tonight, I will show you
how the night it never never never ends'
How the night never ends
Morning is
Morning is the time of day
one thousand dreams away
Morning feels like a distant future
and our expedition
And our journey
telling us to stay
Is telling us to remain where we are
so stay we will we've got that gypsy lady
So we'll stay because we have the gypsy lady
perched upon our bow
Sitting on the front of our ship
and the empire ship be heading
And our ship is heading
where the wild ones they are now
Towards where the wild ones are now
oh how the gods look down
Oh, how the gods watch us from above
and frown at those who never stood said
And they frown at those who never took a stance
‘my name is no-one'
Saying 'my name is no-one'
then went a little mad
And then they lost their mind a bit
And from time to time
Sometimes
she sneaks back inside me and she say
The gypsy lady returns to my mind and says
‘lucky sing the secrets that I taught you always'
Sing the secrets that I taught you, always
replied ‘as long as I am living
I replied, 'As long as I'm alive
I never forget
I will never forget
that the sun is never shining and it never set'
That the sun never shines and never sets
so let's make some fire and smoke and then
So let's start a fire and make some smoke
we'll go exploring in the night
We'll explore in the night
that never never never end
That never ends
I've got a tingle in my back
I have a sensation in my back
and something sparking in my toes
And something sparking in my feet
I get the shivers through my body
I feel shivers throughout my body
when that trumpet blows
When that trumpet plays
and while asleep I am awake
I am aware while I sleep
and while awake I am dreaming
And while I'm awake, I'm dreaming
before I start to think
Before I can even think
I am scheming
I'm already planning
to start a party tonight my friends
To start a party tonight with my friends
because tonight I'm going to show you
Because tonight, I'll show you
how the night it never never never ends
How the night never ends
Contributed by Violet B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
heybulldog21
probably my favorite song by The Cat Empire
Budew 2222
This is my favorite The Cat Empire song.
Felix Dean
Hello from homeland Melbourne. I know this is an old song but it was uploaded today so, can't wait for the next sweet sound. Also you guys have music that from years of singing, helped me get into a band. THANKS
cassius RO
Been a fan since the 7thh grade and the story to you guys how I found out was so hilarious appreciate you forever
Alquimia de Timbres
A cada abraço, a cada itinerário traçado.Em cada canto, abrigo.Versátil, controverso, o ser falante que volta a si mesmo constantemente.
geo charles
love this album!a senior citizen in the good old us of a!!
Cody
i love this song so much! 😸
Gegs Hinterecker
Hi from Austria! Great song, great band!
Alquimia de Timbres
Nos trinques, vc apareceu.E eu displicente aceitei.O seu truque me levou a andar mais devagar.
Joseph Belcher
Awesome! Joe from the Catskills loves this group!