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
Won't Be Afraid
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've watched the sea turn green and bright blue fish swim in the shade
I've imagined skies in reverse and head stormy mountains collide
And I was there by the shore on the night when the stars all married the tide
When the time arrives
When we must form a line
Would you stand and take my side
No I won't be afraid
You know I won't be afraid
When the evening takes all of the colours out of my day
And the morning is as far as it will ever be away
And now we've journeyed through the world as if our dreams were an ocean to wade
Under kites they glide like a friendship set on a wave
And maybe I'm afraid of fools the children that are saved
And maybe I'm not certain when they draw the final curtain
The woman in the water and the baby in the bath
And the morning is as far as it could be away
The Cat Empire's song "Won't Be Afraid" speaks about life's uncertainty and the fear that comes with it. The opening line talks about watching ships sail away, giving us a sense of someone observing events from afar. The imagery in the lyrics continues with the sea turning green and bright blue fish swimming in the shade, symbolizing the unpredictability of life. The line "I've imagined skies in reverse and head stormy mountains collide" signifies the impending chaos that one may encounter in life. But with all these uncertainties, the singer gains strength from the beauty of nature, telling us that they were there by the shore when the stars and tide married - a metaphor for when everything falls into place, making everything seem possible.
The chorus is a call for strength and companionship. The singer asks if the person they're speaking to would stand with them during trying times, signifying that the fear of the unknown is less daunting with someone to lean on. The second verse talks about the journey through the world, with dreams acting like an ocean to wade - a reminder that life is a journey, and dreams are what guide us through it. The mention of fools and saved children symbolizes the fear of regret and the uncertainty of the future. The singer ends the song contemplating the role of the woman in the water and the baby in the bath, leaving the listener with a sense that life keeps moving no matter what happens.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been at the top of a cliff and seen ships go sailing away
I've had a bird's eye view of the world and watched great ships sail away into the horizon.
And I've watched the sea turn green and bright blue fish swim in the shade
I've gazed upon the sea, the colours it brings and the creatures that dwell within its depths.
I've imagined skies in reverse and head stormy mountains collide
I've envisioned the impossible, such as reversing the order of the skies or even mountains crashing together.
And I was there by the shore on the night when the stars all married the tide
I had the privilege of witnessing a beautiful sight when the stars aligned perfectly with the tides of the ocean.
When the time arrives
When the fateful moment comes
When we must form a line
When we must take a stand together
Would you stand and take my side
Would you support me in my stand
Would you take my side?
Would you join me in my stand?
No I won't be afraid
I won't cower in fear
You know I won't be afraid
I am confident in my strength and courage
When the evening takes all of the colors out of my day
When everything seems bleak and desolate
And the morning is as far as it will ever be away
When it feels like the dawn may never come
And now we've journeyed through the world as if our dreams were an ocean to wade
We have taken on the world as if it were an endless ocean to explore and conquer, following our dreams.
Under kites they glide like a friendship set on a wave
Friends soaring high like kites, gliding gracefully on the waves of life.
And maybe I'm afraid of fools the children that are saved
Perhaps, I am worried for those who are naive and innocent and yet, have to bear the weight of the world.
And maybe I'm not certain when they draw the final curtain
Perhaps, I am unsure of what happens when everything comes to an end.
The woman in the water and the baby in the bath
A representation of a mother and child, vulnerable and innocent.
And the morning is as far as it could be away
When it feels like there is no hope for the future and the morning is yet so far away.
Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.