The Cat Empire - "Where the Angels Fall"
Aussie Jazz Fusion that you've probably been missing for the last 20 years
Okay, I can’t lie. I picked this band up pretty much because I couldn’t resist the name. I really didn’t expect to find that the band is 24 years old this year or that this is their 9th album. But, hey, here we are.
The name comes as a derivative of another band, Jazz Cat, that a couple of members were involved in in Melbourne in 1999; and/or it was the title of a drawing that a member’s little brother made. The band provides the latter as the name’s source, but I can’t imagine that their existing affiliation with the former wasn’t a consideration in the poetic perfection of the name for the band.
Musically, The Cat Empire is, like Jon Batiste, an eclectic hybridization. Maybe this is something that modern Jazz artists have leaned into in order to find both a unique sound and some sort of mainstream success? Because the band pulls on sounds and styles from Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Funk, Ska, and Latin.
I know! I also wouldn’t expect Jazz, Reggae, Ska, or Latin to really have any traction in Australia. But apparently there is (or was) a whole scene in Melbourne.
Regardless, The Cat Empire is actually fairly adept at blending these many styles into a cohesive sound. It’s upbeat, rhythmic, and very catchy. Part of the formula, I think, is their commitment to using more sounds and instruments than just their five-person core can handle. They have dedicated ‘units’ that they pull in on different songs: “The Empire Horns” are three additional brass instrumentalists (and four substitutes for those three); “The Empire Strings” are a cellist and violinist; and, on top of those, they have nine “Empire Dancers” who, I imagine, liven up their concerts quite a bit.
If you look close at the cover of the album, there are 24 faces. There’s a reason for that.
I should also note that the band actually disbanded their original lineup, with four of their six members leaving between 2021 and 2022. They picked up three new members before this album (the original lineup had a DJ, and that role has not been filled).
Despite this foundational shakeup, the album feels solid. Without having gone back and listened through their old material, I do not get the feeling that the band has lost any sense of who they are. Their sound is eclectic, but cohesive. Everything works together, and most tracks feel decently polished.
The album starts well enough. “Thunder Rumbles” is a blood-pumping dance anthem, catchy and bombastic with its prevalent bass trombone. It’s a strong opening number, if a bit repetitive. But it’s also the start of the weakest section in the album, as tracks 2 & 3 just feel like they’re going through the motions. “Boom Boom” is still enjoyable enough, but something about “Money Coming My Way” just doesn’t feel like it’s worth the three minutes it runs for.
But the quality spikes sharply with “Deeper”, as the band’s second vocalist really steps in for the first time for this Latin-fueled duet. Then, this is followed by “Owl”, which is the best track on the album. The song has depth - technical, instrumental, melodic. All of it. Much of this is due to the arrival of the Strings, but it’s also the longest track on the album, and it really takes its time working through each of its structural and logical progressions so it doesn’t feel rushed. There’s so much to love on this one. Finally, “Dance the Night Away” finishes the trifecta at the album’s summit. And this song soars with incredible energy and, again, deep instrumentation. It’s just a fun jam.
The rest of the album is generally better than the downward trend of tracks 2 & 3 showcased, plateauing at or slightly above the level set by opener “Thunder Rumbles”, with “Oh Mercy” providing one more solid peak. It’s a good listen with a lot of fun, mostly upbeat sounds to savor. “Be With You Again” and closer “Drift Away” drop the tone, the pace, and shed some density to provide slower, more simplistic compositions which are still interesting and enjoyable.
I’m not mad about picking this one up, and I recommend it to anybody looking for something “fun” or upbeat.
Rating: Green