the Informer

Courtesy of Myspace.com/thecatempire

One of the most diverse and eclectic bands around today, The Cat Empire, based in Melbourne, Australia, fuse elements of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, rock and soul into a brand new type of sound that has paved the way for a brand new genre of independent music.

The group of primarily six musicians combines efforts to create a feel good up-tempo sound.

Although there is no guitarist in the band, as a first time listener you will be shocked when you don’t notice the absence of a guitar’s contribution to the infectious rhythm of what you hear.

A collective mix of trumpets, double bass, piano, keyboard, drums and a turntable, the sound produced by The Cat Empire is definitely one that demands further inquiry.

With songs about adolescent innocence, choosing friends over conformity, staying true to one’s beliefs and making music to dance to, the complete catalog of The Cat Empire’s music represents a true aim at honest music.

What makes the sound so distinct and easy going is the careful interjection of different musical genres throughout a given song. Making it easy for the listener to get up and dance, it’s the band’s message of universal acceptance and finding the simple pleasures in life that keep me coming back for more.

With the capability of easing my mind by the time the chorus of any of the band’s tunes comes around, I turn to The Cat Empire for music to relax with and sing-a-long to.

Although The Cat Empire has remained inactive with new material in 2009, the group did release a live album entitled “Live On Earth.”

Set to release their newest material since 2008’s “So Many Nights,” The Cat Empire’s “Cinema” will hit stores on June 29 in the U.S.

The first single from the new album called “Beyond All” is available for listen through The Cat Empire’s MySpace or Youtube.
Staying true to their music and keeping an overall optimistic view on life, The Cat Empire continues to groove right on through 2010.