Album Review: The Cat Empire - Steal The Light

Wow, has it really been ten years since The Cat Empire's self-titled debut? While most of us have been destroying our livers and discovering HBO TV series during this time, these Melbourne boys have been releasing album after album and accruing more frequent flyer points than Kevin Rudd, taking their mash-up of jazz, soul, funk and rock to all points of the globe. But with 2010's Cinema being somewhat underwhelming and many of the band's members spread across various side projects, for a moment I wondered whether The Cat Empire could still be as innovative and imaginative as they once were. I shouldn't have bothered worrying, though, for sixth album, Steal The Light, may just be a career-defining statement, it is that darn good.

The tone is set right from opener and first single, Brighter Than Gold. In a track that simply bursts with creativity, the band combine a throbbing bass line, a haunting vocal sample, a catchy, understated chorus and an explosion of horns just to finish things off for good measure. Am I Wrong shows off Felix Riebl's vocals as he delivers a soulful blast, while Still Young and Like A Drum get the party started big time. The horns and vocals take centre stage for most of the album's first half, though, as the band deliver one potential single after another. But in the closing stages, The Cat Empire allow themselves to experiment a little more. Go sees them mash-up mariachi with turntable scratching, while sizzling keyboardist Ollie McGill struts his stuff on the playful Sleep Won't Sleep. Add Graeme Base's brilliant artwork and there's not much to dislike here.