Album Review: The Cat Empire - Steal The Light

It's been a few years and a couple of solo projects since The Cat Empire have put out a full-lengther. It's also now been a decade since their self-titled debut (feel old, dear listener?). Now independent musos rather than major label darlings, they're exploring a sound that's less pop than their past projects and, arguably, a bit more interesting.

That's not to say they've lost their energy (single Steal The Light will still get you moving, as will the brass-led Still Young, Go and opener Brighter Than Gold), but there's also a bit more room for some reflection. Wild Animals, which killed live earlier in the year at a preview (and will again no doubt) is a bit less, um, wild on record, but this flattening of effect is something the band has suffered from before. Prophets In The Sky also sounds a bit more sedate here than you imagine the boys might make it live, but its lost bite doesn't necessarily leave it flat – still a little groover (and first track of the year to use 'hipster' in a non-ironic way).

On the other side of things, Open Up Your Face is as off centre as its name suggests, a distracted ditty (in a great way), while All Night Loud threatens to kick off, but never does. Slow, calm, mellow. Both are so interesting because they work as part serenade, part narrative and partly move somewhere new just because they can. Actually, maybe the Cats (and this reviewer) are getting a little older, after all.