THE CAT EMPIRE play Fort York Garrison Commons as part of the Toronto Urban Roots Festival on July 7. See listing. Rating: NNN
In 10 years, Australian ska six-piece the Cat Empire have released six albums, some of which leaned harder on pop-rock, while others had a distinctly world flavour. Steal The Light is a return to their original aesthetic – a collection of singable/danceable tunes cavorting across jazz, reggae, indie rock, Latin and soul genre lines, anchored by an inspiring rhythm section.
Lyrics stick to summery matters like youth and freedom and are sometimes borderline silly. At the record’s most vivid moments, the brass section (bolstered on the album by two extra trombones) carries the weight. At its quieter ones, lead singer Felix Riebl channels Phil Collins or Chris Martin for effective reprieves from the jangle. No one song is earth-shatteringly memorable, but Steal The Light was recorded to be played at outdoor grassy festivals with the intent of getting people up on their bare feet. At this it succeeds.
Top track: Steal The Light
