Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Scarecrow
www.catsinspaceband.com [Release date 25.08.17]
Cats In Space’s debut album ‘Too Many Gods’ was released in 2015 and rightly won the band many rave reviews. Since then they have toured supporting Thunder, done a joint headline tour with Space Elevator, appeared at Hyde Park supporting Phil Collins this summer and have a spot at the legendary Cropredy festival. Now they are set to unleash that difficult second album…no not for these cats as they have musical ideas and tunes many bands would love to have.
They carry on where they left off on their debut with songs bursting full of melodies, harmony vocals, Andy Stewart’s pomp-tastic keys and some seriously groovy guitar solos courtesy of Greg Hart and Dean Howard. Opener ‘Jupiter Calling’ is an immediate hit with your ears – big chorus and the wonderful singing of Paul Manzi.
They love the 70′s and what’s not to love on ‘September Rain’ which recalls Queen and ELO – a fantastic tune, again you marvel at the harmony vocals the band create between them. The mid section will blow you away and quite possibly any loose furnishings and ornaments that maybe near you as you listen to the song…
‘Two Fifty Nine’ is so darn catchy and a clever little ditty recalling how DJ’s always cut songs off in their prime, hence if under three minutes you may get all of the song played. The rhythm section of Jeff Brown and Steevi Bacon give the song a watertight beat – this band have some serious talent and work seamlessly together.
‘Felix & the Golden Sun’ has the Cats dip a musical toe into the 60′s for a little Beach Boys styling and the one song that really reminds me of ELO and Jellyfish (and Brian May on that guitar solo!).
Like the debut there is a seven minute epic, this time it is the title track and the Cats do prog! Well, more like the musical treats bands like Supertramp, Styx and Queen did in the 70′s. Cats In Space have succeeded in taking their love of 70′s music and adding a modern shine to it all, purrrfect.
An top 5 album of the year with ease, Cats In Space have done it again and the only way for them is onwards and upwards. A five star album and then some (I would only dock a 1/4 as it features clowns on one song and I can’t stand them!). *****
Review by Jason Ritchie
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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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