Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Time Machine

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 25.10.24]

Studio album number six for Cats In Space, their third with vocalist Damien Edwards and first for new label Esoteric Antenna, part of the Cherry Red Records empire.

Opening with the title track, we have a typical Cats In Space song full of melody, pomp and a memorable chorus, plus a nod to the Who in the riff. This song, and the next one track ‘Father’s Eyes’ were released as singles ahead of the album.

One that should have possibly been released as a single is ‘Immortal’. After hearing for the first time live earlier this month at their Bracknell gig, it has that crowd pleasing feel that ‘Hologram Man’ and ‘2:59’ had on previous albums.

‘Occam’s Razor’ is another get off your seat banger. Loving those vocal harmonies, another Cats trademark and the piano riff from Andy Stewart. Speaking of keyboards, those played on ‘Yesterday’s Sensation’ give the song a Supertramp feel, with a Sweet vocal approved chorus.

The one song that doesn’t quite do it for this reviewer is ‘Run for Your Life’. Think it’s the spoken parts which seem to detract, however, those pomptastic keys save the day!

Fair few ballads on this album with ‘Crashing Down’ the pick of the bunch. Highlights on this one include the guitars of Greg Hart and Dean Howard, Damien Edwards’s vocal tour de force and the drums of Steevi Bacon. ‘This Velvet Rush’ comes a close second, one of the more atmospheric songs the band have recorded. Queen influence loud and clear on here, circa that band’s ‘Innuendo’ album. The Ghost Mix on the CD is worth a listen too.

The CD version includes four extra tracks, namely three covers – ‘No Regrets’ (Walker Brothers), John Miles epic ‘Music’ and ‘How Does it Feel’ (Slade) – plus, ‘This Velvet Rush (Ghost mix)’.

‘No Regrets’ gets a slight country feel added to it and works well. If ever there was a song that influenced Cats In Space’s sound it has to be John Miles epic ‘Music’. Needless to say, they deliver a fine version full of the emotions and pomp touches you’d expect. Slade are another musical influence and this is a decent version. It perhaps lacks a bit of the clout of the original, although the mid-section is a thing of musical wonder!

Maybe a future EP could be a few of their covers plus other artists covering Cats In Space songs. They could enlist the likes of Sweet or Slade’s Jim Lea perhaps?

Cats In Space are in a field of their own as nobody really does music with all the pomp, melody and musical shenanigans that these guys do. Recalling the glory days of Queen, the Who, Sweet, Slade and 10cc with their own modern twist, these Cats have still got it! ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Gig review (October 2024)

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)