Single : Cat’s Eyes
Title: Face in the Crowd
Label: Polydor
Release: 09.05.2011
Rating: 7.2
For some edgy goth-pop with a difference, you should look to Faris Badwan’s new musical project Cat’s Eyes. Born of an unlikely collaboration between The Horrors’ frontman and Canadian opera singer Rachel Zeffira, the band released their debut E.P. Broken Glass in February this year. This unusual combination appears to work surprisingly well; the recently released single Face in the Crowd features Badwan’s typically drawling vocals, with a somehow more direct tone than heard in The Horrors. Zeffira’s voice, though a definite contrast, is in fact far from operatic and more like a defined whisper, allowing the relentless lyrics from both singers to perfectly complement each other.
Cat’s Eyes’ sound is certainly a familiar one. Influences from late 60s bands such as The Doors are clearly heard in the new single, as well as references to the grave, yet dulcet tones of Morrissey. Some would argue that this resurfacing of melancholy and slightly monotonous pop-rock has been overdone. However, more modern comparisons to bands such as The xx and Massive Attack highlight an original spark in Cat’s Eyes’ music; intense and almost hypnotic, the different areas of light and shade in Face in the Crowd bring each of the vocalists and instruments to life, one intrinsic element at a time. Lush waves of synth sounds sweep and soar, building around the duo’s interlocking vocals to give real depth to the track. Pounding drums create a restless urgency throughout, combining with the rough metallic bass riff to form an energised sense of defiance. There is also a gothic sense of darkness in the track, adding an element of mystery and perhaps outlining the lonely and disorientating concept of ‘just a face in the crowd.’ This definitely provides a haunting undercurrent to the song’s otherwise rocky resilience.
Cat’s Eyes display a combination of fine vocal work and effective layering of instruments in their music. It is the subtle attention to detail that gives their new track an edge, as sounds build and melt away as if on a ghostly journey. They may not seem especially revolutionary in their sound if you know your old pop-rock, but have a listen and you’ll see that their music is nonetheless enticing and, at times, almost mesmerising.
Words And Thoughts Of Anna Lumsden
