Cat Temper - Meow At The Moon

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Cat Temper’s Meow At The Moon is full of entertaining moments of tingling horror as its terrifying were-cat tale unfolds. Cat Temper’s melodic writing, novel synth combinations and musical theatricality come to the fore on this album. This is spooky season listening at its most enjoyable.

Melody is something with which I have somewhat of an obsession. I’m a sucker for a good melody and Meow At The Moon has plenty of well-written ones. I enjoy the way in which Cat Temper evokes dangers hidden in the shadows, creates deliciously creepy moments and imbues his melodies with mystical mystery. The melodies are engaging and hard to forget in a pleasing way.

Another strength of Meow At The Moon is all of the ways in which Cat Temper combines synth sounds. He weaves together synths that snarl gutturally, spectrally drift and cry out with bloodcurdling effect. I enjoy the way in which the cinematic horror in the music is reinforced by the unique synth textures and tones that he uses on the album.

The sheer theatricality and drama of the album is also quite enjoyable in my view. Cat Temper uses music to heighten dramatic moments and delineate auditory imagery. The atmosphere crackles with nervousness and creates fun, spine-tingling moments that sometimes spill over into seething shadows. The spirit of ‘80s horror movies is alive and entertaining on Meow At The Moon.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Campfire Tails” commences as thunder rolls and static crackles. A wandering bass line moves behind an extremely entertaining voice over trembling, worried synth notes. The way in which they ring out increases the track’s theatrical creepiness. Rippling, tense notes shift as an organ thrums threatening notes as the slow bass walks underneath and a cat howls.

Bright, hard-edged synths create a danger-filled, oscillating motion that ramps up the feeling of an imminent attack as “Clawstrophobia’ begins. Guttural bass growls and huge drums roll before blending into an actively moving line. Choral voices add drama as an elevated synth pattern flashes.

Now nasal-sounding, low synth twists in a minor key melody with a pleasing mysterious quality as the energizing drums and bass drive on. Gruff, low synth deepens the enigmatic feeling of the main melody. Cymbals clash and the drums slow as tense, raised synth writhes.

Ancient, unknown terror fills the main melody as the drum and bass pulse keeps moving. Electric guitar adds more power as darkness swirl and rises from it. Urgency fills the low end of the track while terrified-sounding high synth trembles. The track ends on glowing chords and dark piano.

“Milk in the Moonlight” starts as resonant, bell-like synth creates a tumbling pattern that wanders and sparkles. A portentous bass pulse moves roughly below it and the solid drumbeat throbs continually. Interwoven higher notes effectively create heightened unease and unsettled emotion. After a drum fill, jangling bells keep spinning out nervously as bass swells and fades.

Now gleaming, minor-key synth carries a powerful melody full of melancholy and rising shadows while the drums batter brokenly. Slicing bass moves in gigantic blocks and fades as full-sounding synths also rise and fade, tinged by wriggling sound. The minor key melody seethes with lurking evil and the drum pulse moves the music.

Deep chimes ring out over a misty background to kick off “Curse of the Were-Cat.” Chittering, vibrating sounds shift and drums form a smooth guiding motion. I get a thrilling sense of hidden danger lurking in the mist in this track.

Chimes flash and slow bass growls as a trumpeting synth carries a climbing, victorious melody. Bass now slams with malevolent force creating a hard-hitting pulse as higher, rough-edged notes inject nervousness. Now organ-like synth shivers into the music over towering bass blocks.

Round-sounding, fear-inducing synth carries a wandering pattern like questing tendrils of mist and the drums pound. Funky guitar creates a propulsive groove as hi hat adds a metallic element. After a drum fill, the high synth writhes and surges with heavy weight below and shining notes add a brittle brightness.

“Twisted Whiskers” opens with dynamically throbbing bass and interleaved, tightly cascading synth. Drums also burst, a diffused sounding snare creating an active pulse. Medium-low, nasal-sounding synth descends in energetically repeating patterns.

Motivational emotion pours from the main synth melody, accented by lambent flashes. The angular drums and bass imbue the music with liveliness. Slicing synths sharpen the track and snare drum pulses are broken by ominous, rising synth. I enjoy the balance that Cat Temper creates in this track.

Computerized sounding synth ripples and further increases the track’s dynamism as drums rebound and tom hits accent the beat. The main melody wriggles through while glittering bells ring out, adding a lightness to the music. Speeding drums further push the track on before bells descend in angular lines.

Blaring, swelling and fading synths with a gritty edge bring “Transfurmation” to life. Slowly throbbing, jagged bass comes in, followed by slowly bouncing drums and swirling, medium low synth flashes. The bass begins to oscillate and the drums are heavy.

The way in which the chiming synth delicately combines menace and melancholy is enjoyable for me. Trembling synth wobbles through, adding uncomfortable feelings. Heavily rebounding drums and thick bass pound together before pausing.

Pipe organ shivers while strange, unsettling sounds roil in the background and the gigantic drums throb. Reverberant, medium-low, hollow synth carries a melody with a blues-y tinge over the surging underpinnings. Feverishly shining chimes flash as the track ends.

“Scratch and Sniff” starts as victorious, brassy synth leaps out in rapid bursts through empty space, forming an angular melody. Dense, rough-edged bass and slamming kick drum create a reverberating, leaping pulse. Now vibrating, wriggling synths cascade in a bizarre sounding jumble over the throbbing beat.

Medium-high, nasal-sounding synth carries a haunted melody. A Theremin increases the track’s mysterious qualities to good effect as it comes in. A tinge of warmth is added before the dynamic main melody propelled by gargantuan drums and heaving bass.

Digital-sounding notes shimmy in a wandering line as the Theremin cries out, tracing spectral fingers through the track and again the main melody has a twisted frolic through the track before the music ends.

Wide-sounding, medium-low synth cuts a swathe through open space to commence “Fur of the Dark.” A lush background of bells with a perilous feeling vibrates in along with warmer chords for contrast. Rising synth flows over top of muscled bass as the hollow Theremin adds  a ghostly feeling.

Drums and bass kick while sharply flaring synth slashes through the music. Hard-edged bass keeps pulsing as rising synths and ringing bells shine. I enjoy the hidden claws in this track’s melody. Rounded, resonant synth climbs and twists while Stygian bass grunts. A hypnotic, razor-sharp pulse cuts in again and gruff synth lacerates the music. As gigantic drums throb, the bells cry out with lurking danger and the track ends on Theremin and massive sonic sweeps.

“The Cat is Back” starts off as clean, impactful synth arpeggiates in a scalpel-sharp motion. Clashing drums and shadowed bass swell and fade, each bass swell accented by the drums. Pipe organ cries out with a powerful voice as the clear, pin-sharp synths undulate and twisting sounds writhe.

The pipe organ picks up the synth's arpeggiating pattern, imbuing it with dynamism along with pleasantly thrilling feelings of nervousness and imminent danger. Rapidly moving bass blurts out as trumpeting sounds raise the energy levels.

Evil strength pours out from the organ melody, along with the promise of more darkness to come. Colossal drums smack into the music while the trumpeting synth has triumph in its voice before the track fades.

Conclusion

Meow At The Moon is a clear illustration of the way in which Cat Temper creates music that, while playful and fun, is still written with skill and a great deal of respect for the craft. I am always happy to hear what Cat Temper will come out with next!