Cat Temper - Still Just a Cat in a Rage

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Cat Temper’s Still Just a Cat in a Rage is innovative, playful, and full of prog influences. The way in which the artist combines auditory layering, fascinating and even bizarre synth sounds, and wildly exploratory musical expression comes together into one of his most fascinating and experimental albums yet.

There's a complexity and intelligence to the way in which Cat Temper puts together Still Just a Cat in a Rage’s synthesized soundscape. Cat Temper manages to interweave constantly shifting sonic textures, stacking synth sound on synth sound in order to bring aural interest into his music. The way in which he constantly surprises and delights with his synth combinations pulls me further into the music.

I am also drawn to Still Just a Cat in a Rage by the fascinating array of different sounds Cat Temper uses. There's everything from sparkling delicacy to bending, squelching oddness woven into a compelling tapestry. Once again, I find the playful nature of this artist's music charming. He isn't afraid to suddenly throw in a sound that generates joy or a smile along with the clearly carefully worked-out sound design.

The way in which Cat Temper moves between stylistic and emotional states is another strong aspect of this album. One track can embody gentleness, explosive energy, and intriguing sounds while changing tempo and direction. Cat Temper keeps the music enjoyable and under control. He knows just when to let go and when to pull back in order to create the mood or feeling at which he aims.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“The World Is a Vampurr” opens with violently rushing bass that undulates as a snare drum rapidly accelerates, and the low end batters ferociously. Unrelenting anger pours from the charging drums and bass as roaring guitar bursts in raging pulses. Roundly flanging notes wobble into the track as the guitar continues to growl.

Now the drums cascade and rebound as distant, metallic-sounding notes echo and sharply spinning, string-like synth twirls past. The track then floats through a faraway section in which a broadly sweeping synth slowly vibrates and shifts, creating an unsettling auditory atmosphere. I feel compelled by this music's complexity.

The track transitions to a quickly driving, angular drum and bass pulse, while nasal-sounding, dark-edged synth beams through the music with a haunting energy. Chimes echo with ominous import as the towering low end shoves the music forward aggressively. Now digital-sounding, medium-high synth creates a reverberating pattern as the gigantic drums shatter the music.

Razor-edged chimes ring with threatening notes, and now a quickly tumbling, slashing synth falls through the music as the drums smash hard. Elevated, nervous notes fulminate the music with agitated discomfort, and the guitar growls in the background while the drums attack and the bass surges. Hectic notes spin, and the track ends.

Colossal, resounding synth oscillates with a feeling of lurking danger to commence “We Only Meow at Night”. The shadowy bass matches the synth undulations, and a bell-like synth waltzes through the music with rough-edged elegance as the snare drums rattle.

The wide-sounding, digitally glowing synth sways back and forth with a sense of something hidden. Organ-like notes churn through the music in a wandering, discomforting pattern as the broad lead synth melody roams with haunting, minor key emotion that shifts to major with a warm chord. Background notes expand and contract as the wobbling synth, tinged with a Theremin-like sound, continues to add spectral sounds.

Elevated notes briefly scream as the continually active background shifts. Taut, slightly atonal synth stumbles through the music before digital-sounding notes cut in. All of the interlocking synths wander and float with more ghostly emotion before the track ends on rapidly twirling bits of sound.

"Hissed and Gone" opens with a rapidly rushing, flat bass and hissing sounds. Guitar slashes with ferocious energy, and a steadily flashing pulse moves in between the hard-hitting guitar. Heavily punching synth growls with bursting energy, and the guitar cuts in with slashing claws. Full-sounding, digital synth skips and calls out with echoing energy, carrying a wandering pattern.

The drums and bass punch hard, and active bass undulates as the drums accelerate again. Twisting, floating synth carries a dramatic melody with a mysterious quality, which I enjoy. The round-sounding synth notes rise as expansive, medium-high synth with a rough edge dances, and the bass punches in with massive strength.

Wildly wandering sounds shiver for the music, and the drums flourish as the guitar batters into the music again, while metallic synth shimmers with enigmatic light, and the drums and bass continue to shove the track forward. There's darkly propulsive motion in this track as it comes to an end on raging guitar and laser-like sounds zapping into the music as angular notes fade.

"Howligan" kicks off as threatening bass descends and a rising sound cries out. Now the drums and bass create a rapidly driving pulse that leaps forward with galvanizing energy. In between, the massive bass towers, and we move into a swinging section in which the bass bounces and the drums create an easy-flowing beat.

The brass moves in with an almost ska-like feeling, swinging and jumping through the music like the big band era just moved in. I enjoy the eclecticism on display here. Now the track returns to its snarling, roaring self with churning energy as it blasts forward. The fierce energy is split by shining synth that slides with a blast of luminous strength as a haunting choir floats.

The swing section returns again, only slashed by the hard-hitting guitar that tears its way into the music. A glimmering synth dances through an active and slightly nervous melody as the brass synth blasts out. Again, the ferocious bass roars with unbridled energy before flickering notes fade.

"The Celestails" kicks off with bouncy, crushing bass swinging along with hard-hitting drums. Angular, minor key arpeggios leap with blaring light as the drums thunder. The swinging beat punches forward with thick strength and undeniable energy as bell-like synth echoes and dramatic lines undulate.

The minor key notes have a playful, sneaky feeling about them as they creep through the music. Rounded sounds echo, and again the hard-hitting drums and dense bass press the music forward. Shadowy notes climb dramatically before intensely brilliant synth cries out with a propulsive melody.

Gleaming arpeggios rapidly rotate, and the drums and bass move forward with unstoppable energy. Now medium-high, shining synth twists in a minor key dance that I find teasing and a great deal of fun. Towering, bending synth flows through the music with a steadily uplifting sensation as the gigantic low end thunders into silence.

"Furwell and Goodnight" comes into being with fat-sounding, reverberant synth throbbing out. It expands and contracts unctuously before a kick drum smacks into the track hard. Now a digital-sounding, warmly surrounding synth carries a melody full of gentleness and a feeling of tender emotion. Flashing notes with a metallic ring punctuate the steadily moving snare drum and hard-hitting low end.

The enfolding chords rise upwards on a full-sounding synth before growling, lacerating bass snarls and the steady pulse. The drums rebound, and now a crystalline synth sings an uplifting melody that is full of joy and encouragement. The bass is massive and active as the drums continue to shape the music. Twisting, harsh sounds move in contrast to the shining synth creating fascinating interactions that I enjoy.

From this aggressive, howling background, sharper-edged chords emerge with fierce illumination. A choir chants, and slowly rising lines intertwine, while clearer notes call out with positive emotion as the kick drum continues to throb. The snare drum comes in again as the dancing melody moves to a conclusion.

Conclusion

Still Just a Cat in a Rage takes Cat Temper into new sonic territory. I feel that this album exceeds his previous efforts in terms of experimental sounds, fascinating melodic moments and a genuine sense of play.  Still Just a Cat in a Rage is perhaps one of the most interesting albums that Cat Temper has ever created.