Lazaro Numa, the bringer of music. Pretty a lot nobody within the band had met Lazaro in particular person once we determined to make him a part of The Cat Empire. We have been all counting on Roscoe’s phrase that he was the suitable particular person to hitch the household on trumpet, vocals and percussion. Here you’ll be able to see him lighting it up on his first album session with the band. Felix beloved Laz’s enjoying a lot within the management room that he couldn’t cease smiling and laughing.
One of the numerous conferring moments between musical director / co-producer Roscoe James Irwin and Felix. As effectively as enjoying within the Empire Horns, Roscoe had quite a bit to do with the horn/string/band preparations, and as all the time, there was an additional set of ears to problem-solve musical points with Ollie and Felix.
When Neda joined The Cat Empire, she launched us to lots of her pals from many alternative cultures, together with West African percussionists Mohamed Camara and Boubacar Gaye. Here they’re seen laying down some magic on the monitor Boom Boom which showcases their infectious vibe.
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The Cat Empire and the Tedesco brothers have an extended historical past. The Tedesco household, in their very own proper, have an iconic presence within the Australian flamenco scene, in addition to being very a lot a part of The Cat Empire’s prolonged household. They function on a couple of songs from the brand new album, however most prominently on one of many band’s favourites, the sprawling and tremendous epic Owl.
Long after the remainder of the musicians went home, the A staff —Felix, Ross, Andy and Ollie — would usually stick round within the management room at Merri-Bek City Band Room, drink in hand, listening via the day’s work, making choices and all the time having fun. This is when a lot of the magic occurred.
Each morning, one of many band members would head to the native bakery across the nook from the studio and choose up recent sourdough and Portuguese tarts to snack on. Then, as everybody else was leaving or commencing work in one other a part of the corridor, Ollie would normally do the dishes. Maybe, if sufficient of these plates have been polished, his identify would have ended up on that Honour Roll!
A reasonably new sonic idea for the band on this album was to make use of a string part. Roscoe labored on the orchestrations whereas we gathered a few of Melbourne’s best studio and orchestral string gamers so as to add a layer of vastness and cinematic grandeur to lots of the tracks. You can hear their superior work most notably on Owl, Money Coming My Way, and Rock and Roll.
A particular second was when Andy determined to pump the freshly recorded Owl via the audio system in the principle corridor. Felix, tres in hand, determined to play alongside, giving us all a little bit of perception as to the power and vibe of the attractive Cuban instrument, which is a brand new addition to The Cat Empire.
The Cat Empire’s new album, Where The Angels Fall, is out now. You can hearken to the album here.
